The City of Gulf Shores is considering the future of one of the nation's most popular beach festivals.
While Gulf Shores wants to be known as a family-friendly destination, Hangout Music Fest, which attracts more than 40,000 people a year, has caused concern in the past. City leaders intend to monitor this year's festival closely to ensure the safety and comfort of residents and visitors.
Although this year's festival was rebranded as "Morgan Wallen's Sand in My Boots," those past concerns have caused council members to consider whether to renew a contract with AEG Presents.
AEG Presents is a live entertainment company that produces well-known festivals such as Stagecoach, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Coachella and others.
City councilman Gary Sinak said he is concerned about some of the acts he heard during the 2024 Hangout Fest.
"I do not know who the guy was, who his band was, but he was using some God-awful, foul language," Sinak said. "I thought part of our conditions for approval was they weren't to do that or talk to their bands. Anyway, we need to reiterate on that because that goes out to all the neighborhoods and I don't think it's proper."
Public information officer Grant Brown said the city has little oversight on who performs. However, he said safety measures within the agreement documents allow the city to pull the plug on acts in some cases, but the city has never done that.
"It's a difficult challenge and a challenge that we try to come to the top of every single year," Brown said.
Brown said 2025 is the last year of the current franchise agreement.
"In order for this event to be taking place in the future, 2026 and maybe years beyond, there has to be another action by this body," Brown said to the council. "Some of that action will be prefaced on what happens in this 2025 year. So, this is a year that needs to be a successful year if they want to continue to have this event in Gulf Shores."
Mayor Robert Craft said the transition from Hangout Fest to the Sand in My Boots Festival is partly due to the organizers' awareness of past concerns.
The city has an ambassador program to alleviate negative impacts on the local community. It also has a noise ordinance prohibiting amplified sound after 11 p.m. each day.
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