The city of Gulf Shores has opened a process for residents and business owners to weigh in on the future of the Hangout Music Festival and the Sand in My Boots Festival.

The recent Sand in My Boots Festival was the last event to be presented under a 10-year franchise agreement between the city and Hangout festival organizers. While the festival still must go through an annual permitting process, an updated agreement is necessary to provide an overall framework for the relationship between the city and the fest.

Sand in My Boots was billed as a special edition that shifted the multigenre, pop-oriented Hangout to a country-oriented format. It enjoyed a rapid sellout of its 40,000 tickets, something the Hangout Fest hasn’t seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gulf Shores announced Wednesday, May 28, that it had opened two online surveys – one for residents, one for business owners. These will remain open through June 4 at https://gulf-shores-al.civilspace.io/en/projects/music-festival-community-input.

The surveys require participants to provide an email and a home or business address. Questions include “How satisfied are you with the overall impact of the Hangout/Sand In My Boots music festival on the Gulf Shores community,” “How important do you believe the economic benefits (such as tourism and business revenue) from the festival are to Gulf Shores” and “Based on your experience, would you support or oppose the extension of the festival contract in Gulf Shores?”

The business survey likewise requires an email address. Questions include “How has the Hangout/Sand In My Boots music festival affected your business’s revenue during the festival period” and “Would you support or oppose the extension of the festival contract based on your business’s experience?”

In addition to the surveys, a community input meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 5, a Thursday, at the Gulf Shores Cultural Center, 19470 Oak Road W. The meeting will give those attending “the opportunity to review the results of the online survey and share their thoughts in person with City Council members.”

“Before we make any decision about the future of the Hangout/Sand In My Boots Music Festival, it’s essential that we hear from the people who live and work here,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “We want to fully understand how the event affects our residents and businesses, both positively and negatively. Your feedback is crucial to ensuring that any action we take reflects the best interests of our community.”

According to the city, “The feedback collected will play a critical role in the City Council’s decision on whether to proceed with the proposed contract extension.”