Shrimp fest visitors explore the arts
The highlight of each Spring season is the Eight Flags Shrimp Festival held the first weekend of May in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. More than 300 artists, craftsmen, potters, jewelers, and antique dealers showcase their offerings in booths set up in the center of town. The variety is amazing, with a little something for every taste. Speaking of taste, all the food vendors are non-profit groups and they offer more varieties of shrimp than mentioned by Bubba in the Forrest Gump movie. Boiled, fried, pies, twisters, cajun to name a few. Also available are funnel cakes and Byron’s new favorite this year, New Orlean’s style Biegnets (that’s doughnuts to most of us)! The weather this year was delightful with high’s in the upper 70′s and not very humid. Crowds seemed large and lots of visitors were carrying off treasures. There was plenty of music, a fun center for kids and many familiar faces among the artist’s that return each year. This year we had a full house but also managed to have a small wedding in the midst of the festival…a new first for Williams House! As usual parking was a bit crazy with all streets fully engaged and every possible empty lot suddenly producing income as a parking garage. Pirates roamed the streets and we often saw guests returning from the festivities for a bit of rest and relaxation before resuming their quest for the perfect piece of art. One interesting addition this year was a psychic reader near the entrance.
Beautiful lamps
Art and artist
Shrimp pies are popular
Wood as art
Sculpture as art
Creatures of the sea are plentiful
Yard art was also on hand
Bonsai plants
pirates patrol the streets
Shipswheel for sale
Birdhouses
Art work
