Editing Alabama (section)

=== Tourism and entertainment ===
[[File:Orange Beach, Alabama.jpg|thumb|Alabama's beaches are one of the state's major tourist destinations.]]

According to [[Business Insider]], Alabama ranked 14th in most popular states to visit in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-popular-us-states-for-tourism-2014-10|title=A Detailed Look At How Americans Travel Within The US|first=Jennifer|last=Polland|website=Business Insider|access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620204823/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-popular-us-states-for-tourism-2014-10|url-status=live}}</ref> An estimated 26 million tourists visited the state in 2017 and spent $14.3&nbsp;billion, providing directly or indirectly 186,900 jobs in the state,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2018/05/tourist_spending_in_alabama_hi.html|title=Tourist spending in Alabama hit all-time high in 2017|date=May 23, 2018|website=al|access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620204823/https://www.al.com/news/2018/05/tourist_spending_in_alabama_hi.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which includes 362,000 International tourists spending $589&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nusbaum|first=Lydia|date=November 30, 2018|title=International travel agents descend on Alabama|url=https://www.wsfa.com/2018/11/30/international-travel-agents-descend-alabama/|access-date=March 18, 2021|website=WSFA 12 News|archive-date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615194200/https://www.wsfa.com/2018/11/30/international-travel-agents-descend-alabama/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The state is home to various attractions, natural features, parks and events that attract visitors from around the globe, notably the annual [[Hangout Music Festival]], held on the public beaches of [[Gulf Shores, Alabama|Gulf Shores]]; the [[Alabama Shakespeare Festival]], one of the ten largest [[Shakespeare festival]]s in the world;<ref name="encyclo">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1023 |title=Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) |author=Jim Volz |date=February 21, 2007 |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Alabama |publisher=Auburn University |access-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308041406/http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1023 |url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail]], a collection of championship caliber golf courses distributed across the state; casinos such as [[Victoryland]]; amusement parks such as [[Alabama Splash Adventure]]; the [[Riverchase Galleria]], one of the largest shopping centers in the southeast; [[Guntersville Lake]], voted the best lake in Alabama by [[Southern Living]] Magazine readers;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2621|title=Guntersville Dam and Lake|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128212505/http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2621|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Alabama Museum of Natural History]], the oldest museum in the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=Planning Your Alabama Visit |url=http://alabama.travel/visitor-tips/planning |website=alabama.travel.com |publisher=Sweet Home Alabama |access-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924164535/http://alabama.travel/visitor-tips/planning |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mardi&nbsp;Gras&nbsp;Mobile&nbsp;Order of Inca.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S.]]
Mobile is known for having the oldest organized [[Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama|Mardi Gras]] celebration in the United States, beginning in 1703.<ref name=MoMtime>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/timeline.php |title=Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline |work=Museum of Mobile |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719184322/http://www.museumofmobile.com/timeline.php |url-status=live}}</ref> It was also host to the first formally organized Mardi Gras parade in the U.S. in 1830, a tradition that continues to this day.<ref name=MoMtime/> Mardi Gras is an official state holiday in Mobile and Baldwin counties.<ref>{{citation |work=Alabama Code |pages=1–3–8(c) |title=HOLIDAYS ENUMERATED; PERSONAL LEAVE DAYS; STATE HOLIDAYS OBSERVED BY CLOSING OF STATE OFFICES; COMPENSATORY LEAVE DAYS |url=http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/1/3/1-3-8#sthash.22vLhFOr.dpuf |access-date=December 2, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230312/http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/1/3/1-3-8#sthash.22vLhFOr.dpuf |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Mobile's [[Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama|Mardi Gras parade]] was the state's top event, producing the most tourists with an attendance of 892,811. The top attraction was the [[U.S. Space & Rocket Center]] in Huntsville with an attendance of 849,981, followed by the [[Birmingham Zoo]] with 543,090. Of the parks and natural destinations, Alabama's Gulf Coast topped the list with 6,700,000 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190128/alabama-ranks-top-tourist-attractions|title=Alabama ranks top tourist attractions|first=Ken|last=Roberts|website=Tuscaloosa News|access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626162158/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190128/alabama-ranks-top-tourist-attractions|url-status=live}}</ref>

Alabama has historically been a popular region for film shoots due to its diverse landscapes and contrast of environments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.locationshub.com/blog/2013/10/27/four-alabama-filmed-movies-to-watch-in-2013|title=Four Alabama-Filmed Movies to Watch In 2013|website=LocationsHub|date=March 19, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626160701/https://www.locationshub.com/blog/2013/10/27/four-alabama-filmed-movies-to-watch-in-2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Movies filmed in Alabama include ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'', ''[[Get Out]]'', ''[[42 (film)|42]]'', ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'', ''[[Big Fish]]'', ''[[The Final Destination]]'', ''[[Due Date]]'', and ''[[Need for Speed (film)|Need for Speed]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://birminghamwatch.org/growing-list-movies-made-alabama/|title=A Growing List of Movies Have Been Made in Alabama|first=Jackie Romine|last=Walburn|date=December 10, 2018|access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626160701/https://birminghamwatch.org/growing-list-movies-made-alabama/|url-status=live}}</ref>