11 Ways to Spend a Beautiful Day in Fairhope, AL in March

March is always such a beautiful time to visit us in Fairhope, AL. The weather is perfect, the flowers are blooming everywhere, and the Fairhope events calendar is full of unique things to do. It's the start of the Spring festival season with lots of local food, art, music, waterfront activities and fun for everyone in the family. See our list of 11 ways to spend a relaxing March day in Fairhope, AL. Be sure to check the event links to verify times and other information, including ticketing. Need lodging? We've got you covered, beautifully!

The annual Arts & Crafts Festival, held on the 3rd Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in March each year, is a huge hit with both locals and visitors alike. It was recently named one of the top 15 art shows in the nation by the prestigious Sunshine Artist Magazine. Visitors come from far and wide to experience this free 3-day event with over 200 fine arts and crafts exhibitors from all over the United States. We also love the festival food trucks, children's activities, music and local entertainment and we usually take a few Jubilee Suites guests with us to experience the show. Each year there is a featured artist whose chosen piece sets the theme for the show. Check out all the details on the website for the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival.

Coinciding with the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, our Eastern Shore Art Center at 401 Oak Street holds an annual art show outdoors featuring artist booths, live demos, food trucks, and more. The art show has included prestigious, international and regional fine artists for the past 51+ years. Each year, Eastern Shore Art Center accepts an exclusive selection of renowned artists and cutting-edge newcomers to attract the most respected art dealers, collectors, interior designers, and art enthusiasts. Inside the Art Center are permanent and special exhibits, including notable pieces from the Nall Collection of Alabama Art.

Take a leisurely drive into the countryside on 98 E for about 25 miles, and you'll arrive at Elberta Town Park at 13052 Main Street in Elberta, AL. This family-friendly festival is famous for German sausage & sauerkraut, continuous musical entertainment for adults and children, a beer tent, and more than 200 arts & crafts booths. The festival is held twice a year, always on the last Saturday in March and again in October, and all proceeds benefit the Elberta Volunteer Fire Department. This event does not allow pets other than service animals as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act. For more information, check out their Facebook page. This festival was voted the Community Event winner for 2023 in the Gulf Coast Media Best of Baldwin (County) competition. While you're in Elberta, be sure to check out this unusually interesting small town!

This is the only tour of its kind in Fairhope, AL. Try the foods Fairhopians love most at our best restaurants. Add on the cocktail package for three delicious cocktails served by the restaurants. Have fun getting to know other locals and guests in our city. Walk just over a mile in downtown Fairhope and visit 5 restaurants in 3 hours at a leisurely pace, good for most fitness levels. Learn the stories behind the food and the restaurants that created them. All ages welcome, including children. Find out why Southern Living votes Fairhope as one of the “Best Beach Towns in the South.” We've taken guests on this tour, and we all loved it! Check availability, pricing, and make your reservation at their Taste of Fairhope website. This tour is not available during the Arts and Crafts Festival.

Fairhope is a waterfront town directly on Mobile Bay, and your visit won't be complete without some waterfront adventures.  Choose either a private tour or join a group of up to six people to embark on a beautiful 90-minute sunset tour on Mobile Bay with Eastern Shore Charter. Bring your own food and beverages, or add on a custom-designed picnic from Southern Charm Picnic Company. Either way, enjoy the perfect weather we often have in March. We've had the pleasure of cruising with this company, and we can wholeheartedly recommend them to our guests. See the Eastern Shore Charter website for pricing and to make your reservation.

A fine arts celebration of visual, performing, musical, and culinary arts with more than 100 artists. Held at Orange Beach Waterfront Park with food, live music on two stages, and a playground for the kids. The show has won Best Art Show in Alabama three times in the past five years by the luxury magazine Alabama. Parking is limited, but this free festival offers shuttle rides from two local parking lots. Plan to spend the day enjoying some of the best juried art in the nation at this lovely park located on Canal Street on Wolf Bay. Be sure to see their website for hours and exact dates. 

Always a fun and free evening, visitors and locals alike love this monthly street party that starts at the Eastern Shore Art Center at 6pm. Each month a different sponsor provides music,
refreshments, and a chance to say hello to new and old friends while surrounded by fascinating exhibits that change regularly.
Start with dinner at one of our local restaurants, then visit the Eastern Shore Art Center. After you've enjoyed the exhibits, walk down Section Street and find yourself serenaded by pop-up local musicians on street corners, in restaurants and bars, and even local retailers who stay open late this night each month. Come get a taste of living like a local in Fairhope, AL.

Festival-goers enjoy great food, popular blues bands, children’s activities, and arts and crafts vendors at this one-day annual outdoor event held on the second Saturday of March at 125 E. Laurel Avenue in Foley, AL. Sanctioned by both the Alabama Barbecue Association Trail and the Kansas City Barbeque Society, individual and corporate teams compete in several barbecue cook-off award categories. This festival started in 2009 as the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation's biggest fundraiser. All proceeds support the Foundation, which uses the funds to support the community and our schools. See all the details on their website.

Hosted at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Ballyhoo Festival is a fine art and cultural gathering that draws both locals and tourists each year to experience live music, inspiring art, and a shared celebration of American heritage. This 2-day coastal celebration of art and culture also includes a banjo and fiddle contest on Sunday with nine large cash prizes for youth, juniors, and adults. The deadline for entries into the contest is around the middle of February, and no walk-ups will be accepted. Enjoy a weekend of art, food vendors, and musical performances, including a band performance by the Porch Indians Band. For complete information, including dates and times, see their website.

 We love Southern Charm Picnic Company! Many of our guests have chosen to have one of their gorgeous picnics right on our bluff overlooking Mobile Bay, and we can't think of a more beautiful way to top off your stay in Fairhope. Whatever you're celebrating, Southern Charm will help you create a customized picnic with seating, decorations, food, games, fresh flowers and many more unique options all set up beautifully by the staff. Best of all, they do all the cleanup too! Southern Charm does pop-up picnics in Fairhope, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, and Ft. Morgan, AL. Be sure to check out all the possibilities at their website and make your reservations for March when Fairhope's weather is nearly perfect.

At Jubilee Suites, we offer our guests a luxurious, yet comfortable, waterfront experience in our boutique bed and breakfast. Each of our 9 suites is individually decorated, and most have gorgeous views of Mobile Bay. We offer a full made-to-order breakfast each morning in our Bay View great room, free parking, and free use of our kayaks, paddleboards, lawn games, and many other amenities. We'd love to help you plan a getaway you'll always remember. See all our Amenities and Experiences and learn more about our Suites and then book right on our website.  Questions? Contact us and we'll be happy to help. We can't wait to meet you this year!

Dana and Jim Maloney, Innkeepers