Holiday Season
It is time to start making your holiday plans Grand. From family gatherings on Thanksgiving to holiday stress escapes, to ringing in the New Year, experts at the Grand Hotel are prepared to help make the holidays magical. From Christmas shopping in Fairhope’s boutiques to spectacular holiday décor revealed the day after Thanksgiving, plans this year at the Grand Hotel are better than ever. Enjoy the massive oaks with twinkling lights, a magnificent gingerbread display featuring a massive replica of the Grand Hotel Historic Main Building, wreaths, poinsettias, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus himself this holiday season. Or relax and recharge from holiday stress with world-class treatments in the spa. Here are some of the Grand options available to our guests this holiday season.
2nd Annual Grand Holiday Stroll
Saturday, November 30; Friday, December 6; Saturday, December 7; Friday, December 13; Saturday, December 14; Friday, December 20; Saturday; December 21; Sunday, December 22; Monday, December 23; Friday, December 27; Saturday, December 28, 2024
Make merry memories with family and friends while exploring the Grand on our Holiday Stroll starting Saturday, November 30th at 5:30pm! As you enter the gates of the resort, adorned lampposts light your way along the main drive. On the left, snuggled in southern foliage, you will find one of Santa’s Workshops and with a little luck, you may even spot an elf or two taking a break from this year’s toy making.
Take a turn around the lagoon along our brick pathway lit with gleaming arches. Along the way is Santa’s Sleigh nestled in a picturesque setting as our three fountains glisten in the background amidst the thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. As you meander along the serene path underneath the canopies of the sprawling oaks, Spanish moss, and evergreen shrubs you’ll find our “Bent Oak”, one of the resort’s many hundred-year oaks. Donned with dozens of larger-than-life illuminated ornaments and a natural “seat”, this magical location provides the perfect backdrop for family photos. On each day of the stroll, November 30th through December 28th from 5:30pm to 8pm, take a rest and savor a Hot Chocolate and S’mores at one of our lagoon-side tables, take pictures with Mrs. Claus, find the Grinch, and more! As the path loops around, look for the giant red sparkling bow peeking above the treetops, garnishing the front of the historic main building.
Before crossing under the Porte-Cochere for a bay-side stroll, witness the spectacular sight of our signature Grand Live Oak draped in over 23,700 Christmas lights, twinkling in the crispness of the evening air. On the south side of the resort, you will find Fleischer Pier illuminated in an angelic glow above the waters of the Mobile Bay. Making your way north along the boardwalk, relax in one of our resort swings or hammocks and listen to the waves lap against the bulkhead creating fond memories that will live in your dreams long after returning to the realities of daily life.
As you enter the Main Building, witness the Gingerbread Display of Grand proportion, created by our talented pastry team. Yummy treats await you in the Local Market. Enjoy fresh pastries, Christmas candies, and gourmet hot beverages fireside in the historic lobby beautifully decorated for the holidays.
Enjoy dinner at Bayside Grill and Southern Roots, or a drink and a bite to eat at our iconic Bucky's Lounge. There's no better way to end, or begin, your stroll. Each ticket includes a coupon for 15% off food in our restaurants (some restrictions apply).
Stop into the Oak and Azalea Boutique to look for that perfect Christmas gift. You can always purchase a gift card for your favorite loved one if you can’t decide on the right gift.
Renaissance Photography will be available in the Lobby for professional photos. Visit Renaissance Portrait Studio or call 251.928.5944 to book your photo session and pay photo deposit after you have purchased your Holiday Stroll tickets.
Share your favorite Grand Holiday Stroll pictures on Instagram with @grandhotelresort for a chance to win a one night stay in 2025. Contest runs from November 30th, 2024 until January 2nd, 2025. Purchase your tickets by visiting https://grandhotelpointclearal.eventbrite.com/.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, November 30th ~ December 7th ~ December 14th ~December 21st, 2024
Santa is coming to the Grand Hotel! Watch your children’s eyes light up with the magic of the season. Children of all ages will enjoy this wonderfully festive event. Please bring your appetite, your Christmas wish list, and your holiday spirit, because Santa is looking forward to seeing you. Come enjoy a full breakfast buffet, including favorites like the Grand omelet, waffle station, and freshly baked North Pole Pastries. Breakfast with Santa will be on Saturday, November 30th ~ December 7th ~ December 14th ~ December 21st. The breakfast buffet will be served from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Azalea Ballroom. Santa will be visiting for professional photographs from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. each Saturday. Advanced ticket purchase required. This very popular holiday tradition sells out fast so encourage guests to visit Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa - Breakfast with Santa to purchase their tickets
Breakfast with Santa Buffet
A Little Time with Santa
Sunday, December 1st ~ December 8th ~ December 15th ~ December 22nd, 2024
Guests will also have “A Little Time with Santa” available to them for those looking for an extra special private photography session with Santa on Sunday, December 1st~December 8th~December 15th~December 22nd. Guests usually dine for Brunch on that day as well, but it is not included, and reservations for both are made separately. To schedule an extra special Santa Experience, please contact the Elf Hotline at (251) 928.5944. Appointments are available between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Portrait packages are purchased through Renaissance Portrait Studio.
Gingerbread House Event
Saturday, December 7th ~ December 14th, 2024 ~ December 21st at 10 am
This event is offered on Saturday, December 7th, 14th, & 21st. Get in the holiday spirit and leave with a gingerbread house creation of your own. Enjoy this fun and interactive class while creating lasting memories with your family. Learn step-by-step how to decorate your own gingerbread house. Taught by our talented Grand chefs, this class has become an annual tradition for many, so get your tickets today! The class size is limited, and the cost is $75+ tax and a transaction fee per gingerbread house decorated. Register online using the link to reservations through Eventbrite. Each ticket includes supplies for one gingerbread house, including real gingerbread parts, icing from the Grand Hotel culinary team, and Christmas candy decorations. During the ticket purchasing process guests will be asked to confirm the number of guests that will be attending with their party, we recommend one house for every 1 to 3 people.
Culinary Academy - How to Decorate a Gingerbread House Tickets
Christmas
Tue, Dec 24th - Wed, Dec 25th, 2024
Christmas is what timeless memories are made of! Join us as we celebrate the most magical time of the year in Grand style. Come enjoy our historic oak trees adorned with festive lights, and our lush grounds full of poinsettias, as well as our neighboring town of Fairhope’s holiday decorations. Activities include feeding the ducks with Rudolph, creating Christmas stockings, Christmas karaoke and family black light party, bonfire with s’mores, Rudolph PJ party, and much more! Dine in Southern Roots on Christmas Eve and enjoy our Christmas Brunch holiday buffet on Christmas Day in our Historic Grand Hall or Grand Ballroom.
Grand Hall Christmas Buffet
Christmas Eve Menu
Christmas Brochure
New Years Eve
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024
End the year with a great meal in Southern Roots or Bayside Grill, relaxing by a fire, or cozying up with room service for two in your suite. Celebrate the end of 2024 in Grand style, suited just for you. Wake up and start 2025 with a sunrise view, a brisk walk, a round of golf, a spa treatment, or writing resolutions on a glider under massive oak trees. Happy New Year. Registered guests at the Grand can enjoy our dining outlets on NYE.- Southern Roots – New Year’s Eve Special Prix Fixe Menu – 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Reservations are required along with a valid credit card to guarantee the reservation. Join us afterward in Bucky’s Lounge for Live Entertainment from 8:00 pm to midnight.
- Bayside Grill – Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis for our regular menu – 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Join us afterward in Bucky’s Lounge for Live Entertainment from 8:00 pm-midnight.
- Bucky’s – 11:00 am - midnight. Dave Ellis will be playing 8:00 pm-midnight.
- 1847 Bar – 5:00 pm - midnight. Looking to celebrate the New Year while seeking solace from the flurry of lively crowds? Delight us with your presence in 1847 for a low-key adults-only evening of premium craft cocktails, sophisticated ambiance, and quality conversation with those you hold near and dear. Soft guitar entertainment from 9:00 pm-midnight. Enjoy a complimentary toast AT MIDNIGHT.
NYE Southern Roots
NO Regular Menu
Mardi Gras
Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
A celebration so big it lasts over multiple weeks, Mardi Gras in Mobile is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in the United States. Started by Nicholas Langlois in 1703, fifteen years before New Orleans was founded, the festival began as a French Catholic tradition – a “Fat Tuesday” party to precede the Lenten season. Mardi Gras has evolved on the Alabama Gulf Coast into a mainstream fun-for-the-whole-family celebration filled with public parades, parties, floats, and everyone’s favorite, “throws” – gifts of necklaces, coins, small toys, candy, and moon pies tossed to revelers along the event routes. With numerous parades to catch, including Fairhope’s own Mystic Mutts and Maids of Jubilee, among others, Mardi Gras is a special time to “let the good times roll” and enjoy an unforgettable visit to Alabama.March 4, 2025, Eastern Shore Tentative Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
Friday, February 21
6:45 pm- Apollo’s Mystic Ladies (Daphne)
Saturday, February 22
6:30 pm- Knights of Ecor Rouge (Fairhope)
Friday, February 28
6:45 pm- Maids of Jubilee (Fairhope)
Saturday, March 1
11 am- Foley Parade (Foley)
2 pm- Krewe of Mullet Mates (Mullet Point)
6:00 pm- Mystics of Pleasure (Orange Beach)
6:45 pm- The Shadow Barons (Daphne)
Sunday, March 2
1 pm- Fort Morgan Parading Society (Fort Morgan)
2:29 pm- Loyal Order of the Fire Truck (Daphne)
Monday, March 3 (Lundi Gras)
6:45 pm- Order of Mystic Magnolias (Fairhope)
Tuesday, February 13 (Fat Tuesday)
10 am- Gulf Shores Parade
(Gulf Shores)
2 pm- Orange Beach Parade (Orange Beach)
Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 14th, 2025
The best place to pull out all the stops for your loved one this year is the Grand Hotel. Enjoy our newly transformed resort and the amazing sunsets of Mobile Bay. There’s just something about spending Valentine’s Day at a historic hotel that makes the romantic vibes ring stronger.
Easter
Thu, April 17th thru Mon, April 21st, 2025
Easter’s arrival brings a sense of renewal – a perfect time to renew our joy in traditions and celebrations – and our bonds with family and friends. From decorating Easter baskets to donning one’s “Easter best,” the Grand Hotel has been treasuring the magic of Easter for over a century, as host to one of the South’s grandest holiday weekends. With spring in the air, the Grand Hotel blossoms with activities and festivities – our Easter itinerary is choc-a-block with ways to enjoy our pool, beach, restaurants, shops, beautiful in-bloom grounds, and our 15,000 Easter egg hunt.
The Grand Hotel will offer the following additional dining options for the Easter weekend:
Enjoy our Easter Buffet on Sunday, April 20th, 2025
Memorial Day
Fri, May 23rd – Mon, May 26th, 2025
Join us as we celebrate the start of summer with fun activities for guests of all ages. Weekend activities start with the hotel welcome reception, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, bonfires, Grand Carnival, face painters, a dive-in movie, bingo, watermelon eating contests, and much more.
Independence Day
July 1st - 13th 2025
Celebrate our nation's birthday in grand style at our annual 4th of July Celebration. Enjoy the resort's firework display on July 3rd (Grand BBQ is also on July 3rd), live music, and a multitude of activities designed for the whole family to enjoy (hotel welcome reception, power jump, giant slide, face painters, black light party, dive in movie, bingo, water balloon toss, watermelon eating contest, seashell hunts and much more).
Labor Day Weekend
Fri, Aug 29th – Mon, Sep 1st, 2025
Just because summer is almost over doesn't mean the fun has to stop! Join us as we celebrate with a weekend of fun activities for guests of all ages. Enjoy our fish fry, BBQ bash, carnival, watermelon eating contest, family Olympics, blue light party, and many other activities at the Grand Hotel.
Thanksgiving
Thu, Nov 27th - Nov 30th, 2025
Be thankful for family and friends. Grand guests can enjoy family fun activities, arts and crafts, Family Olympics, Grand Express train rides, visits with Tom Turkey, family black light party, bonfire with s’mores, sunset walks along Mobile Bay, and warmth of the fire pits, a spectacular Thanksgiving feast and best of all - no dishes to wash. Thanksgiving at the Grand Hotel is legendary for locals and visitors alike. Resort guests can enjoy Thanksgiving in the Grand Hall or a massive buffet in the ballroom during lunch and dinner.
