Dauphin Island Events

Annual Events – Summer

• Sunset Celebrations – Enjoy the Summer with the monthly Sunday Sunset Concerts held at Fort Gaines beginning April through Labor Day and a special bonus performance in October. Admission is $5 per person and free for children 12 and under. Additional information can be found at the Town of Dauphin Island website.
  • 2024 Schedule: Performer information will be posted when available. 2024 Concert Dates are:
    • April 28, 2024 – The Street Folks, 5:30-7:30pm
    • May 26, 2024 – Symone French and the Trouille Troupe, 6-8pm
    • June 30, 2024 – Johnnie Hayes, 6-8pm
    • July 28, 2024 – Ryan Balthrop, 6-8pm
    • September 1, 2024 – Rebecca Barry and Bust, 5:30-7:30pm
    • October 13, 2024 – Roman Street, 4:30-6:30pm
• Free Family Outdoor Movie Nights – Summer seasonal movie series showcasing family friendly movies on an outdoor screen at the Town East End Beach. East Beach is located at the eastern terminus of Bienville Blvd, just past Fort Gaines. Spread out your beach blanket and stretch out under the stars for movies on a giant blow up screen. Weather permitting, no pets, grilling or glass allowed.
  • 2024 Movie Schedule
    • May 23 – Lilo and Stitch
    • May 24 – Finding Nemo
    • May 30 – Kung Fu Panda
    • May 31 – Toy Story
    • June 6 – Princess and the Frog
    • June 7 – Tangled
    • June 13 – Rio
    • June 14 – The Lost City
    • June 20 – Splash
    • June 21 – Megamind
    • June 27 – Encanto
    • June 28 – Just Go With It
    • July 3 – Jaws
    • July 5 – Jaws
    • July 11 – Cast Away
    • July 12 – The Goonies
    • July 25 – Frozen
    • July 26 – Teen Beach Movie
    • August 1 – Moana
    • August 2 – The Little Mermaid
    • August 8 – Soul Surfer
    • August 9 – Wall-E
• 4th of July Celebrations – The Town of Dauphin Island sponsors an annual firework display that can be seen along the Island’s Gulf Beach. Please remember that Town Ordinance prohibits the use of personal fireworks on Dauphin Island and no fireworks are allowed at any Boardwalk Realty rental property. Weather dependent.
• Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo July 19-21, 2024. Taking place the 3rd weekend of July each year, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is the World’s Largest Fishing Tournament with over 3,200 anglers. View the catch as the angler’s compete for the largest fish in each category. A part of Island tradition since 1929, the ADSF Rodeo kicks off with a Liar’s Contest on Thursday evening, and a blast of the cannon starts the competition Friday at dawn. Marine Biologists from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab study and display the catch as it rolls in throughout the weekend at the Rodeo site located on LeMoyne Drive, providing important data for Gulf Coast fisheries systems.
  • 2024 Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Concert Schedule (Free Admission)
    • Thursday July 18 – Johnny Hayes, 7:30-10:30pm
    • Friday July 19 – Bruce Smelley Band, 7-10pm
    • Saturday July 20 – Justin Tolo, 2-5:00pm
    • Sunday July 21 – Keith Burns, 1-4:00pm

 Annual Events – Spring

• Stargazing – New for 2024, the Town of Dauphin Island is co-hosting a star gazing event on March 9, 2024 (Rain date April 6, 2024) at the East End Beach. Arrive at least 30 minutes before dusk so headlights do not impact the viewing. The Mobile Astronomical Society will be on hand with professional telescopes connected to cameras to see Jupiter, Saturn, Orion constellation, the Andromeda Galaxy and more!
• Kite Day! – March 9, 2024 the kites will be flying at the East End Beach just past Fort Gaines. Emerald Coast Kite Flyers and the Mississippi/Gulf Coast Quad Line Flyers will be on hand with unique and amazing kites. See their demonstration at 11am and then send your own kites soaring afterwards, competition starts at noon with prizes for best homemade kite, highest flying kite, most unique and more!
• 2024 Easter Eggs Hunts – Join the Easter Bunny and take part in the fun on Saturday March 23, 2024 at 10am at Green Park and on March 30, 2024 from 10am to noon at Cadillac Square! The Easter Bunny will be on site for pictures at both of these fun events.
• Easter Sunrise Service at Fort Gaines – Join us for the annual community Easter Sunrise Service and worship with all the Island Churches as the sun rises over the walls of Fort Gaines. Sunday March 31, 2024.
• Discovery Day at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab – April 6, 2024 from10am-2pm at 101 Bienville Blvd. Visitors can learn about current scientific research, explore real scientific laboratories, engage in hands-on science lessons and tour the Alabama Aquarium free for kids with reduced pricing for adults.
• Bird Banding – April 6-10, 2024, it’s Spring Migration time on Dauphin Island. Banding sessions will take place at the Goat Tree Reserve at the corner of Cadillac and Grant Streets from 8am-2pm. Park at nearby Cadillac Square please, 661 Bienville Blvd. Come see and learn about the migratory birds that stopover every spring on the Island!
• Spring POPS Concert – Enjoy this free spring concert by the Mobile Symphonic Pops at Water Tower Plaza on Saturday April 6, 2024 at 5pm. This year the theme is “Fantastic Places” and includes arrangements from Jurassic Park, Mt. Everest, How to Train Your Dragon, Hobbits Dance and many more!
• Annual Motorcycle Show – Features a variety of motorcycles for enthusiasts of all ages at Green Park Sunday April 14, 2024 from 10am to 4pm. Enjoy viewing vintage classics plus live music, food trucks and more.
• Thunder on the Bay – Observe the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay at Historic Fort Gaines on April 22 & 23, 2024. Cannon firings throughout the day, soldiers in period garb and mock battles. Ages 13 and up $10, Ages 5-12 $5 and children 4 and under are FREE.
• St. Francis Arts & Crafts Festival – The longest running art event on the Island, see the arts and crafts of over 50 local and regional artists. Enjoy fine food and lots of fun that takes over the grounds of St. Francis Church on Key Street, Saturday April 27, 2024.
• Dauphin Island Sailboat Regatta – The 60th Annual Sailboat Regatta sets sail on April 27, 2024 and is co-hosted by the Fairhope and Buccaneer Yachts Clubs. Watch the colorful sails float through Mobile Bay toward the Island at this annual event.

 Annual Events – Fall

• Fort Gaines Living History Events – Fort Gaines hosts re-enactors throughout the year and every fall Island visitors can enjoy the annual October Renaissance Festival. Check out the schedule on the Town of Dauphin Island’s Event Calendar
• Trick or Treat at Green Park – Join the little ghouls and goblins on Halloween as they trick or treat at this Town sponsored community event held annually at Green Park.
• Hurricane Run – Annual 5k race takes place on the Island every September and is sponsored by the Port City Pacers. 

Annual Events – Winter

• Coastal Christmas – Enjoy the Holidays with sandmen not snowmen! Join us for the annual Christmas Parade in December as Santa touches down on the Island. Enjoy all the Lights of Dauphin Island activities taking place throughout the month.
  • 12/01/2024 – DI Art Gallery Christmas Open House.
  • 12/06/2024 – Miss DI Christmas Pageant, 7pm at the DI Community Center.
  • 12/07/2024 – Christmas Market in the Park at Green Park
  • 12/07/2024 – Christmas Parade, 11am
  • 12/07/2024 – Lights of Dauphin Island Christmas Tree Lighting – the community trees are lit at Water Tower Plaza at 5:30pm.
  • 12/12/2024 – Movie Night at the Community Center – Polar Express
  • 12/14/2024 – Lights of DI Dash – fun run/walk at Water Tower Plaza, 10:30-11:30am.
  • 12/14/2024 – Boat Parade sets sail at 5pm from the ferry landing on the east end to the Dauphin Island Marina.
  • 12/15/2024 – Movie Night at the Community Center – It’s a Wonderful Life!
• Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens – Located just 20 minutes from the Island, stroll through the world famous Bellingrath Gardens. In this Gulf Coast holiday tradition, guests journey through a dazzling light display that features more than 1,100 set pieces, 3 million lights and 15 scenes throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias. Magic Christmas in Lights begins just after Thanksgiving on November 29, 2024 and runs through January 5, 2025, closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• Mardi Gras Island Style – The Dauphin Island parades kick off carnival each year with parades taking place the first two Saturdays of the Mardi Gras season (about one month prior to Fat Tuesday).
  • The Krewe de la Dauphin parades the Island Saturday, February 1, 2025, parade rolls at 1pm from Fort Gaines to Dauphin Island Elementary.
  • The Peoples Parade the rolls the following Saturday February 8, 2025, parade rolls at 1pm from Fort Gaines to Dauphin Island Elementary.
  • The Krewe of Salty Paws (pet parade) is at 10am Saturday February 15, 2025.
  • Massacre Island Secret Society, Sunday February 16, 2025 at 6:30pm
• Battle of Mobile Bay 5K Run – Sponsored by the Port City Pacers this annual 5K takes place every February. The 2025 race takes place on Saturday February 15.