Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival is returning to Gulf Shores after a three-year absence from the event calendar. The Waterway Village Merchants Association is now recruiting vendors for the 2027 festival. The event celebrates Cajun culture and Louisiana-style cuisine along the Intracoastal Waterway. It will take place in the Waterway Village Arts & Entertainment District in the heart of Gulf Shores.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2027. Vendor applications must be submitted no later than January 15, 2027. Interested vendors can apply online at jotform.com.

Booth fees are $125 and include the required City of Gulf Shores event license. Festival hours will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with setup available the day before the event. The Waterway Village is located along the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The festival launched in April 2015 as the inaugural Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival. It quickly became one of the Gulf Coast's most popular spring events, drawing more than 10,000 attendees in its peak years. The event featured Zydeco bands from across the South, crawfish, food and beverages, fine arts vendors, retail vendors, and a children's area.

The City of Gulf Shores, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, and the Alabama Beaches Tourism Organization supported the festival in past years. The event ran annually until it was paused, missing three consecutive years because of construction on the city's new pedestrian bridge near the Waterway Village. During construction, the 2024 festival was replaced by a Waterway Village Concert Series.

The Waterway Village Merchants Association has said it intends to restore the festival to its former status. The 2027 event will be held in the plaza near the south tower of the city's new pedestrian bridge, near Tacky Jacks and Big Beach Brewing. The City of Gulf Shores approved a $46,000 sponsorship package for the event, including financial support and in-kind services from Public Works, police, fire, and special events staff.

The Waterway Village Merchants Association is seeking a unique and diverse group of vendors to participate. Those with questions can contact the association through its social media page. The application deadline is January 15, 2027.