Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Today, April 17th, is National Crawfish Day, and if you happen to live along — or be visiting — the Alabama Gulf Coast, the timing couldn't be better. Crawfish season is in full swing, the weather is warming, the patios are open, and local restaurants are rolling out all-you-can-eat deals that are difficult to pass up. Whether you're a longtime Gulf Coast local or a first-time visitor seeking an authentic taste of Southern seafood culture, this is a food holiday worth marking on the calendar.

National Crawfish Day is observed annually on April 17th. The holiday celebrates the humble crawfish — also called crayfish, mudbugs, or crawdads, depending on where you're from—a freshwater crustacean that has become a cornerstone of Gulf Coast cuisine. The day is a reminder to slow down, gather around a pile of boiled crawfish, and enjoy one of the region's most beloved traditions.

April 17th lands right in the heart of crawfish season on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The local season typically runs from mid-February through early summer, with peak availability in spring. That makes April 17 a genuine sweet spot — the crawfish are fat, plentiful, and showing up on menus all over town.

Here are a couple of local restaurants that run weekly all-you-can-eat crawfish specials throughout the spring.

Tacky Jacks

Tacky Jacks has two locations running crawfish specials throughout March and April. The Gulf Shores location hosts all-you-can-eat crawfish every Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. (until sold out), with karaoke running 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Orange Beach, the Tacky Jacks location does the same deal on Sundays starting at 11 a.m., paired with live local music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two locations, two days a week — plenty of chances to get your fill.

The Undertow Bar & Grill

Located at 25025 Canal Road in Orange Beach, The Undertow is the kind of place that feels like it's been there forever — and that's exactly the point. This laid-back dive bar runs an all-you-can-eat buffet on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m. (or until it's gone, which happens). The spread includes crawfish in season alongside Royal Reds, corn on the cob, smoked sausage, and new potatoes. Add live music and cold beer, and you've got a pretty ideal afternoon.

Rouses Markets

Not every crawfish craving strikes on a Saturday. That's where Rouses Markets comes in. Both the Gulf Shores location (1549 Gulf Shores Parkway) and the Orange Beach store (25405 Perdido Beach Boulevard) offer boiled Louisiana crawfish hot from the pot every single day during crawfish season — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you'd rather cook your own, live crawfish are also available by the sack while supplies last. It's the most accessible crawfish option on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and for locals who don't want to wait for the weekend, it's hard to beat. Call your nearest location for daily pricing and availability.

These deals are popular, and they sell out—often earlier than you'd expect. "Until sold out" is not a figure of speech. If the sign says 11 a.m., aim to be there by 11.

There's something genuinely communal about a crawfish boil. You eat with your hands, you share a table with strangers, and the pile in the middle of the table is a kind of equalizer. On the Alabama Gulf Coast, that tradition plays out almost every weekend from February through early summer — on docks and patios, to the sound of live music and the smell of Old Bay and garlic drifting off the water.

National Crawfish Day on April 17 is just an excuse to lean into something the Gulf Coast already does well. Pull up a chair, crack open a crawfish, and enjoy.