Brunch Fest Returns to Fort Condé Inn Nov. 7 With Local Restaurants, Mimosas and Music to Benefit Lifelines

MOBILE, Ala. — Brunch Fest is coming back to downtown Mobile on Saturday, Nov. 7, when local restaurants will set up at the historic Fort Condé Inn to serve their best brunch bites for a crowd of food lovers and supporters of Lifelines Counseling Services.

The annual food event and fundraiser runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the inn, 165 St. Emanuel St. Along with restaurant tastings, guests can expect mimosas, live music and a market stocked with local and handmade goods. Renasant Bank is the presenting sponsor.

Proceeds benefit Lifelines Counseling Services, a Mobile nonprofit whose roots in the community stretch back more than a century.

Brunch Fest at a Glance

• What: Brunch Fest, an annual food event and fundraiser benefiting Lifelines Counseling Services
• When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Fort Condé Inn, 165 St. Emanuel St., downtown Mobile
• Presented by: Renasant Bank
• General admission: $30 in advance, $35 on the day of the event
• VIB admission: $75 in advance, $85 on the day of the event (limited)
• Ages: 21 and older only

What’s on the Menu at Brunch Fest

The heart of Brunch Fest is a showcase of Mobile’s restaurant scene. Participating restaurants will each serve their signature brunch bites, giving guests a chance to sample a range of local kitchens in a single morning without having to pick just one spot for Saturday brunch.

Drinks are part of the draw as well, with mimosas on hand to pair with the food. Live music will play throughout the event, and a market featuring local and handmade goods offers a chance to get a head start on holiday shopping.

Last year’s event, held Nov. 1, 2025, at the Fort Condé Inn, was the sixth annual Brunch Fest. It drew hundreds of guests and featured local chefs and restaurants competing with their signature brunch offerings, along with mimosas, Bloody Marys, live music and a gift market.

Ticket Options: General Admission and VIB

General admission tickets cost $30 if bought in advance and $35 on the day of the event, so buying early saves a few dollars.

For guests who want a more comfortable experience, a limited number of VIB tickets are available. VIB stands for Very Important Bruncher, and those tickets cost $75 in advance or $85 on the day of the event.

VIB ticket holders receive several extras:

• Access to a private bar
• Complimentary catering
• A complimentary brunch beverage
• Reserved seating
• Use of indoor restrooms inside the Fort Condé Inn

Because the number of VIB tickets is limited, guests interested in the upgrade may want to buy early. Tickets and more information are available through Lifelines Counseling Services.

Rules for Guests

Organizers have set a few ground rules that guests should know before they go:

• Brunch Fest is limited to adults 21 and older.
• Children, strollers and pets are not permitted.
• Every guest must show a valid form of identification to enter.
• Outside food and beverages are not allowed.
• Attendees are asked to drink responsibly.

With mimosas flowing, it is wise to plan transportation in advance. Designating a sober driver, using a rideshare service or taking a taxi are all good ways to make sure everyone gets home safely after the event.

About Lifelines Counseling Services

Lifelines Counseling Services, the beneficiary of Brunch Fest, has a long history in Mobile. The organization was incorporated as the Family Counseling Center of Mobile Inc. on Sept. 28, 1958, but it grew out of two earlier groups: the Travelers Aid Society, founded in 1917 as part of the Mobile YWCA, and Child and Family Services, established in 1940.

Over the decades, the agency has offered a wide range of services, including marriage counseling, child guidance, delinquency prevention, crisis intervention, suicide prevention training and pregnancy prevention programming. Financial counseling was added in 1989. In 2002, a merger with Helpline and the Rape Crisis Center expanded the organization’s reach.

The nonprofit describes itself as “dedicated to fostering resilient families, nurturing successful children and young adults, and empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives.” It pursues that mission through counseling, assistance, referrals and education, and it serves Mobile and surrounding counties. Lifelines is a United Way agency.

Events like Brunch Fest help raise money for that work while introducing the organization to new supporters in a relaxed, social setting.

Anyone in emotional crisis does not need to wait for an event or appointment to get help. The national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by calling or texting 988.

A Historic Setting in Fort Condé Village

The Fort Condé Inn gives Brunch Fest one of downtown Mobile’s most atmospheric backdrops. The inn is the centerpiece of Fort Condé Village, a historic neighborhood near the heart of downtown that takes its name from the French colonial fort that once guarded the city Mobile’s founders established in the early 1700s.

The inn began as a 10-room bed-and-breakfast in the Hall-Ford House, which the inn describes as Mobile’s second-oldest house. It has since expanded to nine restored historic properties, with guests moving between buildings along cobblestone streets lit by gas lanterns rather than through typical hotel hallways.

The surrounding neighborhood went through a long period of decline before developers Lawrence and David Posner purchased and restored it over two decades. The property also includes Bistro Saint Emanuel, housed in a building constructed in the 1850s by Corsican immigrant Charles Antomarchi.

Today the inn is known for its verandahs and parlors, which make it a popular spot for weddings and special events, and a fitting stage for a morning devoted to brunch.

Make a Morning of It in Downtown Mobile

Brunch Fest wraps up at 1 p.m., leaving plenty of Saturday afternoon to explore downtown. The Fort Condé Inn sits within walking distance of many of the city’s historic sites, shops and restaurants, so guests who park downtown can easily turn the event into a longer outing.

A few tips for a smooth visit:

• Buy tickets in advance to save $5 on general admission or $10 on a VIB ticket.
• Bring a valid photo ID, since everyone must show identification to get in.
• Leave the kids, strollers and pets at home.
• Arrive near the 10 a.m. start to have the full three hours to sample restaurants and browse the market.
• Line up a sober ride home before the mimosas start pouring.

Tickets and additional details are available through Lifelines Counseling Services.