Amelia Island Promises Eventful Travel Experience In 2018

  

Fun-filled calendar features wellness, sports, culture, cuisine and festivals

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. – From music events and nature festivals, to sport fishing and holiday celebrations, visitors can count on an eventful visit to Amelia Island, virtually any time in 2018. The popular island getaway hosts a full schedule of signature special events for every season, with springtime hits such as the Amelia Concours Week, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, and the Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Later in the year, visitors flock to the island for fall favorites such as the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, the Pétanque Amelia Island Open, and a sleigh full of holiday events in December, including the Dickens on Centre, the Holiday Homes Tour, and so much more.  

The complete 2018 schedule of events can be found at AmeliaIsland.com/events. Highlights include the following:

Culinary Events

• To celebrate its status as the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, Fernandina Beach’s historic downtown hosts an annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival (May 4-6), an island tradition for more than 50 years. The Shrimp Festival combines a love of shrimp and the best of arts and entertainment, all set in the beautiful historic district. The family-friendly event includes a Pirate Parade, Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant, Kids Fun Zone, Shrimp Run sponsored by The YMCA, fine arts and crafts and antiques vendors, fireworks, and live entertainment. Local shrimp and seafood dishes, ranging from shrimp tacos to shrimp pie, are always the star of the show.  shrimpfestival.com

• Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort will host its 5th Annual Fish to Fork, May 17-20. With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful tree canopies as a backdrop, the weekend will offer an unmatched foodie experience, with true dock-to-dish specialties in a fun and interactive atmosphere.  The resort will welcome renowned chefs from around the country to showcase their fishing and culinary skills, leading up to a final Chef Showdown on Saturday night with a live vote from event guests. Fishtoforkweekend.com  

Culture + Nature Events

• The 17th annual Amelia Island Book Festival (Feb. 15-17) invites avid readers to a three-day celebration of the written word, featuring a luncheon with bestselling author and keynote speaker Adriana Trigiani; a writers’ workshop hosted by New York Times and #1 International Best Selling Author Steve Barry and a ‘face off’ dinner gala against fellow writers Lee Child, Jennifer Armentrout; Karin Slaughter; Sherry Rinker.; and the popular Authors’ Expo and Readers’ Extravaganza, a family festival featuring more than 100 noted authors ranging from emerging to International and New York Times bestsellers. ameliaislandbookfestival.com

• For classic car enthusiasts, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (March 9-11) is springtime’s signature automotive event. Two-time winner of the prestigious International Historic Motoring Awards, “The Amelia” features more than 300 rare vehicles from seldom-seen private collections around the world at The Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Now in its third decade, it has become the centerpiece of an island-wide celebration known as AmeliaConcours Week (March 8-11) featuring auctions and events with Gooding & Company, Werks Reunion, Festivals of Speed, Bonahms and more.ameliaconcoursweek.com

• The 2018 Wild Amelia Nature Festival (May 18-20) invites residents and visitors to experience the wild side of Amelia Island. With a line-up of more than 35 family-friendly events and outdoor experiences, the three-day nature festival includes the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle to its ocean home on Main Beach, in partnership with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center; a sunset nature cruise exploring the intracoastal ecosystem by Amelia River Cruises; an eco-expo with conservation exhibitions, a kid’s niche with a touch tank, silent auction fundraiser, live music and more; and eco-tour nature encounters. wildamelia.org

• Now in its fifteenth year, the Amelia Island Jazz Fest (Oct. 7-14) continues to captivate audiences with world-class performances celebrating the spirit of jazz.Nine-time Grammy award-winning vocalist, Janis Siegel of Manhattan Transfer, performing with the Requinte Trio, and Henry Johnson -- Grammy nominated jazz guitar legend -- are set to headline the 2018 festival. AmeliaIslandJazzFestival.com

• Throughout the spring, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival fills the island with world-class musical artists and performances. The festival’s 2018 season, themed “The Year of the Piano,” presents a wide range of internationally recognized artists in 14 ticketed and four free performances. This year’s lineup includes the decorated Dover Quartet; violin virtuoso Gil Shaham; Amelia Island’s favorite trio of cellist Andres Diaz, pianist Wendy Chen and violinist Chee-Yun; and Grammy-nominated bluegrass band, The Grascals. ameliaislandchambermusicfestival.com

Wellness Events

• The second annual Amelia Island Wellness Festival (Nov. 9-11) will focus on renewing the mind, body and soul. Attendees of the three-day wellness retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island can enjoy educational and inspirational sessions with acclaimed names in yoga, meditation, and fitness.AmeliaIslandwellnessfestival.com
  
• The 2018 ZOOMA Florida Women’s Half Marathon, 12k and 5K races (Oct. 19-21) feature flat, scenic courses with a picture-perfect beachfront finish. The Finish Line of all races leads into an epic Post-Race party at Main Beach. Zoomarun.com/race/florida/

Sporting Events

• The Pétanque Amelia Island Open (Nov. 9-11) is the largest pétanque event in the Americas and draws players and spectators from around the world. The event takes place along the Amelia harbor front and Fernandina Beach historic district. AmeliaIsland.com/petanque

Holiday Events

• The 12^th annual Amelia Island Museum of History Holiday Home Tour (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) showcases stunning beach homes across Amelia Island, each decorated for the holidays by a local florist or decorator.  AmeliaMuseum.org/HolidayHomeTour

• The fourth annual Dickens on Centre (Dec. 7-9) in downtown Fernandina Beach recalls Charles Dickens’s early Victorian–era Britain. Free to the public, the event features horse-drawn carriage rides and period vendors, themed characters and entertainers, along with festive lights, holiday decor and tastes of the holidays.AmeliaIsland.com/Christmas

Visit AmeliaIsland.com/events for a complete listing of 2018 events.

About Amelia Island

Northeast Florida’s coastal treasure, Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty.  Amelia Island offers long, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and pristine waters.  Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf and exclusive dining blend effortlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic districts.  The island is home to Fernandina Beach, once a vibrant Victorian seaport village, and now a charming downtown district of eclectic shops, attractions, and eateries.  Forget the everyday getaway; come make memories on Amelia Island.  For visitor information and online planning, visit AmeliaIsland.com.