Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend

With Amelia River Cruises closed for the Shrimp Festival weekend, many guests ask how to plan their time. We close each year because the waterfront becomes so busy that it’s nearly impossible to reach the boats for an on‑time departure — let alone move 240 passengers safely and reliably for every tour. This year we thought we would help you with planning your Shrimp Festival Weekend.

We will be closed April 30 through May 3, 2026, and will reopen Monday, May 4.

Have no fear — there are plenty of things to enjoy during this year’s Crustacean Celebration.

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Thursday, April 30, 2026

All day long, your local downtown merchants will be holding their traditional Sidewalk Sale.
Shrimp Festival kicks off Thursday evening with the beloved Pirate Parade at 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. As Fernandina Beach celebrates with a “Stars and Shrimps Forever,” themed parade, the waterfront comes alive with music, costumes, and community spirit.

Immediately after the parade, the fun continues with the Sounds on Centre Concert Series, featuring The Usual Suspects on the Pirate Ship Stage.

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Friday, May 1, 2026

Friday brings the official Opening Ceremonies and the first full evening of festival energy.
-All day long, your local downtown merchants will be holding their traditional Sidewalk Sale
-Waterfront Food Booths: 3–10 p.m.
-Waterfront Arts, Crafts & Vendors: 5 p.m. to dusk
-Kids Fun Zone: 6–10 p.m.

The Fernandina Pirates will “invade” around 9:00 p.m., followed by fireworks over the harbor.

Friday Schedule:

5:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. – Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant
7:15 p.m. – Parade Award Ceremony
7:30 p.m. – Miss Shrimp Festival Crowning
7:45 p.m. – The Insiders
9:15 p.m. – Invasion of the Pirates
9:30 p.m. – Fireworks at the Harbor

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Saturday, May 2, 2026

Festival hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Arts & crafts booths line the entire Centre Street corridor.
Kids Fun Zone: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday Schedule:

9:30 a.m. – FBHS Jazz Ensemble
11:00 a.m. – Morelli & the Groove
12:00 p.m. – Invasion of the Pirates Scholarship Awards
12:30 p.m. – Beard Contest
1:00 p.m. – Door Seven
2:30 p.m. – Adult Pirate Contest
3:00 p.m. – Gilberto ’77
4:30 p.m. – Shrimp Eating Contest
5:00 p.m. – Billy King
5:30 p.m. – Honey Badgers

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Festival hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Major attractions include the fine arts show, food booths, shrimp boats, kids zone, concerts, the decorated shrimp boat parade, and the blessing of the Fleet.

Sunday Schedule:

11:00 a.m. – Cinematiic, Eric Alabiso & Hal London
12:15 p.m. – Bean School of Dance
1:15 p.m. – Decorated Shrimp Boat Parade & Contest
1:30 p.m. – Blessing of the Fleet
2:00 p.m. – Trae Pierce & the T‑Stones
3:00 p.m. – Ice Cream Eating Contest & Boat Awards
3:30 p.m. – Swingin’ Medallions
5:00 p.m. – Festival Farewell & Closing

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Parking Tips

Expect traffic, road closures, and one‑way streets. Your best bet is the Park & Ride Shuttle Service.

Official Parking Lots:
Park & Ride – Fernandina Beach High School
$15 donation
Free air‑conditioned shuttle

Park & Walk – Buccaneer Field/Central Park
$20 donation
Short walk to the festival

Accessible Parking:
Library lot at Alachua & 4th
Ash Street between 4th & 5th

Planning Your Shrimp Festival Weekend: Other Things to Do

If you’re looking to avoid the Crustacean Celebration crowds, Amelia Island still has plenty to offer:

Golf at one of our beautiful courses
Visit the Amelia Island Museum of History
Enjoy 13 miles of white sandy beaches
Explore Fort Clinch State Park

Amelia River Cruises Reopens Monday

We will reopen Monday, May 4, beginning with our 10:00 a.m. Cumberland Island Tour.

Have a safe, fun, and memorable Shrimp Festival Weekend.

Categorised in: Amelia Island, History & Community