April 11, May 9, May 30
Jekyll Island Play Golf America “Play Day”
Golf Clinic Q & A, Shot Gun Format, 2-Person Scramble. Players—Beginners or Skilled, create your own team. Limited to 72 players. Must register online at playgolfamerica.com. Event is FREE. Jekyll Island Golf Course, 912-635-2368.
 

April 11
Easter Egg Stroll
Enjoy a stroll through the Jekyll Island Historic District as you hunt for Easter Eggs. All Easter Eggs will be numbered and can be turned in for a special treat. The hunt will continue from 10 AM - 2 PM as the turned in eggs will be re-hidden. Call 912-635-4036 for more information.
 

April 18
Mother Nature Festival
Join the Jekyll Island Authority and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to celebrate Earth Day. Eco-friendly arts and crafts activities, pictures with Scute the Sea Turtle, puppet shows, interactive education session and outdoor excursions. Call 877-4-Jekyll for more information, or visit www.jekyllisland.com/mothernaturefestival
 

April 18
Eco-Book Fair
Jekyll Books at the Old Infirmary, located at 101 Old Plantation Road in the Landmark Historic District, will be hosting the first annual “Eco Book Festival” from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Features best-selling authors. Call 877-4Jekyll for more information.
 

May 1
Shepherd Krech Booksigning
Shepard Krech III will sign copies of his book “Spirits of the Air: Birds and American Indians in the South.” The book, which discusses how birds shaped the worldview of the southern Indians, will be launched with a series of special events on Jekyll Island. Call 877-4Jekyll for more information.
 

May 7-9
JIBE Kite Buggy Rally and Fun-Fly!
The 2009 JIBE Kite Buggy Rally will be held on a stretch of beach in front of Blackbeards Seafood Restaurant that has become known as Kite Beach. Call 877-4Jekyll for more information.
 

May 9
Summer Waves Water Park Opens
Get cool and rock out at Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island! 2009 Season Passes are available! For more information, please call 912-635-2074 or visit www.SummerWaves.com.
 

May 10
Grand Reopening of Indian Mound Cottage
Observe historic preservation month with this festive gathering at the island retreat of William and Almira Rockefeller. Contact the Welcome Center at 877-4Jekyll.
 

May 15-16
Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl
Athletes compete in a triathlon and 5K fun run. Proceeds benefit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Registration still available at www.gamultisports.com.
 

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. Call 912-635-2368 for information.
 

June 8-13
Nest Fest Week on Jekyll Island
A week-long celebration of the one year anniversary of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Educational seminars and outdoor activities all week with a finale event at the Beachdeck on the 13th. For information: 912-635-4444.
 

July 4th
July 4th Celebration
Celebrate Independence Day on the beach at a family-fun party at the Beachdeck featuring the DJ game show - the Big Dawg and Paul Show - with a fireworks finale that is known to be one of the best in the region.
 

August 21-22
Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash
Beach Music concerts, shag lessons, and lots of dancing all weekend. Concerts feature some of today’s top beach music bands and take place on Jekyll Island’s beach. This year includes a BBQ Competition! Visit www.jekyllisland.com/bmf for more information.
 

September 4-7
Jekyll Island Patriot Golf Day
Donate a minimum of $1 to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation and receive a discount on Greens’ Fee and Cart. Jekyll Island Golf Course. Call 912-635-2368 for information.
 

September 18-20
Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
A weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods - shrimp & grits. The festival features a cook-off, shrimp boat tours, live entertainment and kid-friendly fun zone. Visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits for more information.
 

September 19
Jekyll Island High School Country Invitational
Jekyll Island High School Cross Country Invites High School students to participate in a cross country race on Jekyll Island’s Great Dunes Golf Course. Visit www.jixc.com.
 

October 9-11
Georgia’s Colonial Georgia Coast Birding Festival
The Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding Festival has activities such as nature walks, educational seminars and children’s programs. Call 877-4-Jekyll for more information.
 

October 28-30
Georgia/Florida Golf Classic
Gather your teammates for a weekend of Georgia- Florida fun. Fans play against rival fans in this 30 year tradition. Great prizes, great food, and a lot of team spirit. Registration opens April 1st. For more information, visit www.jekyllisland.com/georgiaflorida.

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Posted in April 2009, Beachscape | No Comments »

By Leigh Baumann Jekyll Books at the Old Infirmary, located at 101 Old Plantation Road in the Landmark Historic District, will be hosting the first annual “Eco Book Festival” coinciding with the island-wide Mother Nature Festival to be held on Saturday, April 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. The juried selection of authors will include nationally-known and local best-selling authors from the genres of nature and environmental writing, naturalists guides, environmentally-related fiction, living “green” titles, and children’s books that have an ecological theme. The majority of authors at the “Eco Book Festival” are represented by national/international publishers, but regional authors with national recognition are also included. A full schedule of author events is available at Jekyll Books at the Old Infirmary.

A celebration of The Georgia Review, a quarterly publication of essays, short fiction, poetry, reviews, and art, will also be featured during the event. The Georgia Review celebrates publication of the Spring 2009 issue and its Focus on Culture and the Environment, featuring essays from five contemporary writers on the practice of living simply. Winner of two National Magazine Awards, The Georgia Review is a nationally respected, award-winning literary quarterly published at UGA since 1947.
In addition to the numerous authors signing throughout the day, a representative from Burt’s Bees, which is known for their earth-friendly personal care products, will also be at the store from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. doing product demonstrations and providing product samples.
 
Leigh Baumann, Proprietor of Jekyll Books, adds, “We are excited to be able to bring to together such a unique group of talented authors whose works help us to focus on environmental awareness and a renewed appreciation for ecological issues. Both adults and children alike will be delighted to be able to meet and interact with this wonderful group.”

In the spirit of Earth Day and to promote the recycling of used books, Jekyll Books will be collecting gently used books during the “Eco Book Festival” that will be donated to the Jekyll Rotary Lending Library located on the terrace level of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Donations of used fiction and non-fiction titles will be accepted, though encyclopedia sets are not able to be utilized.

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Posted in April 2009, Beachscape | No Comments »

Celebrate Spring on Jekyll Island with the first annual Jekyll Island Mother Nature Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The festival boasts numerous activities for families to enjoy the outdoors and explore Jekyll Island while being green-conscious. Be sure to check out the activities below:
  
Festival Highlights
 
Friday, April 17
 
Pre-Fest Beachsweep, 10 AM–12 Noon, Beachdeck
Join the Jekyll Island Authority as they clean the beach in preparation for Earth Day. Gloves and trash bags provided. Just bring some helpful hands!
 
 
Saturday, April 18
Eco-Friendly Craft Zone & Exhibitor Area, 10 AM – 4 PM, Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Make eco-friendly crafts and peruse the numerous arts and crafts vendors, local ecology groups, and green friendly businesses displaying their items and information. Also, step inside the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to learn about sea turtles and their habitat.
 
 
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Regift Auction,
10 AM – 4 PM, Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Bid on a variety of items “re-gifted” to the Center in honor of the Mother Nature Festival. The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Re-gift Auction puts a spin on the typical silent auction. Proceeds go to the continuing operation of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. We still need donated items.
 
 
Family Fishing Day 10 AM – 2 PM,
Rixen Pond behind Tidelands Nature Center
Join the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division for an afternoon of fishing at Rixen Pond. Free fishing poles provided as well as tips and advice.
 
 
Helicopter Tours 10AM – 4PM,
Jekyll Island Airport
Take a helicopter tour above Jekyll Island with Dragonfly Helicopters. $25 per person.
 
 

Kite Flying Demonstration
11 AM – 1PM, Beach at Blackbeard’s Restaurant
Watch as Coastal Windsports demonstrates their kite flying skills on the beach. Free.
 
 

Herpetology Session
2:00 PM, Tidelands Nature Center
Join the staff at Tidelands in a hands-on demonstration of amphibians and reptiles that make their home on Jekyll Island.
 
 
Outdoor Excursions
Make reservations for a variety of outdoor adventures in Dolphin Tours, Off-Shore Fishing Trips, Horseback Rides on the Beach, Kayak Excursions, a Bird Ramble, or a Beach Ecology Walk.

For more information on all of the Mother Nature festival activities and outdoor excursions, visit: www.jekyllisland.com/mothernaturefestival

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Posted in April 2009, Beachscape | No Comments »

Celebrate Spring on Jekyll Island with the first annual Jekyll Island Mother Nature Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The festival boasts numerous activities for families to enjoy the outdoors and explore Jekyll Island while being green-conscious.

“Jekyll Island is an environmentally rich vacation destination with numerous amenities that allow our guests to get an up-close, non-invasive look at the eco-systems that make our island unique,” said Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Coordinator for the Jekyll Island Authority. “The Mother Nature Festival showcases those amenities while educating children and their parents on how to be more eco-friendly.”

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is the main hub of event festivities. From 10 AM - 4 PM, the Center will host an eco-friendly exhibitor area, eco-craft zone, outdoor entertainment and silent auction. In the exhibitor area, environmental organizations, artists, and shops will exhibit their eco-conscious and nature-related wares. Simultaneously, in the children’s eco-craft zone, kids can practice being environmentally friendly by making recycled-art projects while learning about Sea Turtles and their habitat.

Other activities include a Family Fishing Day sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, an Eco-Book Fair at Jekyll Books, a kite buggy demonstration on the beach, and a herpetology session at Tidelands Nature Center. All of these events are free and open to the public.

For added adventure, families can choose from a variety guided excursions. Tours include Helicopter Rides, Dolphin Tours, Eco-Tours, Off-Shore Fishing, Kayaking, Bird Rambles, Beach Ecology Walks and Horseback Riding. Advanced registration for the above excursions is highly recommended.

As an eco-friendly incentive, the Jekyll Island parking fee will be waived on April 18 for all guests driving a hybrid vehicle to the festival. For more information on all Mother Nature Festival activities and excursions visit www.jekyllisland.com/mothernaturefestival or call 1-877-4JEKYLL. Get regular updates on the festival by being a fan of the Jekyll Island Mother Nature Festival on Facebook.com

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Posted in Festivalgoer, Press Releases | No Comments »