Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  Volunteers at the Annual National Shrimp Festival do more than serve food and drinks. Nearly 1,000 people donate their time each year to keep the event running. Many also raise money for local nonprofits through tips at concession tents. Their efforts have made the festival a major fundraising force.

The 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival is scheduled for October 8–11, 2026, in Gulf Shores. Organized by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, the event draws more than 300,000 attendees over four days. Festival records show that 25 different nonprofits split more than $28,000 in tips during the 2025 event.

Concessions Co-Chair Renee Jones said the volunteer-driven tip program has run for about two decades. Volunteers working four-hour shifts in the concessions tents do not keep any of the tips they collect. Every dollar is set aside for nonprofits, and if more than one organization is represented on a shift, tips are split among the groups.

"For about 20 years the volunteers in our concessions tents have collected money for area non-profits," Jones said. "It surprises many people that the tips we collect at our tents are not split by the volunteers. They are strictly volunteers and donate their time and tip money to help out our area."

Concessions Co-Chair Sam Washington said the program began with a short list of organizations. Early beneficiaries included the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Share the Beach, and Relay For Life. Over time, the list expanded as volunteer groups requested support for their chosen charities.

"We used to give the volunteers a list of non-profits, and they were able to choose one," Washington said. "But then around 2010 or 2011 we began to get groups that wanted to have some of their favorite ones included, so we now let the volunteers of each shift pick a non-profit."

Share the Beach was among the top beneficiaries in 2025, receiving nearly $4,000 from festival tip collections. The program supports sea turtle conservation along the Alabama coast and operates with more than 550 volunteers.

"The Alabama Coastal Foundation truly appreciates all of the support raised at Shrimp Fest," said Share the Beach Director Rachael Holdsworth. "Those donations go towards our Share the Beach sea turtle conservation program to help cover the supplies and equipment needed to successfully operate that amazing effort that has over 550 volunteers. We're looking forward to volunteering with concessions again this year."

Washington said individual volunteers are welcome, but groups have a greater impact. Of 664 total concession slots at the four-day event, many shifts are still available. Washington noted that having more people volunteer together increases the amount of money a preferred organization receives.

Groups that want to support a verified nonprofit through their tips can email Shrimpfestconcessions@gmail.com to confirm their organization's eligibility. Jones said the counting process is transparent, with tips tallied at the end of each four-hour shift and then set aside for the appropriate nonprofit.

"We count the tips at the end of each four-hour shift and set that money aside for the non-profits," Jones said. "In some instances, we will split tips if more than one group is represented, but the more people you get to volunteer together, it improves the amount of money your preferred organization gets. To borrow a phrase, 'The more the merrier.'"

Jones also noted that volunteering comes with its own perks. "Where else can you have fun interacting with customers while wearing a new Shrimp Fest Volunteer t-shirt, enjoy a couple of the beers you just sold after four hours of work, and help out your favorite charity?" Jones said.

Individuals and groups can sign up at myshrimpfest.com by clicking the Volunteer tab, then the Concessions tab, and completing the online form. For more information about the festival, including the music lineup, vendors, and activities, visit myshrimpfest.com. 

The Annual National Shrimp Festival has been held in Gulf Shores since 1971.