GULF SHORES, Ala. — The second annual SEC BeachFest won’t close down all of the public beaches at Gulf Place and traffic will be minimally affected, officials said.

“There are no road closures anticipated and roads will remain open to normal traffic flow,” Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs Grant Brown said. “It’s a very limited interruption to the public on the roadways and to traffic.

“All of the infrastructure that was previously supposed to be on the north side next to Alvin’s Island, the two-acre city parking lot will be moved south of the highway so all of that will be available for public parking to go to the beach or the SEC BeachFest.”

The entrance just west of the Hangout and the exit east of the Hangout will be closed, but the Second Street entrance to the Public Beach access are will be open to beachgoers, officials said. This year’s event will be Aug. 15-18.

“The opportunity to provide public parking and access for the residents and visitors will still be busy at that time of the year with people trying to get to the beach on the portion of that beach that’s not closed off is important,” Mayor Robert Craft said. “We need to figure that as soon as we can and get it posted in advance of the event so people can figure out how to get to the event if they want to go.”

Beth Gendler of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism said they are expecting good crowds this year despite the fact there will be no head coaches in attendance.

“We are anticipating 15,000 to 20,000 people this year, but no more than 5,000 to 7,000 at any one time because this is definitely a coming and going type thing,” Gendler said. “This year we won’t be having any of the head coaches so the additional police we had last year won’t be needed.”

Gendler made a presentation to the city council earlier this month to let the city know what festival organizers need as far as services.

“We’re asking for some barricades, power, trash removal, beach combing and some other things,” she said. “The volleyball courts and the stage will actually be on the beach. The grass field like we had last year. A lot of the activities are probably going to have to be expanded to the south side of the Hangout and the vendors will probably move around to the entrance way if we expand.”

Music will start Friday and Saturday nights at 8 with Rodney Atkins taking the stage on Saturday. Friday’s entertainment hasn’t been finalized.

“It has to be approved through the SEC so it will be family friendly entertainment,” Gendler said.

The actual weekend will kick off with Thursday activities and wind up Sunday with a fishing tournament at the Gulf State Park Pier. Participants in the golf and fishing tournaments will pick up packets at The Wharf on Thursday.

“Friday we will open Fanzone at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and it will run until 8 o’clock when the concert will start,” Gendler said. “Saturday there’s golf, but there’s also a fishing tournament that’s been added this year. Fanzone will open up at 10 a.m. following a 5K run.”

Sunday Fanzone will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. when the festival ends. Inbetween there will be lots of other activities going on all three days.

“The volleyball courts and the stage will actually be on the beach and the grass field like we had last year,” Gendler said. “A lot of the activities are probably going to have to be expanded to the south side of the Hangout and the vendors will probably move around to the entrance way if we expand.”

Based on last year’s experience, the city will be able to reduce some of its presence at the festival site.

“The footprint of the police and fire compound can be reduced even further and we can even use it for public parking on a portion of that property,” Brown said. “There will be plenty of access for the public to park in that vicinity both for the festival and to go to the beach. It’s a bit of a different level of event this year than it was last year. It’s a little more downplayed.

“There’s even a question of whether we need full-time fire protection on site. There will be hospital staff on site for first aid and a certain level of services. We need to look at what’s required for police and fire.”