2026
General Information
When and where is the Shrimp Festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is always held the first weekend in May in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach. In 2027, the festival is Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. The kick-off parade is held on Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m. in Downtown. The main parade takes place from the waterfront east to 8th Street along Centre Street in Historic Downtown.
What are the hours of the festival?
Thursday, April 29, 2027
6 p.m. Shrimp Festival Parade – Rain or Shine
Friday, April 30, 2027
Waterfront Food Booths – 3 to 10 p.m.
Arts, Crafts and Vendors – 5 to dusk
Kids Fun Zone – 5 to 10 p.m.
9 p.m. Pirate Invasion
Saturday, May 1, 2027
Festival – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Waterfront Food booths will be open until 8 p.m.
Kids Fun Zone 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 2, 2027
Festival and Features 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is there an admission charge to attend?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival entrance is 100% free including the Riverfront entertainment. (There may be some tickets needed for special attractions at the Kids Zone). There is a charge to park in the official park-and-ride and park-and-walk parking lots.
Are there any VIP tickets available for any part of this festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is free to attend for anyone; there are no tickets or registrations (except for in certain attractions at the Kids Zone).
What happens if it rains? Is there a rain date for the festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is held rain or shine.
What types of food and drink will be available?
Seafood and shrimp are prominently featured at the festival, but there are food booths and local restaurants offering all kinds of special food, menus and shrimp festival related items throughout the weekend. There is something for everyone! Look for the bright orange flag indicating a food booth features local wild caught shrimp.
Is alcohol allowed or sold at the festival?
Absolutely no outside alcohol or coolers can be brought into to the festival. This rule is strictly enforced. There are beer/wine/wine-based drinks available in the fenced Riverfront Stage area. Downtown restaurants and bars also offer special drinks during the festival to be enjoyed inside their restaurants and patios. Attendees cannot leave the Riverfront area or walk around the festival with alcoholic beverages.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Outside food, drinks and coolers are strictly prohibited.
Are pets allowed at the festival?
Pets are not prohibited at the festival, but pet parents should keep in mind that the festival can be very hot, including pavement and streets. The festival can also be very crowded. Pet owners must always have all pets on leashes per the Fernandina Beach leash ordinance.
Parking and Transportation
Where should I park for the festival?
There are two official parking lots for the festival – the park-and-ride shuttle lot at Fernandina Beach High School and the park-and-walk parking lot at Buccaneer Field. Both are paid parking.
Where should I park for the parade?
There are no official parking lots for the parade. Attendees are urged to carpool or rideshare or arrive early to find a spot in any public parking lot or public parking space in or around the Downtown area. There are street closures for the parade so please be aware of pedestrian-only areas and blocked off parking areas.
Is there any free parking available?
There is not any free parking at any official parking areas at the Festival.
Is there a designated drop-off/pick-up zone for rideshare services?
There is not a designated area for drop-off and pick-up but because of street closures around the festival area it is advised to be picked up or dropped off a couple of blocks from the festival.
Is there bicycle parking available?
There are three areas for bike parking, one at Pineland Bank at Centre Street and North 8th Street, one on Alachua at North 2nd Street and one on the south end of the waterfront/riverfront stage area.
Can I ride my bike, scooter, skateboard, or other wheeled item at the festival?
The Festival area is for pedestrians only, no wheeled transportation is allowed inside the Festival area other than accommodations for the disabled and official Festival or First Responder vehicles. Please see official map for bike rack locations on Festival perimeter.
Is there Accessible Parking for the Disabled?
Yes, please see official map for the locations. Accessible parking is ONLY available to persons with a valid disabled hang tag or license plate clearly displayed.
Event Schedule and Attractions
Where can I find the lineup of the music and other events/entertainment at the festival?
Where can I find the lineup of the contests?
When and where is the parade?
The parade is held in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach on Thursday, April 29 starting at 6 p.m. The main route travels from Front Street east on Centre Street to 8th Street.
Where and when can I tour the shrimp boat?
Health and Safety
What should I bring to the festival (e.g., chairs, umbrella, sunscreen, etc.)?
Given the typically bright, sunny, and warm weather during the first weekend of May, we recommend you prepare for the festival experience by bringing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for essential sun protection. For added comfort during the day, consider wearing comfortable footwear. Seating is available at the Riverfront Stage and at the pocket park “Heritage Park” on Centre Street.
Where are the restrooms located?
See Festival Map for locations Downtown.
There are also portable facilities at both official parking lots.
Are there any first aid stations on-site?
Please see Festival Map.
Is the Festival Safe?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival puts the safety of our attendees and vendors first. We have a strong partnership with the Fernandina Police Department and on- and off-duty officers along with the Police Auxiliary provide security throughout the festival. There will be security measures that attendees see and that they cannot see which include a hardened perimeter surrounding the closed-street festival area. Our security team and police department do an excellent job monitoring for threats and risks before and throughout the festival weekend.
What if I lose something at the festival? Is there a lost and found location?
Please see Festival Map.
Accessibility
Is the festival accessible for people with disabilities?
The Festival is held in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach along closed streets. The sidewalks and streets are both accessible areas for the disabled and include the typical accommodations. There are disabled permit parking areas available (see map). The portable toilet areas offer disabled-accessible restrooms.
Food and Art Vendors
How do I find my favorite vendors?
Please see Festival Map.
Does the Shrimp Festival organization require food booth vendors to sell local/wild caught shrimp?
While not a requirement, the Shrimp Festival Board and Committee monetarily incentivizes volunteer/nonprofit-run food booths to serve dishes made with local wild caught shrimp. See this year’s lineup.
How can I find vendors who are selling wild caught shrimp?
Look for the bright orange flag indicating a food booth features local wild caught shrimp.
How are the art and food vendors selected? Can I become a vendor or exhibitor at the festival?
All vendors are selected through a competitive and juried process several months before the festival. All 2026 slots for vendors, booths, sponsors and artists are closed. Look for 2027 applications on our official website. Applications available in mid-November.
There is more art at the festival than shrimp, why?
The Shrimp Festival was originally created as a celebration during slow months leading up to the official shrimping season. The Island Art Association (IAA) got engaged during the first few festivals to add an attraction to the small gathering. The art component was so popular, the IAA was officially formed from the festival’s early beginnings. Art culture has always been an important part of Fernandina Beach culture. The Isle of Eight Flags Art Festival is one of the largest and most respected juried art festivals in the U.S. and is still curated by the artists and volunteers at the Island Art Association, still headquartered in Downtown Fernandina Beach.
Miscellaneous
Can I volunteer at the festival?
How can I stay updated on festival news?
Check the website at www.shrimpfestival.com and follow our official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Isleof8FlagsShrimpFestival/
Can I fly my drone at the festival?
The flying or operation of drones is prohibited in the festival area by ordinance unless prior approval is received from the Fernandina Beach Police Department and the Shrimp Festival Committee.
Why aren’t there any shrimp boat races?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is known to many from his humble beginnings as a local shrimp boat race event in the 1960s. As the festival evolved and grew, so did our waterfront and the shrimping boats that call Fernandina Beach home. In addition to our harbor and marina being quite different than in the 1960s, shrimpers tell us the fuel and engines needed for such races are cost prohibitive. We enlist the help and advice of our local shrimpers every year and we celebrate all their contributions to the history of the festival and Fernandina Beach.
Where can I buy shrimp festival T-shirts and other souvenirs?
The Merchandise Booths at the festival are the exclusive outlets for all Shrimp Festival gear, swag and other items.
Find the Merchandise at:
- The Waterfront Booth: Open all weekend – Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- 8th & Centre Streets Booth: Open Saturday only
How does the festival support the shrimping industry?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival honors and celebrates the Shrimping Industry and our local shrimpers in various ways. Food booths are incentivized to serve dishes made with local wild caught shrimp. Attendees can also take a tour of a real shrimp boat, the Lady Jane, at the Fernandina Harbor Marina. Attendees can learn more about the industry at Heritage Park which includes displays, education and videos on the industry along with talks by our grand marshal, Captain Captain David Cook of Fernandina Beach. We also host a private appreciation dinner celebration for our shrimpers. The festival continues to celebrate shrimpers and the fishing and boating industry through our Blessing of the Fleet and popular Decorated Shrimp Boat Contest held every year.
Who runs the festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Board and Committee is an independent nonprofit organization. For more than 60 years this festival has been executed 100% by volunteers who lead, plan and implement the festival. The festival is supported by sponsors, the City of Fernandina Beach and the Amelia Island TDC but operates independently from those organizations.
What is Nassau Place and where is it?
Get ready to discover the vibrant spirit of Nassau County’s small business community at the 62nd Anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival! Nassau Place, a marketplace dedicated to showcasing local entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations, is back this year!
Nassau Place features 50 diverse businesses and 17 impactful nonprofits on South 5th Street and South 6th Street. Nassau Place promises a treasure trove of unique finds, handcrafted goods, and community-driven initiatives.
Who makes the money off the Festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is an independent nonprofit organization run 100% by volunteers on the board and committee. The Shrimp Festival is staffed almost entirely by volunteers who raise funds for their nonprofit organizations. The food booths at the Festival are 100% run by nonprofit organizations. The official parking lots, merchandise booths and other official volunteer shifts are also 100% volunteer-run.
In 2025, local nonprofit organizations earned more than $400,000 for their nonprofit organizations through the work at the Festival.
Why are there business exhibitor booths on Centre Street?
The Shrimp Festival is supported by a variety of sponsors that help fund this fun and exciting festival weekend. Part of that support comes from official sponsor businesses who, as part of their sponsorship agreement, are provided with a booth to showcase their business.
Is the Festival funded by the City of Fernandina Beach, the TDC or the Taxpayers?
While the festival is supported through some efforts and collaboration with the City of Fernandina Beach, the Festival is funded by sponsors, partners, vendors and other Festival activities. We are honored to have the City and the Amelia Island (TDC) as sponsors of The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.
Does the “paint” for booths and the tents damage our beautiful, historic streets? Why are you painting the streets with spray paint?
The paint for the booths and tents is temporary spray chalk paint and NOT permanent spray paint. All streets are returned to their normal conditions after the festival.
What is the economic impact of the festival?
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is by far the largest event in Nassau County. It generates more than $15 million in economic impact to the county in just one weekend and attracts more than 150,000 visitors every year.
How does the festival support locals, local businesses, local shrimpers and local artists?
These organizations are all the lifeblood of this festival. Without them, the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival would not exist. The festival benefits all these groups as they are critical and exclusive components of our nonprofit, locally-focused, Nassau County-driven event.