Summertime on Dauphin Island means warmer temperatures, extra sunshine, and tons of seasonal events that bring our sleepy island to life. The month of May is a great time to visit the island: there are lots of fun things to do and it’s a little less crowded than the summer months.
Below are a few of the best events and family activities you can take part in while staying at vacation homes on Dauphin Island this month.
Dauphin Island BBQ Fundraiser
Date: May 5th from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
If you’re looking to brush up true Alabama cuisine, be sure to check out the BBQ Fundraiser held in the parking lot next to Waves DI.
This event raises money to support the Alabama Kidney Foundation and the ACP family will be there helping to serve up delicious food and compete to win $500! We appreciate the support, but there’s more than one reason to join us for a day of food and fun. It’s all for a good cause, so bring the family and a pile of napkins.
Tickets are $10 a person.
Annual Sunset Car Show
Date: May 19
If you’re a car aficionado, the annual Sunset Car Show is one of the best things to do while vacationing on the island this month.
Check out dozens of classic and vintage vehicles, or enter your own. Registration is $20 per car (discounts for additional vehicles), and includes a beach bag with logo, live music, karaoke, raffle tickets, and more.
The Car Show will be held at Green Park (301 Lemoyne Dr., Dauphin Island, AL), around the corner from the Dauphin Island Town Hall starting at 9 a.m. Car judging starts at noon, and the awards ceremony begins at 3 p.m.
Thunder on the Bay
Date: May 19 at 2 p.m. to May 20 at 5 p.m.
In commemoration of the upcoming 154th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay, a two-day battle re-enactment will take place in May this year.
Put on by the 6th Alabama Cavalry and the Alabama Division of Reenactors, the re-enactment will take you can a century and a half to the Civil War battle that was eventually won by the Union.
The event starts on May 19 at 2 p.m., with a re-enactment of the Battle of Mobile Bay and at 3:30 p.m. a surrender ceremony. On May 20, there will be a tactical battle in the afternoon at 1 p.m.
One of the most interesting – and educational – family activities on the island, the re-enactment will take place at historic Fort Gaines (51 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL).
Family Movie Nights
Date: May 25 and 31
Start your Memorial Day Weekend off with a free family-friend movie night on the beach.
Bring beach chairs, blankets, and a bag of popcorn for a family night at the “theatre” – also known as West End Beach (at the west end of Bienville Boulevard).
Enjoy screenings of McFarland USA (May 25), an underdog story of a high school cross-country team in southern California, and Furry Vengeance (May 31), a comedy in which woodland animals try to stop a real estate developer from building on their homes.
Both movies start at 8 p.m. A snack vendor will be on site.
Sunset Concert
Date: May 27
Get your toes tapping for Dauphin Island’s annual Sunset Concert series, one of the island’s most popular seasonal events.
This month, enjoy a performance by Yo Jonesy & The Crowned Jewelz, a funk band that plays both well-known covers and original music. This is the second concert in the summer series, which runs until mid-October. The concert runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Admission is $5 per person, and kids 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to benefit the Little Red School House. Please, no pets, glass, or grills.
The concert takes place at West End Beach at the end of Bienville Boulevard on Dauphin Island.
Are you dreaming about your beach vacation? Start planning your trip and find the perfect Dauphin Island vacation rental for you: