Blessing of the Fleet Festival is Shrimply Fantastic in Darien, Georgia

The Blessing of the Fleet Festival in Darien, Georgia is one of those festivals that you will mark your calendar to attend again and again. Located in McIntosh County in southeastern Georgia, Darien has held an annual blessing of the fleet for around 40 years and no one does it better. In recent years the Darien Blessing of the Fleet Festival has become the largest shrimp boat festival on the east coast and in addition to the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony this festival includes a parade, car show, carnival for the kiddies, food, concerts, arts and crafts, and a beautiful fireworks display over the water.

What is a Blessing of the Fleet?
If you've never lived on the coast, you may never have heard of a blessing of the fleet. The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony is a centuries old tradition thought to have begun in southern Europe among Catholic fishermen. This blessing of the fleet seeks divine protection for a safe and bountiful fishing season. During a typical blessing of the fleet, a boat will pass by a landing or approach a bridge and receive a blessing from priests and ministers of various denominations. In most ceremonies, boat owners take the time to spruce up their vessels and even decorate them with streamers, lights, and flags.

Darien, Georgia has held a Blessing of the Fleet ceremony since at least 1970 but the practice in the area is older than that. It is believed that Portuguese fishermen brought the tradition with them when they settled in the Darien area and the ceremony grew in to the Blessing of the Fleet Festival that is held today. For the Darien Blessing of the Fleet ceremony, beautifully decorated shrimp boats take turns approaching the bridge across the Darien River to receive a blessing. The setting along the Darien waterfront is picturesque on any day but is even more so during the Blessing of the Fleet Festival.

Blessing of the Fleet Festival Activities in Darien, Georgia
The majority of activities for the Blessing of the Fleet Festival in Darien, Georgia are held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Both days and nights include music and food and fun. Over 70,000 people will enjoy the festival during the weekend, which tells you this small town really knows how to do a festival right. If you enjoy a good festival with small town flavor you will find something to enjoy here.

The Blessing of the Fleet Festival in Darien, Georgia actually begins mid-week with a worship service on Wednesday evening. The main event begins on Friday evening at 5pm with the opening of the small carnival with rides for the kiddies. Other vendors also begin selling food and wares and the evening concludes with a concert on the riverfront under the stars.

Saturday is bigger and better with even more events. If you have never attended a parade along the coast, then the Blessing of the Fleet Festival parade in Darien, Georgia should not be missed. Boats become floats and clowns and characters take on a decidedly fishy theme. Shrimp and starfish galore take to the streets to walk the parade route and "avast, me hearties," watch out for the pirates, too.

Once the Blessing of the Fleet Festival parade is over, take your pick of t-shirt vendors, carnival rides, and funnel cakes, or enjoy the beautiful selection of goods available in the Art in the Park juried art show produced by the McIntosh Art Association. If you want to partake of local, homemade Darien offerings be sure to check the food booths that are normally clustered on the street and near the bridge-side of the festival. Here local Darien cooks show off their skills and you will taste some of the best fried shrimp, fish, crab cakes, bar-b-que, and desserts that you will find anywhere. The fun continues in the afternoon with a shrimpbox derby and duck race. Usually, a shrimp boat along the riverfront is open for tours. Conclude your Saturday evening at the Blessing of the Fleet Festival with more food and fun. Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and enjoy a concert and fireworks display along the Darien waterfront.

On Sunday come back for more food and at 1pm view the beautiful and moving Blessing of the Fleet. During the actual blessing you will see a microcosm of America in shrimp boats: large and small boats; some new and prosperous-looking; some that have seen better days. All are decorated. All humbly await their turn for a blessing. All are proud to be a part of the historic fishing industry in small town Darien, Georgia.

Directions to the Blessing of the Fleet Festival in Darien, Georgia
Darien, Georgia is just a few miles off I-95 and is located 80 miles from Jacksonville, Florida and 62 miles from Savannah, Georgia. The Blessing of the Fleet Festival makes a lovely day trip from either of these cities. Directions to the festival location and other information can be found at the Blessing of the Fleet website. The Blessing of the Fleet Festival is sponsored by the Darien-McIntosh Chamber of Commerce and is held annually in April.

Source:
Darien, The New Georgia Encyclopedia