Fort Clinch Presents "History of the American Soldier"
Blues and jazz music are featured during two music festivals happening on Amelia Island in September and October. Cool collector cars will line historic Fernandina’s Centre Street during the 8 Flags Car Show. Anticipation will be thick and parties hardy surrounding the Georgia-Florida football rivalry the last weekend in October. Boules will roll by the Amelia riverfront during the Petanque America Open USA. Lastly, don’t miss Fort Clinch’s “History of the American Solider,” the Florida State Park’s top living history event of the year in November.
September 16 -17, 2011 –Amelia Island Blues Festival. A new event debuting in 2011 is the Blues Festival which begins Friday, Sept. 16 , 3:30 to 10:30 pm and continues on Saturday, Sept. 17 (10:30 am to 10:30 pm). One day tickets are $15, a two-day pass is $25 per person. Plus food, wine, beer and more with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop at Fernandina’s Main Beach Park. An all-star lineup features great blues artists including Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Albert Castiglia, Karl W. Davis and many more. Visit the Amelia Island Blues Festival website for more information. (904)277-0717.
Friday, September 30, 2011 — Sounds on Centre — Free Community Concert 6 to 8 pm features The Les DeMerle Jazz Party Band with special guests, the New Orleans-style TGIF Navy Band. Held in downtown Fernandina’s historic district near the riverfront on Centre Street (just bring a beach chair to sit and relax).
October 2-9, 2011 — Amelia Island Jazz Festival. The Amelia Island Jazz Festival always kicks off with a FREE concert for the community and visitors. During the week long festival, music fans enjoy a diversity of styles ranging from traditional New Orleans jazz and big band swing to bebop and contemporary. Presenting a full slate of established jazz recording artists, past festivals have featured Grammy Award-winning musicians like saxophonist, David Sanborn and pianist Ramsey Lewis. The 2011 Amelia Island Jazz Festival features Grammy Award-winner Buckwheat Zydeco plus Nicole Henry. Expect a full roster of talented musicians and venues during Amelia Island’s Jazz Festival in 2011. Check out the official Amelia Island Jazz Festival website for all details or call 904-504-4772.
8 Flags Car Show, Centre Street
October 15, 2011– 8 Flags Car Show, Amelia Cruizers. The 15th Annual Amelia Cruizers Car Show. There’s extra enjoyment to be had in historic Fernandina on Saturday, October 15th. Special collector vehicles will be showcased along the main historic corridor of Centre Street from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the Amelia Island Cruizers 8 Flags Car Show. The Amelia Cruizers event will surely delight car enthusiasts. But the kids may be amazed to see what cool cars people used to drive throughout various periods of history. Got a classic car? Register to participate.
Georgia-Florida Football Weekend, Friday Oct. 28 – Oct. 29, 2011. Anticipation is thick and excitement grows the last week of October every year on Amelia Island. There’s fun to be had for avid football fans the weekend of October 29, 2011. Folks flock to Amelia Island like migratory birds each year for ritualistic football gatherings surrounding the big game. Known as one of the biggest rivalry games in college football, the Florida-Georgia (or Georgia-Florida) game is played annually in neighboring Jacksonville. Many book lodging on Amelia Island and travel to the nearby stadium. Others arrive here and stay put, attending local football events. Kickoff is 3:30 pm at Jacksonville’s Everbank Field on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Read related article “Amelia Island Autumn: Pumpkins on Porches, Football Frenzy.”
Omni Amelia Island Plantation at the Shops, is hosting a “Georgia-Florida Pre-Game Block Party” (sponsored by Jim Beam) featuring two bands (complimentary admission). Food, wine, and specialty cocktails will be available for purchase. There will also be family activities for kids (bounce houses, games, contests and trick-or-treating). The pre-game party is Friday, October 28, 2011 from 4 pm to midnight. Karl David Blues Band will be on stage 4-7 pm, followed by the Decades rock band 7 to 10 pm. After party continues at the Falcon’s Nest.
November 12, 2011, 9am – 5pm — History of the American Solider at Fort Clinch State Park. While Fort Clinch hosts special re-enactments the first weekend of each month throughout the year, this particular event is the most comprehensive production each year and is a wonderful day to be at Fort Clinch State Park. Browse military displays, watch firing demonstrations, and interact with living historians representing soldiers from every major US military conflict in American history from the Revolutionary War to contemporary times. (Active duty military and veterans are invited to dress in uniform.) Refreshments will be available in the Fort Clinch Canteen. Park admission for is $6 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers), plus a donation of one can of food per person to enter the brick fortress for this event in honor of Veteran’s Day (canned food to be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry). For more info call Fort Clinch at 904-277-7272. Fort Clinch State Park is located at 2601 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.
November 11 – 13, 2011 — Petanque America Open USA. Held on the rvierfront downtown in historic Fernandina Beach, around 200 Petanque players enjoy this tournament on Amelia Island as they compete in this simplified version of outdoor bowling game. Play or watch it, Mediterranean food and wine served. 2011 marks the third annual Petanque America Open in Fernandina Beach. The goal is to toss or roll a number of hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. Training clinics will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011. For more information, visit website www.petanque-america-open.com.
November 18, 2011 and November 20, 2011 – Join the Island Chamber Singers and guest musicians for a performance of classical works by Franz Schubert including his Mass in C, Op.48 and Mass in F (“Deutsche Messe”). Concerts will be held at the Amelia Plantation Chapel (36 Bowman Rd.) on Friday, November 18th at 8pm and Sunday, November 20th at 3pm. An opening night reception will be held at the Fellowship Hall immediately following Friday evening’s performance. Tickets are $15 adults, $5 students, children 5 and under are free. Tickets are available at the door and in advance starting November 1, 2011 at the Amelia Island Welcome Center (102 Centre Street in Fernandina Beach, the old train depot), the AIFBY Chamber of Commerce (961687 Gateway Blvd.), and online at www.IslandChamberSingers.com.
(Also see scrolling event news feed for what’s happening in the next 30 days — more activities in addition to these larger annual events listed above.)
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