Shrimp Festival News: Musical Lineup Features Edwin McCain May 3, 2014

Singer-songwriter Edwin McCain, a multi-platinum selling recording artist, will be in northeast Florida at Fernandina’s riverfront to play for fun-loving crowds on Saturday, May 3, 2014 during the 51st Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.

Art Booths Line Centre Street During Shrimp Festival
Art Booths Line Centre Street During Shrimp Festival

Edwin McCain To Play Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach, Florida

Singer-songwriter Edwin McCain, a multi-platinum selling recording artist, will be in northeast Florida at Fernandina’s riverfront to play for fun-loving crowds on Saturday, May 3, 2014 during the 51st Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Admission to the Festival is free, including this performance (all musical entertainment happening during the weekend is complimentary). Holding this event for half a century, Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry in the United States. The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival was first held in 1963 to celebrate the traditional blessing of the shrimp fleet.

The Festival is the top annual event held on Amelia Island, attracting over 100,000 people during the Festival weekend each year. Always held the first weekend in May, this year’s Shrimp Festival dates are May 2-4, 2014 (with the Shrimp Festival Parade kicking things off Thursday evening, May 1st at 6 pm on historic Centre Street).

Known for popular hit songs, “I’ll Be” — watch YouTube video below — and “I Could Not Ask For More,” you may want to put a reminder in your smart phone to be at the riverfront stage by 4:30 pm to see the Shrimp Festival’s featured musical entertainment. Other stage highlights of Saturday, May 3rd prior to Edwin McCain’s appearance are The Beech Street Blues Band at 11 am, The Honey Badgers playing at 1:30 and Dominic Gaudious at 4 pm.

As has been tradition for quite a few years, the Swingin’ Medallions, “Party Band of the South,” will play at 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at Amelia Island’s annual Shrimp Festival.

The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is known as one of the top fine art shows in the southeast, with art booths lining the streets for eight blocks in historic downtown Fernandina. Realize this is a great art festival featuring over 300 juried artists and craftsmen. According to the Island Art Association, the Shrimp Festival’s fully juried arts and crafts exhibit “has been consistently recognized as one of the best art events in North America by Sunshine Artist Magazine.”

PHOTO GALLERY, SCENES OF PREVIOUS SHRIMP FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Hover over photo below to see arrows appear, browse through gallery.)

See full schedule of entertainment happening May 2-4, 2014 at the 51st Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, including the Kid’s Zone stage schedule, when pirates invade, Friday night fireworks, Miss Shrimp Festival contestants on stage, and more.

Note that the Shrimp Festival’s Kid’s Zone has been relocated this year to North 2nd Street (the block between Centre Street and Alachua, two blocks closer to the riverfront), due to construction at the Fernandina Beach library (the traditional place).

While admission is free to the Shrimp Festival (including the free riverfront concerts), there’s limited parking along the side streets downtown and huge attendance, so some will have to pay for parking ($10 with shuttle bus to Festival from the larger sponsored parking lots). Also visit the Shrimp Festival website for further information. Check out the official Shrimp Festival Facebook page for updates.