Southern Bounty - A Coastal Fresh Festival

Events

Spring is right around the corner and getting out to enjoy all the area has to offer is always a joy. Elegant Island Living is pleased to introduce a new event where you can do just that. The Southern Bounty festival is all about celebrating this great place in which we live. Set aside Saturday, April 1 to come out to Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick to join the fun while also benefitting Nunnally House and Forward Brunswick.

As the festival’s media partner, EIL has been working closely with everyone involved to bring you the details. There will be an artisan marketplace, thriving local farms, tasting tents and libation stations, and live music. Downtown businesses will be having sales and specials exclusively for tickets holders. There will even be a trolley providing transportation to and from St. Simons Island. Here we’ll be giving you sneak peeks of some of the festival participants to whet your interest, but you’ll be able to find all the up-to-date information on the festival website at SouthernBountyFestival.com.

Event organizer Brittany Jenson of Experience Event Planning tells us about the inspiration for the event, “It’s really about the community. I think it’s so incredible that we have all these amazing resources and creative people that are producing wonderful products and building businesses right here at our fingertips. I want to highlight that what a special community we have. It’s eclectic, it’s creative, and while it’s got a past, it's certainly got a bright future too! I’m really excited about it and wanted to celebrate the community while giving back to two great local non-profits, Forward Brunswick and Nunnally House.”

Forward Brunswick’s vision is to foster economic vitality as Brunswick’s community partnership leader. Forward Brunswick sees the promise in the city and wants to catalyze progress that will increase economic vitality and quality-of-life for all residents, stakeholders, and visitors to Brunswick. Quality-of-life attracts and retains people. People bring business, both entrepreneurs and consumers. Business success brings economic vitality, and economic vitality increases quality-of-life. Forward Brunswick is deeply committed to advancing this virtuous cycle by inspiring community commitment and raising capital that will expedite and accomplish change. Collaboration among many stakeholders including the city government and citizen groups as well as accountability will be essential to success. The mission of Forward Brunswick is to inspire community commitment and raise resources to accomplish Brunswick revitalization projects. Executive Director Lance Sabbe says, “Partnering with the Southern Bounty Festival is a natural fit for Forward Brunswick and our mission. We want to continue to help improve amenities like Mary Ross Waterfront Park and showcase the wonderful aspects our city has to offer including the wonderful people, culture, and restaurants that call this place home.”

Since opening in May 2014, the 40 rooms of Nunnally House have lodged thousands of individuals and family members for one or two nights or sometimes three or four months. Cancer patients, family members of critical care patients, medical students, and on-call medical staff from 29 different states and three foreign countries have all found a “home away from home” when they’ve needed it. “Not only have our patients and guests stayed in fully furnished mini-apartments, with daily room service, and within walking distance of the main hospital, but they have stayed with us at no cost whatsoever,” explained Bryan Thompson, Nunnally House and Development Coordinator for the Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation. “It is almost unheard of for a hospital anywhere, of any size, to offer on-campus lodging to such a diverse population,” added Foundation Director Krista Robitz. While donations are accepted, many, especially cancer patients, are simply unable to contribute. Ms. Robitz noted, “Our community has been generous with their support of Nunnally House, organizing events that assist us with keeping the cancer patient pantry stocked with food and snacks. Monetary donations are used to replace linens, pillows, and other furnishings, and to purchase larger items such as electric lift chairs for our handicapped and lung cancer patients. We are all quite grateful to be included as a recipient of the Southern Bounty festival proceeds, and excited for the quality and fun that this event will bring to the Golden Isles!”

First and foremost, getting Southern Bounty off the ground as a new festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of its wonderful sponsors. At the time of print, the sponsors include Title Sponsor: Queen and Grant; Entertainment Sponsor: Island Sound; Media Sponsor: Elegant Island Living; Creative Sponsor: Elizabeth Schorr; VIP Lounge Sponsor: McGraw Event Pros; and Beverage Sponsor: United Distributing.

While at the festival, don’t miss a chance to visit Queen and Grant, the newest luxury event venue in the Golden Isles. Lovingly restored with the preservationist vision of Brad and Elizabeth Piazza of Port City Partners and adjacent to Queen’s Square, this hidden gem was once home to Kentucky stock saddle horses at Oglethorpe Stables. It was later rebuilt for industrial purposes and, most recently, was a private artist’s studio brimming with natural wonder and creativity. Today, it’s been thoughtfully transformed into more than 20,000 square feet of enchanting indoor/outdoor space that can accommodate up to 500 guests. Queen and Grant features vaulted ceilings, a grand reception hall with abundant natural light, private outdoor garden, intimate courtyard, fountains, a rotating art gallery, dressing room/lounge, dedicated office space, and well-equipped catering kitchen. From weddings and social events to corporate and philanthropic gatherings, the possibilities for events here are endless. Brad says, “A rising tide lifts all ships. We support as many worthy local causes and businesses as we can, so we may continue to work together to ensure a prosperous and harmonious community to live, work, and play for generations to come. Our participation in Southern Bounty is a testament to this vital mission.”

In addition to the business sponsors, the festival has partnered with the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority and the Georgia Grown Trail 17 cooperative. Jennifer Krouse of the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority states “We are happy to partner with this year’s Southern Bounty festival. It is our mission to help bring events to the Historic Downtown Brunswick area. We are delighted to work with Brittany Jenson to put together such an exciting new event. Like all events that take place in the Historic Downtown Brunswick area, we are anticipating a lot of activity throughout the day. Your ticket to the festival will give you a Passport to Downtown that allows you to enjoy promotions from select downtown restaurants and businesses.”

Georgia Grown Trail 17 is Georgia's newest agritourism highway. Running from Kingsland to Savannah, Georgia Grown Trail 17 provides quality products produced right here in Georgia and is the coastal corridor for agritourism experiences. Georgia Grown Trail 17 is developing a community of agribusinesses on the coast, building the regional food system, and promoting agritourism. Patrick Hollaway, grant coordinator says “The thing that fires me up the most is that we are creating relationships between our farmers and other agribusinesses and our consumers and visitors. Partnering with Southern Bounty is a wonderful opportunity for people to understand not only where their food comes from but the people who are producing it—and why buying local is so important, no matter if the price is higher than the grocery store full of imported, tasteless food.”

In The Marketplace, you’ll find a wide array of the freshest, just-picked fruits and vegetables from numerous farms bringing their spring offerings. So far, the farms committed to participate at Southern Bounty include Farm 99, 5 Oaks Farms, Grassroots Farms, Morning Belle Farms, and Potlikker Farms.

Farm 99 is a McCleery family affair, where grandparents, parents, and even the kids, get in on the fun. Amanda McCleery tells us, “When my family moved down from South Jersey where we had farm stands like ours on every corner, we were very disappointed in the selection of fresh produce at the local stores, so we figured we’d give growing produce a try.” They got busy in the garden, set up a pop-up stand in May of 2020, and so it began. “We also started our delivery day and that has been growing in popularity ever since.” When not in school, you can usually find son Dante in the garden picking whatever is needed and carrying bags to folks’ cars. Daughter Adrianna likes to hang out and help with the cash register/checkout spot. Grandmother grows all the flowers from seed and makes deliveries. Alanna (their first non-family employee!) keeps the greenhouses and gardens in check. Grandpa covers the role of Mr. Fix-It and loves to make farm runs to pick up produce from their farmers. Farm 99 expanded from the pop-up tent to an open-air building on site and has added offerings of local meats, flours, crackers, cookies, and various other closely sourced items. You’re also likely to find specials sourced from markets in other regions, like sunchokes, specialty apples, pears, pumpkins, always guaranteed to be seasonal and as fresh as they can get them.

At the Tasting Tent & Libation Station, you’ll find delicacies to tantalize your tastebuds from baked goods to BBQ and fresh shrimp harvested from local waters and right off the dock just steps from where you will be standing. Local chefs will be bringing their tastiest fare for you to enjoy. At the Libation Station, United Distributors will be serving regional adult beverages to delight even the most refined palates. Helping to keep the Tasting Tent humming along will be Chef Lee Kranz and his culinary students from the College of Coastal Georgia. Participating businesses at time of print include 2nd Story Goods, Beach Bum Bakery, Del Sur Artisan Eats, Del Sur Café, Fuse, Grandy’s Country Cupboard, Halyards Restaurant Group, Ironside Cafe, Messy Buns Catering and Concessions, Mr. Shucks Seafood, Moondoggy's Pizza, Schroeder’s Market, Ruby Lu’s, Silver Bluff Brewing Co., South of Heaven BBQ, and Tacos La Fiesta.

South Of Heaven BBQ Pitmaster Judd Foster grew up in upstate New York. He started helping his mom in the kitchen at an early age and quickly found a passion for cooking. It wasn't until 2000 that he fell in love with barbecue. He competed in multiple barbecue competitions in New York before moving to Atlanta in 2001. Being in the South, he began to learn and practice traditional Southern barbecue techniques. Judd’s barbecue style ranges from Texas-style brisket to Carolina hog, and he prides himself on being self-taught. In 2014, he met Kate, and they made the joint decision that this passion for BBQ should extend further than their own kitchen. Soon after their wedding in 2015, South of Heaven BBQ was born. Judd and Kate focused on catering in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Besides catering, Judd also worked as a cheesemaker at two different creameries for Many Fold Farm, making award-winning cheeses. In 2017, the same year their son Charlie was born, Creative Loafing named South of Heaven BBQ "Best Caterer in Atlanta.” In 2018, the Fosters opened their first brick and mortar in Carrollton, GA (which they quickly outgrew), and later landed in the Maple Street Mansion there. Now located in Brunswick, they’re continuing to introduce amazing barbecue with no boundaries. “We are thrilled to be in the Golden Isles! This place holds a special place in our hearts, and we are lucky to call it home.”

Schroeder's Market is poised to be Downtown Brunswick's go-to place for fine foods, everyday groceries, unique wine, and other groovy stuff. The market also offers prepared foods, complete with daily meals, sandwiches, and baked goods for the community. The Schroeder’s team will also provide a jam-packed schedule of culinary events including cooking classes and beverage tasting events. At the helm is accomplished chef, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, and founder of High Road Craft Ice Cream, Keith Schroeder. Chef Keith and his team look forward to being at your service!

The Wallace family operates Anchored Shrimp Company as a means to keep the Georgia shrimping industry alive. The Wallaces were born and raised in McIntosh County, the state’s seafood capital. Grandfather Alfred Wallace built shrimp vessels in Shellmans Bluff, including the family's vessel, the Gale Force. “In the 90s we saw half the boats disappear when the massive flood of farmed raised shrimp made its way into the USA. Most restaurants were using imports and customers were clueless that they were consuming farmed raised shrimp from overseas. In the early 2000s, when my father John Wallace was president of Wild Georgia Shrimp, he worked with Wild American Shrimp to kick off a certification/marketing program that would become Wild Georgia Shrimp. The advocacy for certified Wild Georgia Shrimp helped educate consumers on where their shrimp was coming from.” In 2012, the Wallace family purchased Poteet Seafood in Brunswick from Speedy Tostensen upon his retirement. This facility and plenty of cold storage space and freezing/processing equipment are crucial for the Georgia shrimp industry, allowing consumers/restaurants/distributors to get locally caught, certified Wild Georgia Shrimp even in the off season. In 2016, the Wallaces secured a lease on a shrimp dock in McIntosh Co., and they currently have 6 vessels that are independently owned. The dock house fuels and ices the day boats. “We are still huge advocates for educating the public on where their seafood comes from and continue to fight against imports of farm-raised product from overseas. We pay boats typically $1.00-$2.00 higher than the rest of the domestic industry. That's the power of marketing and working with our distributors/restaurants to ensure that they can get certified Wild Georgia Shrimp year-round.”

The Marketplace promises to be a vibrant shopping hub for an exciting array of products by local vendors and artisans. You’ll find flowers, jewelry, skincare, and other unique handcrafted items. The businesses that have signed up already include Ashley Carter Art & Sea Glass, Body & Soul, Coastal Creations, Handmade by Coti, Oaks & Ocean, Plum Fox, and Wunderbar.

Artist Paula VanOtteren of Oaks & Ocean explores her native Coastal Georgia landscape with a hand lens and a fine-toothed comb, focusing on the smallest, most delicate and intricately detailed objects of the natural world. A mesh sifter separates beach sand from the tiniest of shells. An exquisitely patterned moth wing is carefully collected and preserved to be transported back to her workstation; a wooden rolltop desk covered in every imaginable find from shark teeth to honeycomb. At her desk, surrounded by her flower press, field guides, and all manner of jewelry tools and findings, is where Paula transforms these treasures into jewelry that allow the wearer to carry a piece of the Golden Isles with them, wherever they may go. Now in its fifth year, Oaks and Ocean grew out of a love of nature and a desire to foster connection to it. As a family, she, her husband, and two young daughters, are avid collectors. Their home is filled with framed pressed plants and cabinets filled with a carefully organized collection of shells and fossils. Paula had enjoyed making jewelry for many years prior to Oaks & Ocean’s beginning and bringing these two passions together led her to find new ways to create with the small treasures they found. Paula’s hope is that her work strengthens both locals’ and visitors’ connection to the beaches and maritime forests of her lifelong home. Don’t miss this opportunity to see her work in person at Southern Bounty. Until then, explore and find a treasure of your own!

Coastal Creations owner Jill Strickland grew up on Cape Cod and has always loved the ocean. She says, “My love for the beautiful coral reefs of the Caribbean and the Florida Keys inspired the coral theme for my glass art. While living in the Florida Keys 25 years ago, I met my future husband, Bill. Since then, we married and had two children, Gage (20) who is attending the College of Coastal Georgia, studying business, and Peyton (19) who is attending the University of Georgia to study marketing!” She creates her masterpieces using the tedious process of fusing glass. This is done using sheets of glass, hand-cut into strips, which are meticulously placed together in a unique pattern. Each creation is fused in a 1400°+ kiln. Jill explains, “This hobby of mine quickly turned into an online business. As a pre-k paraprofessional, during the pandemic, I had a ton of time on my hands when the country was locked down. With all my spare time, my daughter and I worked hard on expanding my coral creations and growing my small business. One day Bill and I wish to return to the Keys and open a little glass coral gift shop.

It will be the sweet music of Rider that you hear while strolling around the festival. This Alt. Country Rock band with classic rock influences and a little bit of twang was founded in Brunswick in 2019.

At its core of the band is the husband-and-wife duo of Chris and Laurie Rider, both singing and playing rhythm guitar. Joining them are Matt Starling on bass guitar, Josh Kirkland on lead guitar, and Mike Alongi on drums. Chris and Laurie have been writing songs and singing together for over 20 years. They first met in Waycross, Georgia, and not only started their family there, but also first met bandmates Matt and Josh. The Riders moved from Waycross to the Georgia coast and, after trying different variations and line-ups, settled on the name Rider. Their first album, One Last Taste, was released in late 2022 and is available on all major music streaming services; give it a listen!

After you’ve filled your belly at the festival, make sure to take advantage of your ticket’s full benefits as a Passport to Downtown by visiting the stores on Newcastle Street. The organizers are working with businesses there to create all the wonderful specials you will see find. Here are some we currently know: On the Fly will be offering an 10% discount to attendees and a raffle entry with purchase for a chance to win a free Fly-Tying Class or Fly-Casting Clinic. Gold Coast Nutrition will be giving $5 off a $30 or more purchase. And at Beaus and Belles, bring your ticket in for a chance to win a gift basket.

There is still time to participate as a business by acting as a sponsor, partner or having a booth. Another great way to give back to the Nunnally House and Forward Brunswick is to volunteer at the festival. For more information about those opportunities, call Brittany at 912.480.7757 or email bjenson@experienceep.com.

On festival day, The Marketplace will open at 10:30 a.m. and remain open to the public all day without charge. The Tasting Tent opens at 11:30 p.m. VIP ticket holders will enjoy the luxury of VIP parking, early admission, a seated lounge area riverside and a private restroom facility provided by McGraw Event Pros. Colonial Trolley service will be running every 30 minutes between the Winn-Dixie parking lot on St. Simons Island and Mary Ross Waterfront Park. Please check the Southern Bounty Festival website for all the updated information about the event. Get your tickets online today and we’ll see you at the waterfront!

SouthernBountyFestival.com