Gulf Shores eyes another year of Hangout Fest in rebranded style after Sand in my Boots success

Gulf Shores city leaders are weighing whether to bring back the wildly popular Sand in My Boots festival for another year, keeping the Hangout Music Festival in its reimagined, more crowd-friendly format.

At a work session on July 21, the City Council reviewed a proposal to extend the festival franchise agreement for 2026, following the overwhelmingly positive reception of this year’s event. The council is expected to vote on the extension at its July 28 meeting.

City officials began the session by revisiting the festival’s roots. Launched in 2010, Hangout Fest was created as a multi-day event to attract visitors and boost business during a traditionally slow pre-Memorial Day weekend. The city required full weekend passes to encourage overnight stays and maximize the economic impact.

Last year, organizers introduced a new twist — a partnership with country music star Morgan Wallen to organize the lineup under a fresh brand, Sand in My Boots. The gamble paid off: the 2025 festival sold out in just 90 minutes, welcoming over 40,000 attendees each day from all 50 states and 19 countries.

City staff said the event delivered a big economic boost, with more than $5 million in tracked spending in the community — about $3 million from festival staff and contractors and more than $2 million in city tax revenue.

Perhaps just as important, residents and businesses liked what they saw. Post-event surveys showed 76% of residents and 86% of businesses supported bringing the festival back. A community meeting at the Cultural Center also reflected broad support, with 19 of 22 speakers voicing approval while urging the city to keep addressing concerns like noise, traffic, and cleanup.

The proposed one-year extension would allow the festival to return May 14–17, 2026, with the setup and takedown periods running from May 4–21. The agreement also leaves room for a possible 2027 encore if both sides agree.

City officials stressed that this year’s Sand in My Boots festival serves as the benchmark, and that keeping contracts short helps maintain accountability and ensures the event continues to attract the more mature, respectful crowd seen this year.

One council member suggested earmarking the roughly $2 million in annual city revenue from the festival for projects residents can see — such as parks, sidewalks, bridge repairs, or even instruments for the school band — rather than simply depositing it into the general fund.

Questions also came up about how much control the city has over the festival’s format. Officials confirmed that the short-term contract structure is designed to keep the event aligned with the city’s expectations and to prevent a return to the more unruly atmosphere seen in earlier years.

There was also discussion about ensuring the beach is fully cleaned and ready for summer guests by Memorial Day weekend, a point several residents have raised in recent years.

The city also plans to work with Gulf State Park to provide free beach parking for residents during the entire month of May, including setup, festival days, and takedown — another response to feedback from the community.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].