Located on the northeastern coast of Florida, Amelia Island features an incredible calendar of special events throughout the year. Each event celebrates the island’s breathtaking assets, colorful past, or present day arts and entertainment. The small barrier island offers a large array of events including everything from music festivals, such as the Amelia Island Jazz Festival and the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival to niche events such as Concours d’Elegance and the Amelia Island Garden Show. Major annual events scheduled for 2014 include:
Amelia Island Garden Show: April 19-20
With growers and nurseries from around the state, the Amelia Island Garden Show will feature more than 50 vendors with a full assortment of flowers and plants, fruit trees and palms, orchids, herbs, container gardens, native plants, butterfly-friendly plants, shrubs, garden accessories and much more. On-site experts will offer advice about gardening challenges and how to green your home, yard, and garden. Additionally, a Raptor Experience will offer an exceptional opportunity to learn more about Florida’s unique, native and migratory birds of prey. Guests can also enjoy gourmet foods at the Picnic Bench Dining Court. Admission is $5 for Saturday and Sunday, $4 for Sunday only, and children under 12 are free. Visit www.ameliagarden.com or (904) 491-4872 for more details.
51st Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival: May 2-4
For more than half a century, this small crustacean has caused a big sensation in historic downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, where thousands of visitors happily strand themselves for this annual tradition. The popular event features a nationally-recognized juried fine arts and crafts show, antiques, live entertainment, kids’ activities, contests, pirates, free admission and more than 25 food booths serving up the tastiest shrimp you can find, prepared every way possible by local non-profit organizations. For more information, go to www.shrimpfestival.com.
Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival: May 2-June 1
The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival showcases world-renowned artists performing a variety of music styles in intimate and historic settings on Amelia Island. At the 2014 festival, guests can expect the unexpected with an incredible line-up, including Anne Akiko Meyers, the Linden String Quartet, members of the Guarneri String Quartet, Sarah Charness and her hot-pink violin, and more. Known for a repertoire that ranges from Monteverdi to Radiohead, Brooklyn Rider will also perform a newly commissioned work and the finale will feature Chamber Pops, with everything from Bach to The Beatles. For ticket details and additional information, call (904) 261-1779 or visit www.aicmf.com.
Wild Amelia Nature Festival: May 16-18
The 2014 Wild Amelia Nature Festival invites residents and visitors to experience the wild side of Amelia Island. Visitors can enjoy numerous nature tours led by area naturalists and Park Rangers, nature photography workshops taught by local professionals, a nature-based green business expo, The “Kids Niche” nature-based activities for children, critters from the Jacksonville Zoo and more. For tickets or additional information, call (904) 251-0016 or visit www.wildamelia.com.
Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off: August 22-23
The 5th Annual Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off will fire up again on August 22 and 23 on Amelia Island. Barbeque cooking teams from across the country will compete for cash and prizes, and, of course, bragging rights. The event is held at Main Beach on Amelia Island, where the beach meats the brisket. Visit www.gstailgatecookoff.com for more information.
Amelia Island Blues Festival: September 12-13
The sounds of the Blues will return to Amelia Island with the 4th annual Amelia Island Blues Festival. Located at the harbor front in downtown Fernandina Beach, the festival will feature a melting pot of Chicago Blues, Mississippi Delta Blues and Blues/Rock music. The Amelia Island Blues Festival will include two days of outstanding music, great food and drinks and more. Visit www.ameliaislandbluesfest.com for the latest information.
2013 Amelia Island Jazz Festival: October 16-19
The Amelia Island Jazz Festival will once again light up the island with a week-long series of events celebrating the diverse all-American art form of jazz. Under the artistic direction of renowned jazz drummer and bandleader Les DeMerle, the 2014 festival will feature world-class jazz artists in a wide variety of styles, including Contemporary, Bebop, Smooth Jazz, Big Band, Latin, Blues, Dixieland and more. This year’s headliners include trumpeter Randy Brecker and the Brecker Brothers Tribute Band, organist Tony Monaco, the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring vocalist Bonnie Eisele and special guest saxophonist, Hunter Diamond. Performances will take place at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation and several other charming venues around the island. For more information, call (904) 504-4772 or visit www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com.
Petanque America Open: November 15-16
At the largest petanque (“pay-tonk”) tournament in the USA, visitors can join close to 300 petanque players on Amelia Island as they compete in this simplified version of an older outdoor bowling game. The goal is to toss or roll a number of hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. Players take turns and the team that ends up nearest to the target ball when all balls are played, wins. The event features the largest petanque tournament in the U.S. and in 2013 featured five world champions competing along with 128 teams.. For more information, visit www.petanque-america-open.net.
Holiday Cookie Tour of Inns: November 22
The Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association invites the public to enjoy its annual open-house and self-guided walking tour of inns, just in time for the 2013 holiday season. Tour guests will get a new set of decorating ideas this year because seven inns will be decked out in their Christmas finery, while others will offer inspiration for Thanksgiving décor. The event will take place this year on Saturday, November 22 from noon to 5 p.m. Visitors will tour some of the most impressive buildings on the island, sample a signature cookie from each inn, and be entertained with history, complimentary carriage and trolley rides between stops, and collect heirloom recipes along the way. Inquire about special packages available for Tour weekend at your favorite inn. For more information, call (904) 277-2328 or visit ameliaislandinns.com.
Holiday Home Tour in Historic Fernandina Beach: December 5-6
Tour several of Amelia Island’s loveliest, private homes in Fernandina Beach’s historic district during the Amelia Island Museum of History’s eighth annual celebration of the holiday season. Considered the inaugural celebration of the Fernandina festive yuletide season, the Holiday Home Tour will showcase five vintage private homes decorated in the Historic District of Fernandina Beach. For more information, visit www.ameliahometours.com.
About Amelia Island
Northeast Florida’s coastal treasure, Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty. Consistently ranked in the top 10 North American Islands by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, Amelia Island offers long, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and pristine waters. Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf and exclusive dining blend effortlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic districts. The island is home to Fernandina Beach, once a vibrant Victorian seaport village, and now a charming downtown district of eclectic shops, attractions and eateries. Forget the everyday getaway; Come make memories on Amelia Island. For visitor information and online planning, visit www.ameliaisland.com