Tags: cooking competition, georgia coast, jekyll island, jekyll island lodging, shrimp, shrimp and grits, shrimp festival, Uncle Bubba
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Held on one of the hidden jewels of the Golden Islands, Jekyll Island, the Shrimp and Grits festival speaks to good old ante bellum Southern culture. Jekyll Island is located in the bottom southeastern corner of Georgia, right on the border of Florida. The island itself is on the edge a becoming a very popular getaway, but currently seems reminds me of Hilton Head 30 years ago, with a few the strip malls, lots of historical sites, well manicured public areas, a few resort hotels like the Jekyll Island Club, cute electrical rental cars to navigate the many paths leading to beautiful beaches, piers, and marsh lands. The Shrimp & Grits Festival is a new venture and only in its 3rd year, but it draws its core attendance from the surrounding areas like Jacksonville, St. Simons, Darien, and Woodbine. People who attend the festival comprise a mixed bag of vacationers, full-time ‘islanders’ and tourists, which bodes well for future festivals-the actual attendance probably ranged anywhere from 20K-30K, which ain’t bad. The festival is comprised of about 150 handmade craftsmen selling their wares, and live music from local bands to appease the wandering ears of attendees. There are also afternoon shows featuring flying frisbee-catching canines, a kid’s area with sliding and jumping gyms, and half hour helicopter rides around the Jekyll Island. And of course, featured are the fresh shrimp and grits, a specialty dish popular along Southern coasts. Many trawlers dot the Georgia and Carolina coasts, fighting foreign imports of cheaper, farm raised variety of this tasty crustacean.
This is an event still in its infancy, but I would definitely mark it on my calendar as a cool festival to attend as either a vendor or simply as a seafood lover. Do some shopping, eat some fresh shrimp gumbo, grits and gravy from great local chefs, and enjoy the ocean breeze. The Shrimp & Grits Festival marks the end of summer, and gives a grand entrance into autumn.