Shrimp festival 2009 begins

GULF SHORES, Ala. - While the beach at Gulf Shores may be empty, the beach front parking lot is bustling with activity. Organizers and vendors prepared for big crowds at the 38th annual National Shrimp Festival.

It’s something locals look forward to each year, but the vendors also have just as good a time.

“This is just great. It’s great. It gets people to come down and it’s a wonderful place. People are so friendly down here,” Jim Morris of Florence, Ala. said.

The Morris family has been coming to the Shrimp Festival for six years. They say it's the only craft show they attend.

“This is not what we do for a living, but this is what we do for vacation. This is a lot of fun. We meet people from all over the place,” Morris said.

Artisans throughout the show agree. Gordon Robertson and his wife drove down from Pulaski, Tenn. to attend the festival for the tenth straight year. The visit has become a tradition for them.

“We enjoy the Gulf. We’ve been coming to the Gulf since the late 70s and this is 10 years as a vendor down here. We really enjoy it,” Robertson said.

While crafters set up their wares, most of the food booths stand empty, as if they’re resting up for the big days ahead. All the menus are already posted, and it appears one can get shrimp made any way imaginable.

So what if you don’t want shrimp? Well, you're in luck. That’s why Kenny Horne and his family made the trip all the way from Springfield, Missouri. His booth brandished signs for hot dogs and funnel cakes.

Some may wonder if the shrimp festival is a good market for vendors who are supplying anything else but shrimp.

“There’s always a market for funnel cakes and hot dogs, I guess. Everywhere, even when someone’s ordering shrimp, they’ve got to have a funnel cake to finish off their dessert,” said Horne.

On Thursday, the aisles will be packed with people enjoying great food, buying arts and crafts and taking in over 40 musical acts.

Ron Kutter, chairman of the festival, was excited about the quality of entertainment this year.

“Friday, October 9, we have Lee Ann Womack, two-time Grammy winner, on the east stage on the 'REMAX of Orange Beach' side, and Saturday night we have rock legends Fog Hat,” said Kutter.

Thursday night The Tip Tops, a local favorite, will be hitting the stage.

The festival will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.