The Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival in Jekyll Island, Georgia

The Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival is quickly growing into a favorite September tradition in the Golden Isles of Georgia. Traditionally held the third weekend in September, this festival celebrates two traditional southern foods - shrimp and grits - that together are a heavenly combo. The Shrimp and Grits Festival on Jekyll Island has averaged an attendance of over 11,000 patrons from across the Golden Isles of Georgia and northeast Florida.

Visitors from Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and from further inland make their way to the beautiful, historic grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel to listen to music, tour a shrimp boat, visit some arts and crafts vendors, and of course chow down on platefuls of shrimp and grits. I have been attending this festival every year that it has been held and am excited to say that this year was the best year yet. As everyone knows, "practice makes perfect" and the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival is growing better and better every year.

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival - Food Offerings

Bubba Gump might not have to go through his whole list of shrimp possibilities but you can find at least a few shrimp dishes to please you at this festival. The shrimp and grits plate is the star of the show, of course, but other offerings include boiled shrimp and fried shrimp with fries and hush-puppies. A "full bar" of alcoholic beverages is available as well as fresh-squeezed lemonade, soft drinks, and water. Desserts usually include homemade brownies and peach pie as well as ice cream and more.

If shrimp is not your thing, pulled pork barbecue, pizza, corn dogs, funnel cakes and other fair-type offerings are available. One thing I noticed this year is that the shrimp offerings were kept together, as always, AND another nice vendor area adjacent to the shrimp vendors held the other offerings. This was a very nice way to highlight the shrimp "stars" while making the other foods conveniently available.

Most of the shrimp menu items are prepared by restaurants owned by the Jekyll Island Club Hotel or restaurants located on Jekyll Island. Along with the previously mentioned Jekyll Island Club Hotel restaurant, other restaurants include Latitude 31 - from the Jekyll Island dock; and Zachary's - a nice family restaurant located on the ocean side of Jekyll Island. There were a couple more restaurants - whose names I never saw (sorry guys, get better signage!) and of course, the Wild Georgia Shrimp Association who not only provide these wonderful shrimp from the sea but always have a booth and cook them for us as well!

The shrimp and grits food booths are located in a semi-circle opposite the music stage with plenty of seating in-between. This year, the seating was pleasantly located toward the center of this area, making it easy to grab plenty of food while listening to the music. Shade from the sun was also provided with upscale sun-shade coverings that resembled sails in the light coastal breeze. These looked much better than the typical "easy-up" tents or basic tent-coverings that are usually offered at festivals. These light and airy shades, as well as nice, circular, wood tables and wood chairs, added to the ambiance of the festival.

Music Offerings at the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival

We almost always attend the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival on Saturday or Sunday - or both! With work schedules, we haven't made it to the festival on Friday evening but this would be a wonderful time to go. The Shrimp and Grits Festival schedule always includes a nice musical line-up for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Favorites include King City Jazz and Statesboro Blues, as well as the Jeff Beaseley Band, and the Dirty Hairy's. This year we were able to enjoy the Jeff Beaseley Band and the Statesboro Blues on Saturday evening.

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival - Fun for Kids

Options for the kids at the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival grow each year. There were plenty of the inflatable kids toys in the Family Fun Zone as well as face painting. Several tours were also available at or near the festival grounds. Tours associated with the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival include a free tour of a shrimp boat parked at the Jekyll Island dock, a chance to sail around the Golden Isles on a shrimp boat, a helicopter tour of the Golden Isles, a eco-tour, a dolphin tour, and a fishing excursion.

The 2008 festival also included the Disconnected K9's Frisbee Dog Show from nearby Jacksonville, Florida. All of these performing dogs are rescues and perform each year in the Frisbee Dog Championships as well as regionally in Florida and Georgia, nationally, and internationally. I have seen them several times in Jacksonville and they are always a delight. I hope that the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival organizers will invite them back again.

Contests Galore at the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival

If you're going to showcase shrimp and grits, what better way than to showcase some of the chefs behind the great recipes. The Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival invites both professional and amateur chefs to cook for a prize each year. You can watch or you can make your vote count. For a fee, you can join the Consumer Taste Panel and taste test and vote for your favorite chef's shrimp concoction.

Or wait and enter the shrimp eating contest. See if you can eat the most shrimp and win the prize. Several contests for various age groups are a part of the event.

There is always a featured chef with a cook book to purchase. This year's featured chef was Paula Deen's brother, "Uncle Bubba," Earl Hiers, who was available on Saturday to sign his current cookbook.

In addition to the cooking contests there is also a golf tournament and this year a 5k run was also a part of the festivities.

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival - Arts and Crafts

For some reason, arts and crafts shows are not that popular in the Golden Isles. That's just my opinion based on what I have experienced from living in other areas of comparable size to the Golden Isles. I'm not sure why this is so. However, that being said, the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival organizers always do a pretty good job putting together some vendors for this show. They did an especially nice job for 2008.

In previous years, there have been several antiques vendors. While it appeared that there were hardly any antique vendors this year, there was a good mix of arts and crafts to please most any taste. For the most part, the items were clearly handmade. I'm sure the current economic situation has put a damper on the travel schedules of many artists. That being said, the festival organizers did a commendable job of keeping the craft show tasteful and interesting for everyone. I hope to see this section grow in future years.

Even if you don't enjoy the arts and crafts, you will enjoy strolling under graceful live oaks twirled with Spanish moss and stopping in the small shops on the Jekyll Island Club Hotel site. The homes of former servants and other small offices that provided the upkeep for the once-upon-a-time millionaire's club now provide quaint shop space for a Christmas shop, a bookstore, several gift shops, and a birding hobbyist's store. These all remained open during the festival - some appeared to stay open later than usual to accommodate the lingering crowds in late afternoon. That was a thoughtful touch and appreciated by everyone.

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival Includes Fireworks

On Saturday night, after the Statesboro Blues Band finished their set, the lingering crowd was treated to a beautiful fireworks display over the water. I didn't know this would be part of the festivities so it was a welcome surprise.

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival - Definitely Worth Your Time

If you are from the Golden Isles area or within a couple hours drive, the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival should be on your list of activities for September. You can make a day of it, enjoy the festival, and still have time to tour the rest of the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club or even spend some time on the beach at Jekyll Island.

The Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival is definitely worth a drive - whether you are a visitor driving a hundred miles or a local just driving over the bridge!

Sources:

Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival

Jekyll Island Blog