Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – In an upcoming celebration of art and community spirit, the Orange Beach Festival of Art is set to commemorate its 50th anniversary. This landmark event, a testament to the enduring appeal of creativity and craftsmanship, has been a cornerstone of the cultural landscape in Orange Beach since its inception. 

Over the past five decades, the festival has evolved from a modest gathering of local artists to a prestigious event attracting talent from across the nation. Each year, the festival showcases an eclectic mix of art forms, ranging from traditional paintings and sculptures to innovative multimedia installations, reflecting the dynamic evolution of artistic expression over its 50-year history.

This year over 100 artists in jewelry, photography, pottery, textiles, leather craft, metalwork, painting, and more will be exhibited during the Golden Anniversary celebration.

The event also offers a kid's art alley, a culinary arts court featuring local fare, and live music on March 9th and 10th, 2024. The event will continue its tradition of free admission to the public.

In addition to artists, the 50th Anniversary festival features an interactive kid's art alley, a culinary arts court with local fare that will be showcased onstage, live performances by fire dancers, a New Orleans style jazz band, guitar music by world-renowned Roman Street, Mariachis, and more. All of the shows can be enjoyed at no cost during the festival's two days.

Fine artists from across America are jury-selected yearly and the show is one of the most competitive and sought-after in the country. One such recent festival Best of Show winner, Mr. Larry Allen, had his intricate clay vessels selected to be shown in Disney's "Wakanda Forever" movie. Other artists have won awards both nationally and internationally in various mediums.

Show Director Desiree Hodge notes, "With our focus on presenting truly gifted and professional fine artists, this show has garnered a reputation among designers and decorators, but patrons of all types can find both fun and affordable original art."

The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, in addition to its fine arts gallery, offers classes in glassblowing, pottery, photography, and more. It sponsors a yearly acoustic concert series, summer arts camps for children, and partners with the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival to feature award-winning musicians from across America.

The beautiful architecture and stunning scenery located on scenic Wolf Bay is a premier wedding venue, hosting 40–50 weddings a year, earning it numerous awards. The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach has received for the past four years the "Best of Baldwin" awards for Best Art Gallery and Best Event Venue and numerous "Best of 'Bama" awards for Best Art Gallery and Best Art Festival.