Merry Shrimpmas

In the wake of the cancellation of this year’s Shrimp and Grits Festival, Jekyll Island has created “Merry Shrimpmas” a Mash-Up Event that merges favorite elements of that event with the annual tree-lighting celebration. “We were all heartbroken,” said Meggan Hood, senior marketing director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “The Shrimp & Grits Festival is the island’s biggest event and it takes more than a year to plan, so simply moving it to another date was not an option. But no one felt that should keep this community down. That’s when we came up with the idea of a special, one-time-only festival that infuses some of the most-beloved elements from Shrimp & Grits into an expanded, two-day, holiday-themed event that includes our popular tree-lighting activities. This will be a unique experience the public won’t want to miss.”

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merry shrimpmas

The “Merry Shrimpmas” fun will begin in the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District on Friday, November 24 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. and continue Saturday, November 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Local restaurant vendors will be selling their shrimp & grits creations (with sample night on Friday night) and other offerings will be available from regional food trucks. The curated Artist Market will be set up on Pier Road and there will be live music on the Main Stage. Keep the youngest visitors entertained in the Kids Zone with bounce houses and other fun activities, mail letters to the North Pole for Santa, or join the big guy himself for Santa Storytime at the Skeet House. (There will be no individual Santa visits this year.)

On Friday night, stay for a special holiday edition of Movies on the Green at The Village Green at Beach Village. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to watch the shenanigans of Buddy and his friends in “Elf” oceanside under the stars. Movie begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

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Saturday night, the lighting of the Jekyll Island Christmas tree will take place on the Main lawn, complete with snow and a fireworks finale, as is tradition.

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“This is a huge opportunity to show how much these local businesses, from the restaurants, hotels and shops to the local artists and entertainers, mean to our community, at a time when we’ll all be getting into the holiday spirit,” Hood said. “And, after all we’ve been through, who wouldn’t like to begin the holidays with some delicious shrimp and grits and a grand tree lighting?”

The Jekyll Island Skating Village will be open for both days of the festival. The oceanfront “ice” skating arena is back (and bigger!) for the 2017-18 season. It will open on November 17 and run through January 7, 2018, closing on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Located on Beachview Drive, just south of the Holiday Inn Resort, Skating Village offers 30-minute sessions with skate rental included for only $5 per person. You can also enjoy concessions and that beautiful panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Another way to enjoy the season is with one of the Historic District Tours. “Holidays in History” tours will be held at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily November 25-December 31 (excluding Christmas Eve & Christmas Day). Venture inside the cottages of Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District and learn their history as you see them decorated for the holidays in all their seasonal splendor. Tour prices are $16 for adults, $7 for children 7-17, and children 6 & under are admitted free of charge. For reservations, call 912.635.4036.

Parking for the weekend event will be at Great Dunes Golf and Great Dunes Beach with buses shuttling regularly to the Historic District. Admission to the festival is free, but costs will vary for individual attractions, food and refreshments throughout the event. The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival will return to the third weekend of September in 2018, Hood said.

For more information about any of these seasonal events, visit jekyllisland.com. Make a point to visit Jekyll Island over the holidays – it really is the most wonderful time of the year!