Fernandina Beach held its 61st annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival on May 1-3.
The festival was held in historic downtown Fernandina, which is located on Amelia Island.
Amelia Island is the only territory in the United States that has been under the dominion of eight flags during the past five centuries. The eight flags are the French flag, the Spanish flag, the English flag, the Patriot flag, the Green Cross of Florida flag, the Mexican Rebel flag, the Confederate flag and the United States flag.
The festival kicked off on Thursday, April 30, with the Shrimp Festival parade. This year’s parade theme focused on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The parade featured a lineup of bands, dancers and floats.
On Friday, May 1, the festival held its first-ever drone show as a replacement for the usual fireworks as a result of the burn ban in Nassau County. The show was 10 minutes long and featured shrimp-related and Fernandina scenes. It featured 400 drones and was presented by Florida-based LunaLight.
On Saturday, May 2, the McArthur Family YMCA hosted the 29th Shrimp Festival 5K Run/Walk. Participants could choose from either a 5K run/walk or a one-mile youth run. Proceeds from this event went toward helping to provide swim lessons to underserved individuals and families in the community.
The festival featured a lot of attractions and contests including a boat-decorating contest and the Miss Shrimp Festival pageant.
Grace Scuderi was crowned Miss Shrimp Festival 2026. Talia Anessis was first runner-up and was awarded Miss Congeniality.
First place in the best-decorated Shrimp Boat Contest went to Jeff “Trapper” Parrish and crew on “Fifth Day.”
