ORANGE BEACH, AL - The 2016 Orange Beach Seafood Festival is shaping up to be the biggest and best ever.

Last year’s event on the grounds of the Event Center at The Wharf, saw a record crowd of about 13,000 people. Organizers were extremely pleased with the new location but with construction ongoing for the new hotel right next door to the Event Center, a new location needed to be found for 2016.

That new location will be a very short distance away - Main Street at The Wharf. The new location means the same unlimited parking and access, space for a larger Car Show and an area to expand the Kids Zone. Hours will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

“We’ll have 85 arts and crafts vendors, an expanded Car Show and seven area restaurants with food booths,” Lee Rogers, Sports Association President, said. “We’re pleased to have upgraded our entertainment and will be featuring Nashville recording artist Ben Bradford. Opening for Ben will be Davis Nix.”

The festival is the major fundraising event for the Orange Beach Sports Association and supports youth sports related activities in Orange Beach. Proceeds from the event are used to purchase uniforms, equipment, insurance and also pay officials for youth T-ball, baseball and softball programs.

Arts and crafts vendors will be selling an assortment of wares including jewelry, pottery, watercolors, metal items, candles, textile arts, etc. Literally something for everyone.

The car show has been growing each year and depending on weather could attract near 100 vehicles for festival goers to view.

A Kids Zone will feature rock climbing wall, monster water balls & bungees, face painting, activities and games, self-serve lemonade and more.

A huge military display featuring memorabilia from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and more will be set up inside one of the unleased retail spaces near the food booths.

There’s also a huge silent auction that is always a big hit with festival goers. At press time food booths included Cosmo’s Restaurant, The Hot Spot, Doc’s Seafood and Too Sweet.

There is no admission charge to the event and with unlimited parking, everyone should be able to attend.

For up-to-date information call Orange Beach Parks and Recreation at 251-981-1524.