Click on the icon to find this event on Facebook!
  
June 1- July 31 
Turtle Walks 
Explore the beach at night, and learn about the amazing journey of the loggerhead sea turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org
  
June 1 - June 30 
2009 Women’s Golf Month 
Jekyll Island offers a “Ladies Play Day” on Wednesdays for $25.00 ea. Includes 1 hour group lesson, Green Fee & cart. All participants receive one year subscription to Golf Digest! Jekyll Island Golf Course. 912-635-2368.
  
JJune 6 
Golden Isles Family Fishing Derby at Rixen Pond 
Family-friendly fishing event sponsored by DNR.
  
June 8-13 
Nest Fest Week on Jekyll Island 
A week-long celebration Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s anniversary. Educational seminars and outdoor activities all week with a finale event at the Beachdeck on the 13th.
  
June 13 
Jekyll Island Glow Ball Golf Tournament  
Play golf at night using glow-in-the-dark golf balls!
  
June 15-19 
Tournament Tough Tennis Camp I 
Junior players receive instruction to sharpen their skills. (912) 635-3154
  
June 15-19 
Summer Sea Turtle Camp 
Kids ages 6-12 learn how to be junior conservationists.

  
June 19-21 
Summer Junior Golf Camp  
Kids learn basic golf skills from a PGA pro.
  
June 20 - August 8 (Every Saturday) 
Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Family program designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.
  

June 28, 2009 - 6:00 pm 
Sunday Dinner Dance 
Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel offers a special night of gourmet dining and ballroom dancing. Reservation required. 912-635-2600 Ext. 1002
  
July 1 - July 31 
Jekyll Island Family Golf Days  
Kids 14 and under play free with a paying adult. 912-635-2368
  

July 4th 
July 4th Celebration 
Celebrate Independence Day! Big Dawg and Paul DJ Game Show, Reverse Bungee, Bounces Houses, and lots of food. 1-877-4-JEKYLL
  
July 6-10 
Futures of the Game Tennis Camp 
Tennis camp session for beginners and intermediate players. (912) 635-3154
  
July 27-31 
Tournament Tough Tennis Camp II 

Junior players receive instruction to sharpen their skills. (912) 635-3154
  
August 21-22 
Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash 
Dance all weekend to great beach music and sign up to be a judge of delicious bbq in the first annual BBQ Bash. www.jekyllisland.com/bmf
  
September 18 - September 20 
Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival 
A weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods - shrimp & grits. www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits
  

October 28 - October 30 
Georgia Florida Golf Classic  
Gather your teammates for a weekend of Georgia-Florida fun. www.jekyllisland.com/georgiaflorida

Tags: bash, bbq, beach, camp, coastal georgia, festival, georgia festival, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia's jewel, golf, island, jekyll, jekyll island, music, sea turtle, Shrimp & Grits, tennis
Posted in Beachscape, June 2009 | 1 Comment »

We are proud to publish the winners of the 2nd Annual Shrimp & Grits Cooking Competitions.
Amateur Division:
1st Place - Chris Ford of Saint Simons Island, GA
2nd Place - Laurie Saul of Kinston, NC
3rd Place - Missy Roefler and Jason Smith of Fernandina Beach, FL
Consumer Choice Winner - Joe Barnett of Washington, GA

Professional Division:
1st Place - Christopher Hewitt of the Olde Pink House in Savannah, GA
2nd Place - Paul Paskins of Hampton Island
3rd Place - Tim Thomas of Oak Forest Golf Club on Sea Island
Consumer Choice Winner - Tim Thomas of Oak Forest Golf Club on Sea Island

NEXT YEARS DATES: September 19, 20, 21

Tags: 2007, festival, jekyll island, Shrimp & Grits Festival, winners
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By KRISTA HARRIS
The Brunswick NewsWith quick hands, Joe Barnett shoveled out a mound of shrimp and grits to place in a dish.”This is going to be good,” he said with a broad smile and Southern accent.

His creation, “Well, Split My Grits,” was for the Second Annual Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival on Jekyll Island this weekend.

On Saturday, amateur cooks came out to try their luck at creating the most delicious shrimp and grits concoction.

Barnett, from Washington, Ga., was the winner of last year’s amateur competition. He got to cook his signature dish, General Oglethorpe’s Shrimp and Grits, on the Martha Stewart show earlier this year.

“I’m trying something totally different,” he said, taking a break from handing out the dish. “The recipe, Well, Split My Grits, got its name from the football-shaped space in the middle of the grits, which serves as reservoir for a special mixture of cheese and cream spinach.”

Barnett says he has several recipes and lets his family members decide which one to use in competition.
“This was my family’s favorite (this time),” he said, holding up a steaming plate of shrimp and grits covered in fettucine sauce, different seasonings and a secret ingredient.

It was his 15-month old grandniece’s, Cassidy Barnett, favorite and Barnett could not refuse her.

Barnett says this is a great festival for Jekyll Island, which he calls his second home.

“It’s a good thing,” Barnett said. “Give it a little time and it will be a big thing.”

Some people travel from out-of-town to taste the Southern dish.

“I’ve never heard of shrimp and grits,” said Cherrilyn Brooks.

Brooks, her husband Robert, and their two girls, Andrea, 12, and Victoria, 7, traveled from Jacksonville to get their first taste of shrimp and grits. It was also their first time on Jekyll Island.

“I’m excited,” Brooks said, looking around the historic millionaire’s village on Jekyll Island.

“It’s very beautiful.”

As they walked toward the variety of vendors and food booths, the McNeese family was taking a break from the sun underneath an ancient oak near Sans Souci by the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

“We’ve eaten one of everything,” said Buddy McNeese. He and his wife, Mindy, enjoyed the shrimp and grits from Latitude 31, a local restaurant on the Jekyll Island marina, which had a booth set up.

Their 8-year-old son, Campbell, agreed, adding that it “was delicious.”

However, the food was not Campbell’s favorite part of the festival.

He enjoyed rock climbing but admits his younger sister went higher than he did.

“I did,” Hansley Cate, 6, said, grinning proudly.

Her friend, Olivia Ann Packard, 6, says she would rather climb the oak tree, or play with the bubbles from the Bubble Man, Robin Booth, of Stone Mountain.

Mandy McNeese says the family had a wonderful time but wishes the festival had more things for the children to do.

Music blared from the stage set up across from the club hotel. Booths filled with shrimp, grits, funnel cakes, corn dogs and every festival food imaginable lined the park.

On Sunday, the professional chefs set up shop to test their skills at cooking tasteful shrimp and grits dishes.

The whole weekend was filled with loads of Wild Georgia shrimp, grits, music, games and boat rides.

Tags: article, Brunswick News, festival, jekyll island, Shrimp & Grits Festival
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You can almost hear the jazz music in the air. Next weekend Jekyll Island welcomes Bella Sera, Sunset Jazz Festival. We are all crossing our fingers that the weather we have been having recently will continue into that weekend. The days have peaked perfectly in the lower 70s. Also, there are still plenty of VIP tickets left for the VIP dinner and special seating Saturday night. Sesame chicken, burgundy beef, jumbo shrimp on ice, grilled salmon with wine sauce - sound delicious? Sign up to get your VIP meal tickets at www.jekyllisland.com/bellasera.

Tags: Bella Sera, festival, jazz, music, Sunset Jazz Festival, VIP
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Set to take place March 16-17, this two-day festival will combine the sounds of enchanting jazz music with the taste of delectable wines against a backdrop that is pure history. The event will showcase the finest regional jazz artists as they perform on the Bella Sera stage. To round out the experience, festival goers can attend several symposiums to learn the ins and outs of wine.Bella Sera, which translates into �beautiful evening,� will feature two nights of music. Friday, March 16th, visitors will watch the sunset at the historic Jekyll Island Wharf outside the Rah Bar as the King City Jazz Trio entertains. On Saturday, March 17th, the Festival moves to the Historic Landmark District. Music begins at 11 a.m. with wine sessions mingled throughout the day. There is no charge to attend the festival itself, but there will be a $12 per person fee to participate in each wine session. Guests can choose to participate in all three wine features for $30 per person. Wine participants must be ages 21 or older, and show valid identification. Proceeds will go to the Jekyll Island Foundation and benefit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. For more information and event schedule, visit http://www.jekyllisland.com/bellasera

Tags: 2007, beautiful, Bella Sera, evening, festival, jazz, music, Sunset Jazz Festival, VIP
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