What's on New Year's Eve 2026 in Orange Beach and Perdido Key?
The big night is the Flora-Bama's New Year's Eve Bash on Thursday, December 31, 2026. It runs a dinner buffet 6–11 PM, has live music on three stages, and serves a breakfast buffet plus a free champagne split at midnight. It's 21+ and costs $75 through Dec 27, then $80. For families, LuLu's in Gulf Shores does a free Noon Year's Eve with a beach ball drop at noon. At noon the next day, the Polar Bear Dip goes into the Gulf.
Flora-Bama New Year's Eve Bash (Perdido Key)
The ticket covers an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet from 6 to 11 PM, with raw oysters, burnt ends and shrimp. Music runs on all three stages "until the party stops." At midnight comes the breakfast buffet (eggs, bacon, pancakes, biscuits and gravy) and a free champagne split. It's 21+ with ID, no exceptions. It's rain or shine, tickets are non-refundable, and Flora-Bama says it will sell out. Prices are $75 for tickets bought Nov–Dec 27 and $80 from Dec 27–31. On Oct 28 the ticket link on their New Year's Eve page still showed "not yet available", so check there.
LuLu's Noon Year's Eve (Gulf Shores, free)
This one is for kids who won't make it to midnight. It runs at LuLu's on Thursday, December 31, 2026, 10 AM–3 PM: a beach ball drops at noon, and there are crafts, face painting, balloon animals, bubble-wrap "fireworks" and a sandcastle contest. It's free (listing).
The Wharf and Pensacola Beach
Last year The Wharf in Orange Beach held "Reelin' in the New Year": free, 5 PM to midnight, with fireworks and a marlin drop at midnight. As of Oct 28 its 2026 date isn't posted. On the Florida side, the Pensacola Beach Chamber usually sets off midnight fireworks at the Boardwalk. We'll update this page when both post dates.
New Year's Day
At noon on January 1, the Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip is free. Go fully under and the beer and the New Year's lunch are on them. Check the water temperature and flag before you go in.
More questions
How much are Flora-Bama New Year's Eve tickets?
$75 bought Nov through Dec 27, 2026, then $80 from Dec 27 to 31. 21+ only, non-refundable, rain or shine.
Is there a family-friendly New Year's Eve near Orange Beach?
Yes. LuLu's Noon Year's Eve in Gulf Shores is free, 10 AM to 3 PM on Dec 31, with a beach ball drop at noon.
Are there New Year's Eve fireworks in Orange Beach?
The Wharf's "Reelin' in the New Year" had midnight fireworks last year. Its 2026 date wasn't posted as of Oct 28, so check before you go.
The beach flag, the Beach Day Score and the morning columns, every day around 7:30. Free. One tap to leave.
Reviewed October 2026. Conditions change daily — for live numbers see Beach Today.