Ballyhoo Festival 2026

Ballyhoo is a Fine Arts Festival and Cultural Exchange located in the Gulf State Park of Gulf Shores, Alabama. This juried fine arts festival combines fine art from across the southeast with local seafood and live music, capturing the cultural charm and fun-loving spirit of Coastal Alabama. The festival offers $6,000 in awards and takes place rain or shine on March 7th and 8th, 2026, at the Lake Shelby Picnic Area of Gulf State Park.

The festival runs Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Artist setup is Friday, March 6, 2026, from 9am – 8pm. Booth spaces are 12' x 12' with 10' x 10' tent size. The jury process involves 5 jurors scoring applications on a Yes/No/Maybe scale, with approximately 100 artists selected from 160 applications annually. Images are viewed on computer monitors and sorted by last name within medium categories.

Fees include a $25 jury fee (non-refundable), single booth fee of $250, and double booth fee of $475. A late fee of $55 applies after November 15, 2025. Artists must obtain a Baldwin County Business License by January 15, 2026, and submit background checks by December 19, 2025. Acceptance notifications begin November 30, 2025 via email. No refunds are given after January 31, 2026. Artists must stay until the show closes on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.