AMELIA ISLAND FESTIVALS

FERNANDINA’S FESTIVALS: Amelia Island hosts fun festivals at various times throughout the year to complement the island’s compelling allure. QUICK LINKS TO AMELIA ISLAND’S TOP EVENTS AND FESTIVALS HELD ANNUALLY

February — Amelia Island Film Festival (http://www.ameliaislandfilmfestival.org, 904-335-1110).
February — Amelia Island Book Festival (http://www.bookisland.org/, 904-491-8176 ). Read article about February’s Film & Book Festivals…
March — Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, read Concours article, see photo slideshow
May — Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, read article. Always first weekend in May each year.
May –Wild Amelia Nature Festival (http://www.wildamelia.com, (904-251-0016).
May into June –Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (http://www.aicmf.com, 904-261-177).
October — Amelia Island Jazz Festival (http://www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com).
November — Amelia Island Holiday Cookie Tour of Bed & Breakfast Inns, enjoy each inn’s signature cookie and recipe (http://www.ameliaislandinns.com)
December — Amelia Island Holiday Historic Home Tour (http://www.ameliaislandmuseum.org)

The biggest tourism event of the year held on Amelia Island, the Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival attracts over 100,000 visitors to the island the first weekend in May each year. WATCH AMELIA ISLAND LIVING’S VIDEO FEATURING HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ISLE OF 8 FLAGS SHRIMP FESTIVAL… Get a flavor of this fun island festival held in historic district of Fernandina. This is a fantastic art event with over 300 juried art and craftsmen exhibiting, live musical entertainment at the riverfront, Shrimp Festival parade, Friday night fireworks and pirate invasion by sea into the Fernandina harbour, food (shrimp, shrimp, and more shrimp), kids/family fun zone and more. Learn lots more about the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, and read article about Shrimp Festival..

Find more videos like this on Amelia Island Living.NET

Visit the Shrimp Festival’s official web site at www.ShrimpFestival.com, or call 1-866-4AMELIA.

Amelia Island Film Festival Held Annually (in 2010 FEBRUARY)

The Amelia Island Film Festival will reel off its season in February 2010, a celebration of film screenings, workshops, lectures, exhibits and more at venues across Amelia Island. The film festival screens more than 40 films, including shorts and features, consisting of student, independent, documentaries, Sci-Fi, and classic films. For more information, visit the film festival’s web site www.AmeliaIslandFilmFestival.org or call (904) 335-1110.

Amelia Island Book Festival, Held Annually (in 2010 FEBRUARY)

Amelia Island Book Festival will is held annually in fernandina Beach, Florida. The festival consists of author talks, readings, luncheons and celebrations in historic Fernandina Beach. The festival brings together authors of all generes including novels of nonfiction, mystery, history, adventure, Southern literature, poetry and books for young readers. The event features regional authors and others from around the county, including appearances by New York Times bestsellers.

The main event is an all-day readers’ festival, offering a fabulous smorgasbord of talks and readings by more than 30 authors. The experience affords festival-goers the opportunity to meet and hear best selling authors in a casual, friendly and historic setting. Authors also enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and time for strolling the quaint, charming 19th-century downtown, going for an afternoon sail, or a morning walk beside the surf on the beach. Visitors can browse the “Book Marketplace” to buy books (authors also sign books and greet fans).

Bring the kids too! A children’s area features activities, stories and readings by children’s authors (all free), geared toward kids aged 3-12. See full details of the events, workshops, complete schedule at the book festival’s web site www.bookisland.org.

Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, held annually (usually starts end of May and runs into June). If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival in previous years, don’t miss your chance this year! You need not travel to New York or Europe to hear some of the world’s most accomplished classical musicians. An extraordinary experience presents itself right here in small-town Fernandina Beach to hear classical music at the very highest level.

For those unfamiliar with the Chamber Music Festival, the concept is to bring chamber music into intimate and historic settings on Amelia Island, bringing the music to the people -– those who may normally not attend the symphony. For example, visit Florida’s oldest saloon for “Beer & G Strings” concerts at the historic Palace Saloon, hear a concert at Fort Clinch State Park, at the historic Victorian-era courthouse, or at one of Amelia Island’s churches.

The nationally renowned Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is dedicated to bringing classical music at the highest level to the general public, schools, and senior centers of Amelia Island and surrounding communities of northeastern Florida. For more information visit the Chamber Musical Festival’s website at www.aicmf.com , or call 904-261-1779.

Wild Amelia Nature Festival, held in MAY each year. (The celebration of the area’s local bioregion in 2010 is May 21-23, 2010)

2010 is the “Year of the Egret”. Every year the nature festival selects a different local critter to highlight. Previous honorees were the Painted Bunting, the Gopher Tortoise, and Northern Right Whales. Visit the Wild Amelia Nature Festival’s website at www.WildAmelia.com , (904-251-0016).

Amelia Island Jazz Festival, Held Annually in October

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, 2009’s festival featured Grammy Award-Winning saxophonist, David Sanborn. Expect a full roster of talented musicians and venues at Amelia Island’s Jazz Festival. Check out the official Jazz Festival website for all details. More info 904-504-4772.