07/19/2026
Once a year the white sand of Gulf Shores turns into one of the most unusual music festivals in the country. The Hangout Music Festival puts its stages right on the beach, so the Gulf of Mexico becomes the backdrop and the crowd dances barefoot in the sand.
It began in 2010, just before the Deepwater Horizon spill tested the whole coast, and it grew into a major event drawing tens of thousands of fans to the little beach town every May. Headliners from every corner of pop, rock and hip hop have played with their backs to the water and the sunset behind them.
What makes it different is the setting. Instead of a dusty field, you get sea breeze, beach balls, and the option to cool off in the surf between sets. For a coastal town built on sun and seafood, it was a natural fit.
For a few days each spring, Gulf Shores trades its quiet beach town rhythm for something loud and joyful, and the Gulf keeps rolling in the whole time.
