Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, presented by Publix Super Markets, will celebrate our 45^th Annual festival on May 2, 3 & 4, 2008, along with  the Pirate Parade to be held on Thursday, May 1^st at 6: 00 p.m. on Centre Street.  Held in the heart of historic downtown Fernandina Beach on beautiful Amelia Island since 1964, the free admission Shrimp Festival is a fully juried arts and crafts show  (300+ booths) recognized by Sunshine Artist Magazine as one of the top 200 outdoor festivals in the United States.  The festival also features Antiques (100+ booths), a Children’s Fun Zone (25+ booths), live entertainment on the Riverfront Stage, 6^th Street Stage and in the Fun Zone, plus shrimp prepared every way imaginable by 25+ food booths all staffed and run exclusively by Nassau County non-profit groups as fund-raisers.  The Shrimp Festival encompasses the 8-block length of Centre Street down to the intra-coastal waterway and one block on both side and hosts over 130,000 visitors annually.  The downtown merchants hold a sidewalk sale during the day on Friday prior to the Festival, which starts at 5:00 pm (Riverfront and Fun Zone only festival areas open on Friday evening).  Pirates entertain the crowd during two “invasions”, one Friday night followed by fireworks and one on Saturday afternoon.  Several contests are held, including the Miss Shrimp Festival Scholarship Pageant, Little Pirate and Big Pirate Contests, and Beard Contest.  Sunday features the Blessing of the Fleet and the Best Decorated Shrimp Boat and Watercraft Contest and Parade.  Public and private school artwork from all schools in Nassau County have a special display area and also compete for prize money.  Free round trip shuttle bus transportation to off-site paid parking staffed by non-profit groups. Further information can be found on the website www.shrimpfestival.com.