Shrimp Festival Master Guide
Fernandina Beach is a music-heavy southern coastal town. Here is your ultimate guide to the 61st annual live bands, contests, and spectacles.
61st Annual Stage & Street Schedule
The Vibe: Our small beach town has a massive local music footprint. The Riverfront Stage will be packed all weekend with southern rock, regional funk, and local acoustic legends playing between the pirate invasions and drone shows.
Thu, April 30
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6:00 PM
Pirate Parade Kicks Off
Route: Ash St. to Centre St.
- 7:30 PM • Music The Usual Suspects Sounds on Centre Kickoff
Fri, May 1
- 3:00 PM Food Booths Open
- 6:00 PM Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant
- 7:45 PM • Music The Insiders
- 9:15 PM Pirate Invasion at the Harbor
- 9:30 PM Inaugural Drone Show
Sat, May 2
- 9:30 AM • Music FBHS Jazz Ensemble
- 11:00 AM • Music Morelli & the Groove
- 12:30 PM 57th Annual Beard Contest
- 1:00 PM • Music Door Seven
- 2:30 PM Adult Pirate Contest
- 3:00 PM • Music Gilberto '77
- 4:30 PM Shrimp Eating Contest
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5:00 & 5:30 PM • Music
Billy King
Honey Badgers
Sun, May 3
- 11:00 AM • Music Cinematiic, Eric Alabiso & Hal London
- 1:15 PM Decorated Boat Parade
-
1:30 PM
Blessing of Fleet
Historic Marina Waterfront
- 2:00 PM • Music Trae Pierce & the T-Stones
- 3:00 PM Ice Cream Eating Contest
- 3:30 PM • Festival Finale Swingin’ Medallions "The Party Band of the South" closes it down!
Signature Events (2026)
Wild Amelia Nature Festival
Eco-Tourism Week
Explore the island's unique ecosystem with guided turtle walks, sunset river cruises, and the Eco-Expo.
Chamber Music Festival
Silver Anniversary Season
World-class classical and Americana performances across intimate venues. Season finale on June 13.
Les DeMerle Jazz Festival
World-Class Music
Eight days of contemporary, big band, and swing jazz performances across the island.
2026 Archive
The Amelia Concours
Songwriters Festival
Verified for precision: April 29, 2026.