A long-standing June tradition in Orange Beach has been canceled. The Orange Beach Fire Department made the hard decision to cancel the 54^th Annual BBQ due to the COVID-19 quarantine and public health order.

The barbecue serves a dual purpose: to bring the community together and to raise funds for the fire department. The sales of roughly 15,000 tickets each year help buy equipment that is not in the budget, such as CPR Manikins, pay for fire prevention programs at local schools and make donations to families that lose their homes to fire.

Fire Marshal Craig Stephenson remembers attending the event in the 70s.

“I remember going to the barbecue back in the 70s when my family came down here on the weekends. It means a lot t to the community and the fire department,” he said.

It is not just the locals that attend this annual event. “People from all over the United States who have been to Orange Beach come to get some barbecue. We send out 15,000 mailings with tickets each year to people all over and if they cannot get here for the barbecue, they just donate money. When this happens, we usually give those butts the less fortunate,” Stephenson said.

While the event has been canceled the organizers plan to return in 2021. Stephenson said they are “kicking an idea around about a rib cookout in the fall.”

“We love our community of Orange Beach and want what is best for all. Our community and others have supported this event for many years, and we hope to get past this year and see everyone again in 2021,” Stephenson said.

If you would like to make a donation to the Orange Beach Fire Department donations can be mailed to Orange Beach Fire Dept., P.O. Box 588, Orange Beach, Ala. 36561