‘The Tiki Bar Is Open’: Parrot Heads Bring 34th Meeting of the Minds to Gulf Shores Oct. 21-25

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Fresh off a week of storm cleanup and a canceled shrimp festival, Gulf Shores is about to welcome a crowd that travels with flip-flops, Hawaiian shirts and a reputation for generosity. Parrot Heads in Paradise brings its 34th annual Meeting of the Minds convention to The Hangout and other Gulf Shores venues Oct. 21-25, under the theme “The Tiki Bar Is Open.”

The five-day gathering celebrates the music and laid-back coastal lifestyle associated with the late Jimmy Buffett, with multiple days of live entertainment, charity fundraising and volunteer work. Fans from across the country typically fill hotels, restaurants and beach bars during the convention, and organizers say this year that business matters more than usual.

A timely visit after Hurricane Isaias

Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin, Fla., on Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm. Gulf Shores was spared the worst of it, but visitors were ordered off Pleasure Island ahead of landfall and the National Shrimp Festival was canceled, wiping out one of the busiest weekends of the fall tourism season. The evacuation order was lifted Oct. 10, and beach businesses began reopening the next day.

In announcing the convention, Parrot Heads in Paradise said its thoughts are with everyone affected by the storm and acknowledged how important tourism is to Gulf Shores, particularly after losing the Shrimp Festival. The group said it cannot replace what was lost but can bring people to town, fill hotel rooms, support local restaurants and businesses and, it hopes, put some smiles back on people’s faces.

Organizers are urging attendees to spend time and money beyond the convention venues by eating at local restaurants and shopping at local businesses, describing the trip as a chance to return the hospitality Gulf Shores has shown the Parrot Head community.

What’s on stage

The convention features multiple days of live entertainment from nationally recognized musicians, Trop Rock favorites and performers connected to Buffett’s musical legacy. Trop Rock is the umbrella term fans use for the beach-and-island-flavored music that grew up around Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band, and a circuit of songwriters and bands plays to Parrot Head audiences year-round.

One of this year’s headline moments is a Saturday, Oct. 24, performance by Rosie and the Revival, a band featuring members of country star Kenny Chesney’s touring band. Activities are spread across several Gulf Shores venues, with The Hangout at the foot of Alabama 59 serving as the hub.

Organizers say the convention offers opportunities for both registered attendees and the general public, so residents curious about the Parrot Head scene can expect some chances to catch the music around town.

At a glance

• What: 34th annual Meeting of the Minds, presented by Parrot Heads in Paradise
• Theme: “The Tiki Bar Is Open”
• When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 25
• Where: The Hangout and other venues in Gulf Shores
• Highlight: Rosie and the Revival on Saturday, Oct. 24
• Who can attend: Registered convention-goers, with some activities open to the public

‘Party with a Purpose’

Parrot Heads in Paradise is a nationwide nonprofit that represents more than 175 local Parrot Head clubs and a community of more than 16,000 members, according to the organization. Throughout the year, those clubs raise money, volunteer and support charities in their hometowns, under the long-standing motto “Party with a Purpose.”

Meeting of the Minds carries that mission to its host city. Attendees take part in charitable fundraising, volunteer activities and community outreach during the convention, and organizers say they aim to leave a positive impact long after the final song is played.

From Key West to the Alabama coast

For decades, Meeting of the Minds was held in New Orleans and then in Key West, Fla. Parrot Heads in Paradise moved the convention to Gulf Shores in 2023, with The Hangout as headquarters and performances spread among beach venues including Lulu’s, the restaurant owned by Buffett’s sister, Lucy Buffett, as well as the Flora-Bama and other spots on Pleasure Island.

That first Gulf Shores convention took on added emotion. Buffett died Sept. 1, 2023, less than two months before the event, and fans gathered for a tribute on the main Hangout stage. The convention returned to Gulf Shores in 2024 and again in 2025, when thousands of Parrot Heads came to town for what was billed as the third annual gathering on the Alabama coast.

Buffett’s ties to the region run deep. He was born in Pascagoula, Miss., grew up in Mobile and played clubs along the Gulf Coast early in his career, which makes the Alabama shoreline a natural home for a convention devoted to his music.

What it means for local businesses

Mid-to-late October is typically a strong stretch for Baldwin County tourism, with mild weather and a full calendar of festivals. With the Shrimp Festival lost to the storm, hotels, restaurants and shops that count on fall visitors will be looking to events like Meeting of the Minds to help make up ground.

For residents, the convention is a chance to see Gulf Shores in full party mode, with live music drifting from beach bars and visitors in loud shirts filling restaurant patios. As organizers put it, the Parrot Head community plans to do what it does best: Party with a Purpose.