While Florida gets most of the attention for its great beaches and Gulf of Mexico waters, Alabama has some prime real estate along those turquoise shores. Gulf Shores is an Alabama city located right along the water with pristine beaches and great waterfront piers and trails. It is a fun, vibrant city with bustling nightlife, and in late May, one of the city’s biggest events is set to make its anticipated return. Hangout Music Festival is headed back to Alabama to make a major splash.
Hangout Music Festival is the biggest music festival set in the Gulf Shores, a massive event that draws out a huge number of concertgoers to the Gulf Shores area. It is a major occasion for the economy. One report from the University of Auburn estimates that the festival has a $47.5 million impact on Gulf Shores and supports around 600 jobs. This is a huge deal in a town with a permanent population under 15,000.
Unfortunately, Gulf Shores missed out on the festival in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Gulf Shores has a significant tourism economy, and COVID-19 impacted them dramatically. However, with travel restrictions loosened, the flow of tourism is returning, and Hangout Music Festival will play a big role in bringing the city back to its normal tourism levels.
Hangout Music Festival first began in 2009 and has quickly risen to become one of the most highly regarded festivals in the nation. It is an award-winning musical event that brings artists covering genres ranging from indie and rock to EDM and rap to the Alabama stage. It has played host to some of the biggest musical acts globally, including big names from Tom Petty and Stevie Wonder to Travis Scott and The Weeknd.
This year, the festival is set to take place from May 20th-22nd, with tickets currently on sale for $339+fees for General Admission passes. It will be a three-day experience set on the beach that will have some of the biggest acts in music featured. The whole occasion takes place on Gulf Shores’ white-sand beaches, and there are numerous nearby hotels, AirBnBs, and more.
The lineup for the 2022 iteration of this festival is top-notch. After nearly three years away, the hype has reached a fever pitch, and many of the biggest current musicians in the country will be playing. The headliners are Post Malone, Fall Out Boy, Zedd, T-Pain, and more for the first day. The second day is headlined by Halsey, Doja Cat, Leon Bridges, and Illenium. The event’s last day features five massive acts in Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Phoebe Bridgers, and Louis the Child.
The incredible lineup isn’t the only appeal to this event. There is a lot to do at the Hangout Music Festival, with an emphasis on good times. There are multiple beach clubs away from the main stage, a beach volleyball area, a Ferris wheel, and even a wellness center. The wellness center will provide hydration IV treatment, massages, and even a hair salon. But one of the most exciting features of this event is the roller disco, where festival-goers can bring back those 70s vibes.
Hangout Music Festival will also have delicious food and beverages served up, hammocks and beach chairs for relaxation, and art installations throughout. If you are ready to make some truly wild decisions at this event, there’s even a wedding chapel! Ceremonies have to be booked in advance, though. There is something for everyone at this event.
Gulf Shores is a popular tourist hotspot but has been hit hard by the pandemic, as have many tourism-based towns in America. The back-to-back cancellations of the Hangout Music Festival were difficult for the town, as it lost out on a massive event that brought millions of dollars to the local economy. But the bad times are in the past, and the good times are ahead. Hangout Music Festival is returning with a bang this year. There is a jam-packed lineup, a huge variety of exciting entertainment options, and thousands of festival-goers with tickets booked. It will be a welcome return to form for this amazing Alabama festival.
