The National Shrimp Festival is returning to the Gulf Shores beachfront, and this year getting there will look a little different. With the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System stepping away from its usual shuttle role just before the event, the Gulf Shores school system has agreed to fill the gap, running buses that are expected to carry close to 20,000 visitors to and from the festival grounds.
Organizers said BRATS withdrew from the arrangement at the last minute because it did not have enough drivers available to cover the four-day event. The Gulf Shores Board of Education stepped in, supplying 15 buses and drivers across six routes from Thursday through Sunday.
Shuttle Fees Now Benefit Local Schools
The five-dollar shuttle fee remains in place, but the money collected this year will go to Gulf Shores schools rather than a transit agency. District leaders said band boosters plan to put their share toward new uniforms, while athletic booster groups expect to direct funds toward equipment for sports programs.
Superintendent Matt Akin described the partnership as a long-term benefit both for the district and for the festival itself, noting that booster organizations supporting athletics and music programs stand to gain year after year as long as the arrangement continues.
Where to Catch a Ride
Shuttle routes stretch along the coast on both sides of the festival site. On the western side of town, riders can board at Pelican Place or the Erie Meyer Civic Center, with an additional stop serving the Waves area. To the east, pickup points include the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion, a shopping center location in Orange Beach, and The Wharf.
One wrinkle for Thursday riders: buses will pause service between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. so drivers can complete afternoon school runs before returning to their shuttle routes.
A Refined Festival Footprint
This marks the second year the festival has operated on its beachfront site at Gulf Place, and officials said feedback from last year shaped some adjustments. Festival chairman Spencer Cade said food vendors were added to the eastern end of the footprint so attendees would not have to walk as far, and several layout tweaks were made to improve traffic flow and comfort for visitors.
Festival hours run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a shortened 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule on Sunday.