Orange Beach Locals Month Fills November With Free Yoga, Fido Fest, Art Day and Bayside Bingo

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Orange Beach Parks and Recreation is dedicating all of November to the people who live in the city year-round, rolling out Orange Beach Locals Month, a monthlong lineup of free yoga by the bay, a dog festival, art classes, a pickleball clinic, a senior Friendsgiving, a history scavenger hunt and a Thanksgiving bingo night on the waterfront.

The department describes the new initiative as a thank-you to residents for their participation in, enthusiasm for and support of the city’s parks and recreation programs. The schedule mixes waterfront gatherings, family events, arts, recreation and what organizers are calling “a few special surprises,” with most activities offered at no cost.

Many of the events take place at familiar city facilities, including Waterfront Park, the Coastal Arts Center, the Orange Beach Community Center, the Senior Center, the Pickleball Complex and the Orange Beach History Museum. Some require advance registration and several have strict capacity limits, so residents who want to take part are encouraged to plan ahead.

How to get the Orange Beach Locals Month schedule

The city is distributing the full Locals Month calendar through an official email list. Residents can sign up through a web form on the Parks and Recreation department’s site to have the schedule and updates delivered to their inboxes. Department staff also plan to highlight upcoming events, activities and program details on the city’s social media channels throughout November.

Below is a guide to what has been announced so far.

A shopping perk for hometown pride

Throughout November, residents can save 10% on Parks and Recreation merchandise at either the Orange Beach Fitness Center or the Golf Center Pro Shop. The department calls it a small thank-you to everyone who loves the city.

The discount applies only to retail merchandise, such as apparel and accessories, at both locations. Memberships and other services are not included.

Namaste by the Bay: Free Saturday yoga

Each Saturday morning in November, Waterfront Park will become an open-air yoga studio. Namaste by the Bay sessions are scheduled for Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28, beginning at 9 a.m.

A different instructor will lead the class each week, giving participants a chance to sample a variety of teaching styles. The sessions are free and open to all ages and experience levels, from first-timers to longtime practitioners. Participants are invited to come stretch, unwind and enjoy the waterfront view.

• When: Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28, at 9 a.m.
• Where: Waterfront Park
• Cost: Free; all ages and levels welcome

Fido Fest returns for a second year

Dog lovers will have their afternoon on Sunday, Nov. 8, when the 2nd Annual Fido Fest takes over Waterfront Park from 2 to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece is the Mr. and Miss Fido Fest Pageant, in which four-legged contestants show off for the crowd. The afternoon will also feature live music, hot dogs for the humans, pet-focused vendors, special treats and activities for dogs, and plenty for children to do.

The festival is free and open to everyone, and organizers stress that no dog is required to attend. Waterfront Park is at 26425 Canal Road, and the city has listed Sunday, Nov. 15, as a rain date.

• When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2-5 p.m.
• Where: Waterfront Park, 26425 Canal Road
• Cost: Free

Tables at Twilight sells out in hours

One of the newest additions to the city’s calendar proved to be one of the most popular. Tables at Twilight, a brand-new waterfront dinner event set for Friday, Nov. 13, sold out within a few hours after tickets went on sale Oct. 16.

The evening will be held under the outdoor tent at the Coastal Arts Center and promises food, twinkling lights, gratitude and good company along the water. Ticket holders will receive an email with more details as the date approaches.

For residents who missed out, Parks and Recreation said it hopes to make Tables at Twilight a returning favorite and to welcome more people to the table in the future.

Mahjong Open Play Night

The department hosts a Mahjong Open Play Night on the first Friday of every month. Tables, refreshments and door prizes are provided; players simply bring their Mahjong friends.

November’s session is Friday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Orange Beach Community Center. Registration is required.

Pickleball Improvers Clinic

Local pickleball players who have already completed the city’s Intro to Pickleball program can move up a level at a free Improvers Clinic on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. at the Orange Beach Pickleball Complex.

The clinic will focus on building confidence, sharpening skills and improving overall play. Space is limited to 12 players, so those interested should reserve a spot early.

Locals Art Day at the Coastal Arts Center

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Coastal Arts Center will host Locals Art Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a day of hands-on art experiences, live demonstrations and creative activities for all ages. Visitors can jump in and try something new or simply watch artists at work.

The day’s schedule includes:

• 10 a.m. — Pottery wheel classes and Pick ‘n Paint
• 10:30 a.m. — Free kids’ lighthouse painting project
• 11:30 a.m. — Pottery handbuilding classes
• 11:45 a.m. — Pick ‘n Paint
• 1 p.m. — Adult carving and printing class
• 1:30 p.m. — Pottery wheel classes and Pick ‘n Paint

Hot Shop glassblowing experiences and live artist demonstrations will also be offered. Class sizes are limited, and advance registration is required for the hands-on classes.

The Coastal Arts Center, located on the city’s waterfront, offers pottery, glassblowing and other art classes, along with exhibits and demonstrations, for residents and visitors throughout the year.

Adult Learning Lab explores Ayurveda

The city’s Adult Learning Labs are free educational classes held throughout the year on subjects ranging from health and wellness to nature, technology and history.

November’s lab offers an introduction to Ayurveda, a traditional approach to health and wellness that originated in India thousands of years ago. Participants will learn how food, herbs, spices, seasonal routines and daily habits have been used to support well-being across generations. The session includes a simple food demonstration and a tasting of traditional Ayurvedic ingredients.

• When: Monday, Nov. 16, 5-6:15 p.m.
• Where: Orange Beach Community Center
• Cost: Free and open to the public; class size is limited

Friendsgiving at the Senior Center

The Orange Beach Senior Center, which offers programs and activities for residents 50 and older year-round, will host a Friendsgiving celebration on Friday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Guests are asked to bring a favorite dish for a Thanksgiving potluck. The morning will also include friendly games of bingo and time to connect with neighbors over a shared meal. The event is free, but registration is required.

Take the Orange Beach History Hunt Challenge

For residents who prefer to explore at their own pace, the Orange Beach History Museum is offering a self-guided History Hunt throughout the month.

Participants pick up a Historical Markers Brochure and a History Hunt worksheet at the museum, then set out to find the city’s historical markers. The hunt can be completed in a single day or spread out over weeks. When finished, participants return the worksheet to the museum, sign the official Finisher Book and claim a prize.

The museum, at 25805 John Snook Drive, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of the community’s past.

Thanksgiving Bingo by the Bay

Locals Month wraps up its scheduled events just before the holiday with Thanksgiving Bingo by the Bay on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. under the Coastal Arts Center’s outdoor tent.

Warm soup and cider will be served again this year, along with an hour of all-ages bingo. Winners can take home Thanksgiving pies, cakes and other desserts. The event is free and no registration is required, making it an easy outing for the whole family.

Quick calendar: Orange Beach Locals Month events

• All month: 10% off Parks and Recreation merchandise at the Fitness Center and Golf Center Pro Shop; History Hunt Challenge at the Orange Beach History Museum
• Friday, Nov. 6: Mahjong Open Play Night, 5:30-8 p.m., Community Center (registration required)
• Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Namaste by the Bay yoga, 9 a.m., Waterfront Park
• Sunday, Nov. 8: Fido Fest, 2-5 p.m., Waterfront Park
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Pickleball Improvers Clinic, 9 a.m., Pickleball Complex (limited to 12)
• Friday, Nov. 13: Tables at Twilight, Coastal Arts Center (sold out)
• Saturday, Nov. 14: Locals Art Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Coastal Arts Center
• Monday, Nov. 16: Adult Learning Lab on Ayurveda, 5-6:15 p.m., Community Center
• Friday, Nov. 20: Senior Center Friendsgiving, 10 a.m.-noon (registration required)
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Bingo by the Bay, 5:30-7 p.m., Coastal Arts Center tent

A thank-you that lasts all year

Nicole Ard, executive director of Orange Beach Parks and Recreation, said the month is meant as an extra expression of gratitude, not the limit of the department’s commitment to residents.

“While November is our opportunity to give a little extra thanks to our locals, our commitment to serving this community extends throughout the year,” Ard said. “We are proud of the facilities, programs, and experiences we offer and are even more grateful for the people who bring them to life. On behalf of our entire Parks and Recreation team, thank you for your continued support and for being part of what makes Orange Beach so special. We hope to see you out enjoying everything we have to offer, not just this November, but all year long!”

The timing is fitting. November falls after the busy summer and early fall tourism seasons along the Alabama Gulf Coast, when the crowds thin and residents have more room to enjoy the city’s parks, waterfront and programs for themselves. For a city whose economy is built around welcoming visitors, Locals Month turns the spotlight back on the people who live there.

Residents can find registration details, sign up for the Locals Month email list and get more information through Orange Beach Parks and Recreation at orangebeachal.gov.