60 Years of Shrimp, Stories & Sunshine: Celebrate the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach, Florida — May 2–4, 2025. Discover shrimp, history, culture, and fun in one unforgettable weekend on Amelia Island.

A Legacy Festival in a Legendary Location

If you’re planning a trip to Florida in May 2025, set your sights on Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, where the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival will be celebrating its 60th anniversary — and you don’t want to miss it.

Running May 2nd through May 4th, 2025, this award-winning, family-friendly event is one of the Southeast’s premier festivals — and for good reason. With mouthwatering shrimp, live music, local artisans, and a full lineup of activities for all ages, it’s more than just a festival. It’s a celebration of culture, history, and community.

📅 Festival Schedule at a Glance

🎈 Thursday, May 1st

• 6:00 PM: Shrimp Festival Parade (rain or shine)

• Sounds on Centre: Live music from Amelia Blues Band
  
  

🎉 Friday, May 2nd

• 3:00–10:00 PM: Waterfront food booths open

• 5:30–10:00 PM: Festival Kickoff & Kids Fun Zone
  
  

🎨 Saturday, May 3rd

• 9:00 AM–7:00 PM: Full festival day

• Food booths and Kids Fun Zone open until 8:00 PM
  
  

🌞 Sunday, May 4th

• 10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Festival finale

Click here to see the festival map https://www.shrimpfestival.com/festival-map

Click here to get direction https://www.shrimpfestival.com/directions

Click here to see traffic & road closures https://www.shrimpfestival.com/traffic-road-closures

🦐 It’s All About the Shrimp… and So Much More

Sure, the shrimp is the star — from garlic-grilled to deep-fried deliciousness. But the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is also your chance to:

• Enjoy local seafood specialties

• Shop handmade art, crafts, and collectibles

• Watch the Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant

• Explore the Kids Fun Zone

• Take in live music and cultural performances

• Stroll the streets of historic downtown Fernandina Beach
  
  

This year promises a few surprises as the festival celebrates six decades of unforgettable memories!

🏴 What’s With the Eight Flags?

Amelia Island is the only territory in the U.S. to have flown eight different flags — each one representing a unique era in its history. Over the past 500 years, the island has flown the:

1. French Flag (1562)

2. Spanish Flag (1565, and again 1783)

3. English Flag (1763)

4. Patriot Flag (1812)

5. Green Cross of Florida (1817)

6. Mexican Rebel Flag (early 1800s)

7. Confederate Flag (1861)

8. United States Flag (from 1813 and after the Civil War)
   
   

This multicultural past is embraced year-round and celebrated fully during the festival. As Marlene Schang of the Amelia Island Museum of History says,

“We live with our history and celebrate it.”

While you're in town, make time to visit the Amelia Island Museum of History to dive deeper into the stories behind each flag — and even learn about the island’s earliest residents, the Timucua people, who called the island Napoyca as early as 2500 B.C.

A Celebration Decades in the Making

The first festival, then called the Shrimp Boat Festival, was launched in 1964. Over the years, it's evolved into a regional favorite. From the “Year of the Golden Shrimp” in 2013 to the festival’s triumphant return after its COVID-19 hiatus, each year adds another layer to its legacy.

Now in 2025, we celebrate 60 incredible years of coastal culture, culinary heritage, and community pride.

📍Plan Your Visit to Fernandina Beach

Located on the northern tip of Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach is a historic waterfront town full of charm, with boutique shopping, quaint inns, scenic parks, and pristine beaches. Whether you're coming for the festival or staying to explore, it’s the perfect getaway.

Pro tip: Book accommodations early — the festival draws thousands of visitors, and local lodging fills up fast!

🧡 See You at the 60th Anniversary!

There’s no better time to visit Amelia Island than during the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Come for the food, stay for the history, and leave with unforgettable memories.

“The next island, the fairest of this province, I call Amelia.”
— James Oglethorpe, 1736

Join the celebration May 2–4, 2025.
Bring your appetite, your curiosity, and your love for the sea.

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