Bama Coast Cruisin’ Car Show and Freedom Fest Team Up for a Fall Weekend at The Wharf
The two-day event pairs a car show with live music, a beach cruise, and family activities
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Car enthusiasts along the Alabama Gulf Coast have a reason to mark their calendars this fall. Bama Coast Cruisin' is returning with its annual fall show to The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama, alongside the Orange Beach Freedom Fest. The two-day event draws hundreds of registered participants and thousands of spectators each year. Pre-registration is required for all show-car participants, and spots are filling up.
The fall show is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, at The Wharf on Wharf Parkway in Orange Beach. Registration and check-in will be at the south end of Main Street at The Wharf. Organizers ask all participants to stop at the registration tent upon arrival.
Every registered participant receives a VIP Reserved Parking Space with their name on it. The space is reserved from year to year, giving returning participants the first right to reclaim their same spot the following fall. Participants can re-register their space at the Registration Tent from noon Saturday through noon Sunday.
There are no restrictions on the type of vehicle that can be entered in the show. Cars, trucks, and custom rides of all makes, models, and years are welcome. The event's motto is simple: "Bring your dream ride and cruise with us."
Live music is scheduled both days on the Flora-Bama/CoastAL Stage. Saturday's lineup runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features Mike Diamond, the Tim Roberts Duo, Al & Cathy, and the Willie Traywick Band. Sunday's lineup runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Ronnie Presley, Mike Diamond, and Tyler Ward taking the stage.
A Friday night pre-show party at Yoho Rum & Tacos at The Wharf will feature live music by Jeff Roberts. On Saturday evening, a cruise-in at Tiki & Raw Bar on Canal Road runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with live music by Clay Watson and the Justin Colvard Band.
Sunday's 14-mile Beach Cruise is one of the weekend's most anticipated events. Vehicles line up at 3 p.m., and the cruise departs at 3:15 p.m., traveling from The Wharf down the scenic beach highway and back. The cruise is escorted by police, with average speeds of 20 to 30 mph.
Door prize giveaways for registered participants occur throughout the day, and a 50/50 drawing is held during the Awards Ceremony on Sunday. A free Kids Zone with inflatables is also planned for families attending the event.
The Orange Beach Freedom Fest, held alongside the car show, features arts and crafts, food vendors, entertainment, and children's activities. A Sunday afternoon program at The Wharf Amphitheater is planned, with all proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit. The Gulf Coast Gun Collectors Association is also scheduled to host a Collectible Firearms Show at the Orange Beach Event Center over the weekend.
Participants must pre-register online to reserve a spot. More information and registration are available at bamacoastcruisin.com/fall.
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