03/25/2022
We are sponsoring the best dressed adult pirate this year!!!
Are you ready for the 2022 Shrimp Festival contests?!
“Pirate Costumes, Ice Cream & Best Beards Contests in Festival”
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is known for its family fun and entertainment, and there are a wide variety of contests your family members can enter and participate in. Forms for these contests can be found at www.shrimpfestival.com.
Participants are invited to don their best pirate apparel and enter one of the contests in the “Best Dressed Pirate Contests”. These events include the Pirates in Training Contest , ages infant to 5, Little Pirates Contest, ages 6-11, Junior Pirates, ages 12-17, and the Adult Pirate Contest, ages 18 and over.
The contests for the Pirates in Training , Little Pirates, and Junior Pirates,, sponsored by Story & Song Bookstore Bistro, will be held on Saturday morning, April 30th at 10:00 AM at the “Kids Fun Zone” stage, located in the parking area behind the Fernandina Beach Public Library.
Registration will begin at 9:15 AM. The children will compete for prizes as they show off their best eye patches, pirate boots, blouses and the adorned feathered hats of their fanciest pirate attire!
The “Best Dressed Adult Pirate Contest” is open to all those adults age 18 and over and is sponsored by Cloud Accounting & Consulting, Inc., serving Fernandina Beach and Nassau County. This contest will be held at the ‘Pirate Ship Stage’, next to the Riverfront Main Stage on Saturday, April 30th at 12:30 PM. Registration will begin at 11:00. Be all forewarned, if ye plan to enter this contest, that all adult contestants’ apparel must be “G-Rated” and suitable for children’s viewing. All those participating in the Adult Best Dressed Pirate Contest may be eligible for prizes in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and ‘bragging rights’ for sure!
Perhaps the “53rd Topsy Smith Memorial Beard Contest” would be a perfect choice for many of you and your bearded buddies?! Beards will be judged on texture and appearance. This contest is sponsored by The Marina Restaurant, which has been prominent in downtown historic Fernandina Beach for decades. So, Me Hearties, comb out those mutton chops, goatees, full beards, and many more styles, and step up and enter this great traditional contest! Judging begins at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 30th by the Riverfront Main Stage. Registration will begin at 1:15 PM.
On Sunday, May 1st, the “Best Decorated Shrimp Boat Contest” gets underway in the Amelia River at the foot of Centre Street immediately following the Blessing of the Fleet, which begins at 1:00 PM. It is easily viewable in the Marina area. Prizes will be awarded.
The “Ice Cream Eating Contest” is taking place on Sunday at 3:00 PM at the Riverfront Side Stage, sponsored by “DeNucci’s Ice Cream Shop”, a local tradition. This contest is responsible for the ultimate ‘brain freeze’ for our brave contestants! Categories for the Ice Cream Eating Contest are ages 6-11, 12-17, and 18 and over. Registration begins at 2:15 PM.
