Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau
Media Release
August 6, 2021
Amelia Island, Florida is the perfect destination for travelers still making plans for eventful vacations in 2021. The popular island destination offers an event calendar jam-packed with options through the end of the year, with an exciting mix of family-favorite annual events and first-time festivals and celebrations. For a truly special holiday season, it will be a December to remember on Amelia, with the return of the award-winning Dickens on Centre and other festive affairs that will light up the island with a warm holiday glow. The complete 2021 schedule of events can be found at AmeliaIsland.com/Festivals-and-Events. Highlights include the following:
Culinary Events
Amelia Island’s been brewing something on the culinary scene in recent years, including a thriving craft beer and spirts scene. The Island Hop Craft Beer Festival (Sept. 18) is making its debut, with local breweries First Love Brewing, Mocama Beer Company, and Amelia Island Brewing Company (AIBC) leading the way. At least 30 breweries from around the region will gather together, along with food trucks, local vendors, activities for kids, and even a dog park. IslandHopCraftBeerFest.com
Just a week later, keep things flowing with the AIBC Oktoberfest (Sept. 25), as the Amelia Island Brewing Company pours it on with live music, seasonal beer releases, traditional foods and games.
Fernandina Beach will once again celebrate the city’s status at the birthplace of the modern shrimping during Falling for Shrimp (Oct. 1-3). Focusing on art and delicious shrimp, this beloved family-friendly event will be a bit smaller than the traditional annual Shrimp Festival, but will have more than enough food and fun for everyone. The event is presented by the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Committee in partnership with the City of Fernandina Beach. ShrimpFestival.com/falling-for-shrimp
Culture + Nature Events
Since 2001, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival (Oct. 3-10) has been filling the streets of Fernandina Beach with music. Whether it’s the free Jazz in the Park Concert or a performance by legendary jazz clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, the event has a way for everyone to enjoy a jazzy week of music on Amelia. AmeliaIslandJazzFestival.com
The 25th Annual 8 Flags Car Show (Oct. 16) will be revving up in downtown Fernandina Beach, featuring an array of classic and special interest cars. AmeliaCruizers.org
For traditional family fun, it’s hard to beat the Northeast Florida Fair (Oct. 14-24), just a short drive from Amelia Island. A kaleidoscope of tempting food vendors, thrilling rides, games, events, contests and more, the fair is a guaranteed blast for the whole family. NEFLFair.org
Fernandina Beach Pride Parade and Festival (Oct. 23) is rolling out the rainbow carpet to celebrate love. The family-friendly event will feature vendors, food trucks and live music. FernandinaBeachPride.com
People don’t often think of whales when they think of Florida, but that’s the whole mission of the 2021 Right Whale Festival (Nov. 6-7). This unique family event raises awareness to protect these gentle creatures from extinction. RightWhaleFestival.com
Sports + Wellness Events
Runners can rejoice with two opportunities to hit the pavement. The inaugural Run the Runway 5K (Oct. 16) lets runners take flight on the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport runway. All proceeds benefit PASSAGE, a charity providing STEM education to underprivileged children in Southern America. raceroster.com/events/2021/36856/run-the-runway-5k
The 2021 ZOOMA Amelia Island Women’s Half Marathon, 12k and 5K races (Oct. 23-24) feature flat, scenic courses with a picture-perfect beachfront finish. Meet at the finish line on Sunday for a post-race party, presented by Salt Life Food Shack. Zoomarun.com/race/florida/
The Pétanque Amelia Island Open (Nov. 12-14) 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
Kick off the holiday season at the 15th annual Amelia Island Museum of History Holiday Home Tour (Dec. 4-5). Back in the beautiful Historic Downtown district this year, it will showcase stunning homes across Amelia Island, each decorated for the holidays by a local florist or decorator. AmeliaMuseum.org/HolidayHomeTour
Dickens on Centre (Dec. 9-12) is back in downtown Fernandina Beach this season, channeling Charles Dickens’ early Victorian-era Britain, for a truly memorable event. Free to the public, the event features, costumed characters, themed entertainment, period vendors, festive food and drink. Find updates and more holiday events at AmeliaIsland.com/Dickens.
For a complete listing of special events and vacation planning resources, visit AmeliaIsland.com.
*Please note: All events are subject to change. We will give advance notice where and when possible.
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, AmeliaIsland.com.
Know Before You Go.
Our ‘perfect’ vacation site has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in the country – our rates are high and going up. Our hospital is full, while doctors and other medical personnel who have been fighting this for over a year are experiencing high rates of burn out. Less than half the population is vaccinated, and most folks do not wear a mask or practice social distancing. So if your idea of an ‘eventful vacation’ includes a chance to get your very own case of COVID-19 (special this month is the Delta variation), by all means come ahead. There are lots of folks wandering around town without masks looking for a good game of Russian Roulette.
FYI Runway 5K beneficiary, PASSAGE, provides STEM education to children in South America – not Southern America.