Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Two local groups are inviting the community to take part in America's 250th birthday celebration in a hands-on way. The Orange Beach Garden Club and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber have each launched separate contests tied to the milestone. Both events run through Flag Day and are open to area residents and businesses. 

The nation will mark its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. The Garden Club's Great American Mailbox Challenge runs from May 25th through June 14th. The Chamber's Patriotic Business Decorating Contest runs on the same dates and closes at 5 p.m. on June 14th.

The Mailbox Challenge invites residents of Orange Beach and Ono Island to decorate their mailboxes with a patriotic theme. Nomination forms are available online. Judging will occur after Flag Day, and winners will be announced on July 1st.

The contest is part of the America250Alabama initiative, which is coordinating statewide events leading up to the national celebration. Governor Kay Ivey kicked off the state's official celebration at the Capitol in Montgomery on May 21st, with a performance by Randy Owen and an F-35 fighter jet flyover.

For the Chamber contest, member businesses are encouraged to decorate their storefront windows or office spaces in red, white, and blue. Photos and entry information must be submitted via the online form by 5 p.m. on June 14th. The form goes live on May 25th.

A volunteer committee will review all submitted photos and select a winner. The winning business will be featured in the Chamber's July 7th Chamber Chat newsletter and displayed on the digital board outside the Chamber's Gulf Shores office on Highway 59.

As an added bonus, the winning business will receive a free web banner ad on the Chamber's website homepage for July and August. The Chamber's site drew 69,000 unique visitors in 2025, providing the prize with real exposure.

Both contests offer a local way to participate in what America250Alabama calls the most significant national birthday in most people's lifetimes. With July 4, 2026, just weeks away, organizers hope a strong community turnout will help Orange Beach stand out during the nationwide celebration.

Residents who want to enter the Mailbox Challenge can find the nomination form by clicking here.  Businesses looking to enter the Chamber contest can submit through the Chamber's entry form by clicking here.