Unless you have been living under a rock, you know what a “Parrot Head” is: a devoted fan of the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, known for his tropical-themed music and associated lifestyle. I knew that Jimmy had a huge fan base, but I was astounded to learn that these folks have conventions where members of Parrot Heads in Paradise, which has around 200 sanctioned clubs with 20,000 members, meet every year in late October and have been doing so for 33 years!  And the most incredible thing is that these cheeseburger eaters and margarita drinkers, who are dressed in colorful tropical attire, are descending on Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the annual Meeting of the Minds (MOTM) ‘Party with a Purpose’ from Wednesday. October 22 through Sunday, October 26th. 

The first Parrot Head Club was started by Scott Nickerson in Atlanta in 1989.  Fifteen members met at a bar for Margaritas. By the end of 1992, there were clubs in Texas, Florida, Michigan, New York, and, of course, New Orleans.  The First Annual Parrot Head Convention, or “Meeting of the Minds”, was organized by Jerry Diaz of the Beaumont club to take place in New Orleans. Approximately 80 people attended, and all had a fantastic time. After 8 years in NOLA, the convention moved to Key West and stayed for 25 years. For the past 3 years, Gulf Shores has been the place, and according to Vincent Macqueen, the media contact I talked to, it’s not going anywhere soon. “For five days, there is music, games, and charity giving. Last year, fans raised more than $37,000 for local and national charities.”

The music lineup is amazing with performances from The Landshark Band, Wheeland Brothers, Jesse Rice Band, Grammy award-winning artist Gramps Morgan, and many more. The venues include Lulus, The Hangout, and the Flora Bama. Gulf Shores is going to be a great big party! On the website, the schedule has live music happening all day, every day at various locations in the town. Vince says,“ It's like a circus coming to town: we set up the event and musicians play side gigs all over the place, but the main stage will be at the Hangout.”

Besides music, there is a celebrity Putt Putt tournament and the Celebrity Tropolympics, hosted by Renee Adams and Donny Brewer.  There will also be a blood drive, a toy and shoe drive, a 5k run, and a second line at LuLu’s in support of local breast cancer patients. The Flora Bama will host Parrot Heads on Brasway on Sunday, another event for breast cancer awareness.

Sounds like a ton of fun, and the good news is that you don't have to belong to a parrot head club to enjoy all of these festivities. Day passes are available to the public and can be purchased at the Hang Out starting on Thursday, October 23rd.

Vince says that the main draw for Parrot Heads is escapism. “We put on grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, and flip-flops, and all our troubles go away. Every concert is like a family reunion, and I have made new friends from all over. Jimmy Buffett showed up 4 times at the convention in Key West and told us to keep the party going, and that's what we've done.”

So get your Fins up and enjoy a long weekend of fun and games, music, and charitable giving, and consider starting your own Parrot Head Club! And as Jimmy sang,“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”

Posted 
Oct 22, 2025
 in 
Events That Inspire
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