Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Fourth of July is a time for celebration. Families gather for fireworks, barbecues, and beach outings in honor of the nation’s independence. With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, many area government offices are making adjustments to their schedules. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and be aware of closures and changes to regular services.

Local cities and Baldwin County have announced their holiday hours, affecting everything from garbage collection to public facility access. Emergency services will remain operational across all municipalities to ensure public safety during the busy holiday.

Also see: Independence Day Festivities Set to Light Up the Coast This Week 

City of Orange Beach

Non-essential city offices in Orange Beach will be closed on Friday, July 4. Trash and recycling routes will not be affected and will continue as scheduled. City offices will resume normal hours on Monday, July 7.

City of Gulf Shores

In Gulf Shores, city administrative offices will be closed on Friday, July 4. Police, fire, and other emergency services will continue normal operations. Yard debris and bulky item pickup scheduled for Friday will instead occur on Thursday, July 3. Republic Services will run its garbage and recycling routes on their regular schedule.

The Gulf Shores City Store will be closed on July 4 and reopen on Saturday, July 5. The Thomas B. Norton Public Library and the Gulf Shores Museum will also be closed on the holiday. The Bodenhamer Recreation Center will open from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 4. The George C. Meyer Tennis Center will be closed, though courts will remain available for public use. The Cultural Center will be closed, while the pickleball courts at the Sportsplex will remain open.

Residents are reminded that fireworks are not allowed within the city’s corporate limits or police jurisdiction. Cooking with propane or charcoal on decks or near multifamily dwellings is also prohibited. Open fires on the beach or in public areas are not allowed.

City of Foley

Foley’s non-emergency city offices will be closed on Friday, July 4. Trash and recycling collections for both Thursday and Friday will be moved to Thursday, July 3. Collection of limbs and yard debris will resume after the holiday.

The Foley Public Library will close on Friday and Saturday. The Holmes Medical Museum and the Foley Depot Railroad Museum will close Friday but reopen Saturday, July 5. The railroad display will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The Graham Creek Nature Preserve’s Nature Center will be closed Friday, while the preserve itself remains open daily during daylight hours.

Baldwin County Commission

All Baldwin County Commission offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Regular operations will resume the following week.