Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Annual National Shrimp Festival is inviting people to help create a new name for its fans. Organizers have launched an online contest for submissions. The winning entry will receive a swag bag from the festival’s merchandise tent. The contest aims to replace the usual term for attendees.

Entries must be submitted by 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Festival organizers plan to announce the winner during the week of the Annual National Shrimp Festival.

The 53rd festival is scheduled for October 8-11 in Gulf Shores and is organized by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. The event is Alabama’s original beach party and has remained a local tradition since 1971.

Festival Media Chairman Clayton Wallace said he has long disliked using the term attendees in festival news releases. “I’ve written press releases for the Shrimp Festival for more than 20 years, and I have always cringed when the people who come down for the festival are referred to as attendees in my releases,” Wallace said.

“At a recent staff meeting, we batted around the idea of coming up with a name other than attendees,” Wallace said. Staff members decided during that meeting to let festival attendees help decide what to call them.

Festival Co-Chairman Rob Barnas said an online entry form has been created for the contest. “We want Festival fans to go and submit their ideas for naming themselves,” Barnas said.

“We’re looking forward to receiving some creative names, but we also want to make sure the submissions are family-friendly since we’re a family-friendly event.” Organizers said that entries receiving the winning selection from multiple people will be decided by a random drawing.

People may submit entries via the online form by clicking here. The selected winner will receive a bag of items from the Official Annual National Shrimp Festival Merchandise Tent.

“We have the best fans anywhere,” Barnas said. “We want to give them an original nickname they can be proud of. I can’t wait to see the submissions!”

The festival is expected to feature food, art and live music over four days. Organizers said that activities, vendors and the music lineup for this year’s event are available at myshrimpfest.com.