FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – The 61st annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Fest returns to Fernandina Beach this weekend, and organizers say a drone show will replace the traditional fireworks display because of a county burn ban and nearby wildfires.
See the full video of the Fernandina Beach Shrimp Festival Parade
Video from the kickoff parade Thursday night showed vendors and crews setting up along Front and Center streets ahead of the weekend event. Center Street and several surrounding roadways will be closed to vehicle traffic during the festival, with thousands of pedestrians expected.
Fernandina Beach’s “Beaches Pay to Park” program will be suspended through Sunday at 8 p.m., officials said, but parking will be different because of street closures. Organizers outlined several options:
- A shuttle will run from Fernandina Beach High School for a $15 donation.
- A park-and-walk option will be available at Buccaneer Field (Central Park) for a $20 donation.
- Free on-street parking on side streets may be available, but attendees should look for open spaces.
- Accessible parking will be available at the library lot on Alachua and Fourth streets and on Ashe Street between Fourth and Fifth streets; a disabled-parking permit is required for those spots.
Scott Inglis, chairman of the festival committee, said the decision to use drones instead of fireworks was made because of the burn ban in Nassau County and active wildfires in surrounding areas. He also noted the festival’s expanded kids zone.
“There are vendors, regular vendors that specialize in kids-oriented... there’s going to be all children’s acts playing there. Salt Marsh Kids is a group that a bunch of kids singing and playing instruments with adults helping them play the instruments,” Inglis said.
Admission to the festival is free. Organizers said events begin at 3 p.m. and continue through Sunday at 5 p.m., with more than 400 vendors, food and entertainment scheduled for people of all ages.