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Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival

The 11th annual Shrimp & Grits Festival, hosted by Southern Living is taking place this weekend on Jekyll Island.

This festival has gained quite the audience over the years attracting visitors from near and far. The Shrimp & Grits festival holds contests for both professional and individual cooks of the dish each year to decide who is the best in the state. Chefs were chosen to participate in the contest by an online voting system among each region. The defending champion, Blackwater Grill of St. Simons Island, will compete this year against some new challengers including American Catch Seafood Exchange, Deano’s Italian, Goin’ Coastal, The National and West Egg Café among others. This year’s competition is at 11 a.m. Sunday, the final day of the festival that starts Friday afternoon.

One new feature this year is the Jekyll Island Experience Pavilion which features education displays and interaction with wildlife from the Georgia Sea Turtle center as well as some of centers in Georgia. There will also be a Craft Brew Fest for all of the beer fanatics which will feature over 50 beverages to sample. Regional musicians will perform live on three stages, and there will be more than 100 art and craft vendors along the walking paths of the historic district where the festival is held.

All events will be held in the island’s National Landmark Historic District on the western side of the state-owned island.

The festival hours are:

Friday September 16th, 4-9 p.m.

Saturday September 17th, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday September 18th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

General admission to the festival is free, but tickets for admission to the VIP Lounge, DuBignon and Riverfront Lawn lounge options and Craft Brew Fest are available at

 

 

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St. Simons Island Guide to Summer Fun – EXPLORE

Brunswick_GA_Courthouse

Whether it’s your first time to St. Simons Island, or you visit every year, there’s always something new to discover!

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK

Once you’ve combed the beaches, found the tree spirits and climbed the lighthouse, you might want to head over the bridge to Historic Downtown Brunswick. Just seven short miles from St. Simons Island is Brunswick, Georgia. Originally settled in 1738, today Brunswick is a thriving town where historic sites provide the backdrop for modern living.

With an interesting history, visitors to downtown Brunswick find bits and pieces from the town’s past, including WWII Liberty Ship production and city squares bearing English names.

Take a look at our Brunswick Area Guide for more on shopping, antiques, arts & theater, events & festivals and significant architectural and historic sights.

DAY TRIPS

For those on an extended stay on St. Simons Island, there’s even more time to explore the cities, towns and islands that are within an easy drive of St. Simons Island.

The nearby cities and towns surrounding St. Simons Island include Jacksonville, Savannah, Darien, St. Mary’s and the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross. Click here for more information on each.

For a different type of exploration, neighboring islands provide amazing scenery, wildlife and an easy pace. From Segue Tours to wild horses, click here to learn more about Jekyll Island, Cumberland Island and Sapelo Island.

Of course, it’s also possible you’ll forgo the exploration and work on your tan. And we understand that too!

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The Island Treasure Hunt Begins on Jekyll Island

IslandTreasure

In January of each year, St. Simons Island’s neighbor, Jekyll Island, starts a two-month-long treasure hunt called “Island Treasures.” The tradition began in 2002 and residents and visitors alike enjoy the search.

The treasures being sought are handcrafted glass floats. Jekyll Island commissions talented glass artisans from all over the country to hand craft the pieces. Each glass float is unique and has the year imprinted on the bottom.

The symbolic glass floats of today do have historical significance in Coastal Georgia and other beachfront communities. In the early 1900s, fisherman used glass floats on their nets. The floats would break loose and wash ashore and beachcombers loved finding the glass floats. With the use of plastic and Styrofoam floats today, the glass treasures are an echo of the past.

If you find an Island Treasure, you can register it at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center to receive a certificate of authenticity along with a biography of the artist. The Center is open 9am-6pm Monday through Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sundays. The treasure hunt continues now through February, 2014.

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