Experiencing a place includes exploring its local flavors and distinctive dishes. Courier asked destinations about their specialties. To see more check out “8 dishes worth the trip.”
For more than six decades, nearly 100 shrimp boats have annually docked in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. It’s the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry (and once considered the shrimping capital of the world), and the people and businesses of Fernandina Beach’s historical downtown pull out all the stops for the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.
Options for enjoying shrimp sound like a line from “Forrest Gump”: grilled shrimp, fried shrimp, Cajun shrimp, boiled shrimp, shrimp tacos, shrimp salad, popcorn shrimp …
One of the premier festivals in the Southeast—and a part of island life for more than 50 years—the Shrimp Festival brings together the love of shrimp and the best of arts and entertainment. Celebrating the opening of the shrimp season, the event (April 30–May 3 this year) includes a parade plus contests for pirate costumes, ice cream eating, and decorated boats.
Visitors can learn about the celebrated crustaceans year-round at the Fernandina Beach Shrimping Museum, and seasonally, the Amelia River Cruises’ two-hour eco-tour takes guests on an interactive exploration in the St. Mary’s River Basin.
Where to try it: Timoti’s Seafood Shak, Lulu’s, and The Salty Pelican, to name a few.
Who to contact: Gil Langley, Amelia Island Tourism Development Council
Photo by Deremer Studios
Support for Courier articles provided by:
Amelia Island Tourism Development Council
Brandywine Valley
Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau
City of Gallup
Maryland Office of Tourism Development
Oneida County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tourist Office for Flanders-Belgium
