The 4th Annual Shrimp & Grits Festival on Jekyll Island begins on Friday, September 18th, and continues through the weekend with amateur and professional cooking competitions, cooking demonstrations, a shrimp eating contest and a variety of other activies on and around Jekyll.
What was once a simple food pairing deeply rooted in the South, Shrimp & Grits has become a menu-must for exclusive restaurants across the country. Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival, the only event in the country dedicated to this quintessential Southern dish, kicks off Friday, September 18 and lasts through the weekend. Set in the Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s landmark historic district, the popular festival boasts amateur and professional cooking competitions, shrimp boat excursions, shrimp eating contests, cooking demonstrations, races, entertainment, and much more.
“The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival is a great time to enjoy the beauty of Jekyll Island while dining on delicious coastal cuisine caught right off the Georgia coast,” said Beth Burnsed, Director of Special Events for Jekyll Island. “We began the Shrimp & Grits Festival as a way to showcase Jekyll Island and Wild Georgia Shrimp. As more and more restaurants began serving shrimp and grits, we realized that we were at the forefront of a growing trend. We are thrilled to host such a prominent and highly anticipated signature event.”
In celebration, September has been declared “Wild Georgia Shrimp Month” on Jekyll Island and the neighboring Golden Isles, and some of the South’s finest professional and amateur chefs will be competing for the coveted title of “Best Shrimp & Grits” recipes in the country.
Friday, September 18
$3 Shrimp Sale Night
Set amid Jekyll Island’s picturesque Jekyll Island Club National Landmark Historic District, the festival will kick off on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with a “$3 Shrimp Sample Night.” For only $3 per person, participants will have the opportunity to taste recipes from each of the vendors.
Saturday, September 19
Amateur Cooking Competition
The Amateur Cooking Competition event will offer mouth-watering tasting opportunities of the ten shrimp & grits dishes prepared by aspiring and self-taught cooks throughout the region. Guests can sign-up to be part of the esteemed “Consumer Choice Panel” to taste the dishes and select the winners for a fee of $25.00 per person. The tasting begins at 1:15 p.m. Saturday with music and entertainment provided by the popular “Big Dawg and Paul Show.” Awards will be presented at 2:30 pm.
Chef Robert Rulko Cooking Demonstration
Chef Robert Rulko, Winn-Dixie’s Corporate Chef, will present a live cooking demonstration Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Chef Rulko is well-known throughout the entire Southeast and has worked in kitchens throughout Europe, the Orient and Caribbean. He also had the honor of assisting the White House pastry chef to supply edible Christmas ornaments for the former President and Mrs. Clinton’s personal Christmas tree.
Shrimp Eating Contests
Are you a shrimp lover who boasts to out-eat everyone you know? Adults and kids are invited to sign up for one of several free shrimp eating contests going on throughout the weekend. Space is limited for each contest and interested participants should stop by the Information Tent at the festival to sign up for a contest. Saturday’s contests 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20
Professional Cooking Competition
The professional cooking competition will be held on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with music and entertainment provided for the second time by the “Big Dawg and Paul Show.” Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase delicious shrimp & grits dishes from outstanding local restaurants and vendors, and winners of the Professional Cooking Competition will be named by an esteemed panel of judges at 3:00 p.m.
Chef Joe Randall Cooking Demonstration
Chef Joe Randall, of Joe Randall’s Savannah Cooking School, will host a live cooking demonstration on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Joe Randall is a 43- year veteran of all things food! He is noted for his capacity to teach, guide and advise others in the practical aspects of food.
Shrimp Eating Contest
If visitors didn’t have a chance to participate in the free Shrimp Eating contest on Saturday, they have another chance on Sunday. Again, space is limited and they can sign up at the Festival Information Tent. Contests will be held on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Ongoing Weekend Activities
Free Live Entertainment
Throughout the weekend the Jekyll Island Club National Landmark Historic District will ring with the musical talents of many favorite local bands, including Straight No Chaser, Smokin’ Section, OSKAR Rockhammer, Stringrays, Randall Bramblett Band, and Three of Us.
Shrimp & Grits 3 Race Challenge
On Saturday and Sunday, a 3 Race Challenge will take place across three different terrains on Jekyll Island. It will begin with the “Shrimper’s 4-mile Beach Course” jog starting at the Jekyll Island Beachdeck on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The next event is “Show Yer Grit” run at the Jekyll Island Great Dunes Golf Course on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The Race Challenges finishes up with the “Short Flight to Festival 1 Mile” sprint on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Racers will end at the Festival in time to eat! Pre-registration is $15, $45 for the series, and $20 per race on the day of the event.
Popcorn Shrimp Gold Days at the Jekyll Island Golf Course
Friday through Sunday children 14 and younger play for FREE on any of Jekyll Island’s 18-hole golf courses when playing with a paying adult. Children’s scorecards can be entered in a drawing for 2 lbs of Wild Georgia Shrimp.
Boating Excursions
It wouldn’t be a Shrimp Festival without the opportunity to go boating! Throughout the weekend, several opportunities are available:
- Trawling Excursion
Take a trip into the coastal marshlands and rivers for a trawling excursion. The captain and crew give a complete presentation of the species caught and give the passengers a chance to touch and feel what is caught. These eco tours depart from the Jekyll Island Wharf, and the cost is $13 for students 9th grade and below and $18 for students 10th grade and above and adults. For more information about trip times and purchasing tickets, call St. Simons Transit Company 912-635-3152 or visit Coastal Georgia Charters & Tours.
- Dolphin Tour
Guests can also experience a once in a lifetime opportunity by taking a 90-minute dolphin tour through the island’s calm inland waters. The trips begin at the Jekyll Island Wharf, and the cost is $24 adults, $12 for children 10 and younger. For more information about trip times and purchasing tickets, call St. Simons Transit Company 912-635-3152 or visit Coastal Georgia Charters & Tours.
- Shrimp Boat Excursion
Get on board the Lady Jane, a United States Coast Guard certified 49 passenger steel shrimping vessel recently retired after years of loyal service to the shrimping industry. Each cruise includes two hours of shrimping and an onboard shrimp boil. All shrimp boat excursions depart from Spanky’s Restaurant in Brunswick, located on HWY 17. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the trips will be from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. The cost is $39.95 for adults and $25 children 6 and younger. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Credle’s Adventures.
- Off-Shore Fishing
For a little off-shore fishing during the weekend, hop aboard the 44-foot “Ospo” fishing boat which departs from the Jekyll Island Marina. For more information on cost, times and to purchase tickets, call 912-270-7474 or visit Offshore Charters.
Become a Shrimp & Grits Festival VIP!
Guests can experience the ultimate Shrimp & Grits Festival weekend by becoming a VIP guest! The VIP package includes 4 tickets for samples at Friday night’s $3 sample night, a gift certificate for a 1/2 lb of fresh Wild Georgia Shrimp from City Market in Brunswick, GA, a 1-pound bag of grits from Logan Turnpike Mills, and a commemorative Festival Poster signed by the artist. To purchase your 2009 VIP package for just $35, order it online on the Shrimp & Grits website.
Wild Georgia Shrimp Month For Jekyll and The Golden Isles
September is Wild Georgia Shrimp Month! Visitors can check out the list of local restaurants participating and order their featured Georgia shrimp dish. For more information about Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp & Grits Festival, contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL, or visit the Shrimp and Grits Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival website.
- Wild Georgia Shrimp are guaranteed to be a species indigenous to the clean coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The areas strong tides combined with natural filtration through Georgia’s expansive marshland give our shrimp a sweet succulent taste and a good firm texture that can only be produced in the wild.
the 70’s, but over the years, and through word of mouth, it has grown into the biggest party in the Southeast. And this, is not one of those one-week festivals; this celebration lasts two months. The north Georgia mountains make a great vacation spot year-round because of the unparalleled beauty and mild weather; however, during Oktoberfest Mother Nature kicks it up a notch. Deep azure skies and color splashed mountains surround a picturesque “alpine” village, making the days as inviting as the nights. During the day, you may decide to browse the shops, relax in a biergarten, or simply enjoy Helen’s perfect weather and beautiful scenery. At night, however, all paths leads to Helen’s massive Festhalle. Located within walking distance of most hotels, the Festhalle is the spot for authentic German bands, food, beer and fun. You can either spend the evening dancing the Polka and Chicken dance, or you can relax in the adjacent beer garden and enjoy the crisp night air. Whichever section of the huge Festhalle you like best, be sure to sample the fresh cooked wurst and large variety of German beers. So, if you’ve never been to Helen, or just never been to an Oktoberfest, be sure to book your hotel room early and plan to be at Helen’s Oktoberfest. We’re sure you’ll want to come back year after year. Prosit!
Culinary demonstrations, guest chef presentatins, individual and group classes are all part of the agenda at Savannah’s 700 kitchen Cooking School.