The announcement that the Hangout Music Festival, renamed the Sand in My Boots Festival in 2025, will not take place in 2026 has raised concerns about the economic impact.
Each year, the festival generates millions of dollars in tourism revenue for the area, with up to 40,000 people spending each day at hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.
In 2025, the Sand in My Boots Festival was ranked the most expensive in the United States. According to Hard Rock Bet, fans spent an average of $78.75 per hour and $945 per day, compared with $945 per day at Coachella.
Following the announcement that the 2026 festival was canceled, Ginger Harrelson, a newly elected member of the Orange Beach City Council, released a statement voicing those concerns.
"The announcement that neither Hangout Music Festival nor Sand in My Boots will take place in Gulf Shores in May is more than a scheduling update, it represents a serious loss of revenue for our local economy and small businesses," Harrelson stated. "Last year's event pumped an estimated $70 million into South Baldwin County. Restaurants, hotels, short-term vacation rentals, retail shops, charter companies, service workers, and hospitality employees directly benefited from those visitor dollars.
"For many businesses, May marks the beginning of the season," she continued. "Losing a major festival means fewer jobs, bookings, and sales at a time when our coastal economy depends on early-season tourism. This loss will be felt by families, employees, and local businesses across Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. We cannot ignore the economic impact of canceling such a significant event for our community."
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism collects economic numbers for events. The numbers from the 2025 event are not finalized, but the group is hopeful that organizers will have enough time to plan for 2027.
"This event has had a great impact on our area's economy in the past, and we are looking forward to it returning in 2027," President and CEO Beth Gendler stated to 1819 News.
Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said he is hopeful that, with ample time to plan for 2027, organizers will be able to produce a successful festival.
"We're thankful that festival leadership has taken our community's comments about the event seriously and is committed to delivering a world-class festival," said Craft. "We appreciate that they are being thoughtful in creating a lineup that will be impactful to our local economy. All parties are focused on planning a strong and well‑executed music festival, and we look forward to welcoming them back in 2027."
In the meantime, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon told 1819 News he would try to put together a smaller-scale event to bring people to Alabama's beaches.
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