Amelia Island Florida Features Full Events Calendar

From the longtime favorite Shrimp Festival to the newer Fernandina Film Festival, these family-friendly events showcase the island's many charms, and a boundless love for all things Amelia.

Major annual events scheduled for 2012 include:

Amelia Island Book Festival: February 17-19 With two full days of programs, socials and special events, this festival invites book lovers and writers to mingle with noted authors and publishing professionals in a casual, friendly setting. Held at venues throughout Nassau County, Amelia Island and Historic Fernandina Beach, the festival offers many free programs, and all ages are welcome. The festival features a free KIDZ ZONE, with fun activities designed to encourage the love of books and reading. February 19 will include a free panel discussion regarding the works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Zora Neale Hurston. Tickets are sold for certain events. For more information, call (904) 624-1665 or visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.com.

Amelia Island Film Festival: February 23-26 Now in its fourth season, the Amelia Island Film Festival will present screenings, workshops, lectures and exhibits at several venues throughout Amelia Island. For more information, visit www.ameliaislandfilmfestival.org.

Amelia Island Garden Show: March 3-4
Sponsored by the Fernandina Farmers Market, the Amelia Island Garden Show will roll out nature's brightest colors for two days at Central Park in Fernandina Beach. With growers and nurseries from around the state, the show will feature more than 50 vendors with a full assortment of flowers and plants, fruit trees and palms, orchids, herbs, container gardens, native plants, butterfly-friendly plants, shrubs and garden accessories. Get on-site expert advice on how to "green" your home, yard and garden, and enjoy short presentations and demonstrations at the "Ask the Expert" booth. Visit www.ameliagarden.com for more details.

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance: March 9-11 On Sunday, March 11, the Ferrari GTO, Shelby Cobra, and Custom Coachwork Cadillacs will be among nearly 300 classic production and race cars from seldom-seen private collections that will be on display on the 10th and 18th fairways at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The three-day event includes road rallies, RM Auction of vintage cars, seminars, a black tie Mercedes-Benz USA Gala Dinner and silent auction. The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is one of only two Concours that have more than one auction. For more information, visit www.ameliaconcours.org.

49th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival: May 4-6 For nearly half a century, this small crustacean has caused a big sensation in historic downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, where thousands of visitors happily strand themselves for this annual tradition. The popular event features a nationally-recognized juried fine arts and crafts show, antiques, live entertainment, kids activities, contests, pirates, free admission and 25 food booths serving up the tastiest shrimp you can find, prepared every way possible by local non-profit organizations. For more information, go to www.shrimpfestival.com or call toll free (866) 426-3542.

Wild Amelia Nature Festival: May 18-20
The 2012 Wild Amelia Nature Festival invites residents and visitors to experience the wild side of Amelia Island. With more than 25 seminars and experiences, the three-day festival offers something for everyone. Opportunities include a Segway tour of Ft. George Island, kayaking the marshes along Ft. Clinch State Park, and exploration of bird habitats by bike. The festival also offers programs designed specifically for children, including a Kids Niche with hands-on nature activities. There will also be an EcoExpo with green and nature-based exhibitors and a Silent Auction. For tickets or additional information, call (904) 251-0016 or visit www.wildamelia.com.

Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival: May 13-June 8 The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival will once again showcase world-class artists performing classical music in intimate and historic settings on Amelia Island. The festival is dedicated to bringing a wide variety of chamber music at the highest level. The 2012 festival features an incredible line-up including cellist Lynn Harrell, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, and much more. For ticket details and additional information, call (904) 261-1779 or visit www.aicmf.com.

Annual NSFA Kingfish Tournament: August 3-4 The one-day tournament is geared toward family fishing, rather than individual, and features an offshore and inshore fishing competition. Fernandina Beach Fishing Rodeo is still a Division V Southern Kingfish Association tournament, while at the same time offering a more family orientated tournament with five species of offshore and five species of backwater game fish targeted for cash awards. Additional information can be found at www.fishnsfa.com.

Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off: August 24-25 The 3rd Annual Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off will fire up again on August 24 and 25 on Amelia Island. Barbeque cooking teams from across the country will compete for cash and prizes and, of course, bragging rights. The event is held at Main Beach on Amelia Island, where the beach meats the brisket. Visit www.gstailgatecookoff.com for more information.

Amelia Island Blues Festival: September 14-16 With the shimmering Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop, the inaugural Amelia Island Blues Festival will include two days of outstanding music, great food, drinks and more. The all-star lineup will be announced in early 2012. Visit www.ameliaislandbluesfest.com for the latest information.

2012 Amelia Island Jazz Festival: October 7-14 The Amelia Island Jazz Festival will once again light up the island with a week-long series of events celebrating the diverse all-American art form of jazz. Under the creative direction of renowned jazz drummer and bandleader Les DeMerle, the 2012 festival will feature headliners Spyro Gyra and more to be announced, plus other world-class jazz artists in a wide variety of styles, including Contemporary, Bebop, Smooth Jazz, Big Band, Latin, Blues, Dixieland and more. Past headliners include David Sanborn, Ramsey Lewis and Buckwheat Zydeco. Performances will take place at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation and several other charming venues around the island. For more information, visit www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com or phone 904/504-4772.

Amelia Island Wine Festival: October 13 The inaugural Amelia Island Wine Festival, which will be held waterfront in downtown Fernandina Beach, will feature Florida-only wines and the vintners who make them. Visitors will be able to enjoy tastings with the award-winning vintners and discuss their wines and wineries, as well as purchase bottles or cases. Currently, 15 wineries are scheduled to attend, with more than 60 different wines for guests to sample, as well as a selection of craft vendors featuring wine and kitchen accessories and gourmet food vendors. The event will also offer an educational booth regarding the Florida wine industry. Guests will receive an Amelia Island Wine Festival wineglass for their tasting. Email info@ameliawine.com for additional information.

Amelia Island Futures Championships: November 9-18 The Amelia Island Futures Championships, a USTA Pro Circuit men's tennis event, will be held at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort Racquet Park. Qualifying rounds are free to spectators. Main Draw Matches cost $10 per adult and $5 per child. For more information, call the Tennis Pro Shop at Omni Amelia Island Plantation at (904) 277-5145 or visit www.aipfl.com.

Petanque America Open: November 10-11
Visitors can join close to 300 petanque players on Amelia Island as they compete in this simplified version of an older outdoor bowling game. The goal is to toss or roll a number of hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. Players take turns and the team that ends up nearest to the target ball when all balls are played, wins. For more information, visit www.petanque-america-open.net.

AIBBA Holiday Cookie Tour: November 17
The Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association invites the public to enjoy its annual open-house and self-guided walking tour of inns just in time for the 2012 holiday season. The event will take place this year on Saturday, November 17 from noon to 5 p.m. Visitors will tour some of the most impressive buildings on the island, sample a signature cookie from each of the participating inns, and be entertained with history and carriage rides and trolley tours while collecting heirloom recipes along the way. Guests will walk away with ideas for cookies to add to their celebrations, as well as inspiration for holiday decorating. In keeping with tradition, a portion of ticket and cookbook sales from the Tour will benefit a local charity. For more information, call (800) 226-3542 or visit ameliaislandinns.com

Holiday Home Tour in Historic Fernandina Beach: November 30-Dececmber 1 Tour several of Amelia Island's loveliest, private homes in Fernandina Beach's historic district during the Amelia Island Museum of History's sixth annual celebration of the holiday season. For more information, visit www.ameliamuseum.org.

Northeast Florida's coastal treasure, Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty. Consistently ranked in the top 10 North American Islands by the readers on Conde Nast Traveler, Amelia Island offers long, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and pristine waters. Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf and exclusive dining blend effortlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic districts. The island is home to Fernandina Beach, once a vibrant Victorian seaport village, and now a charming downtown district of eclectic shops, attractions and eateries. Forget the everyday getaway; Come make memories on Amelia Island. For visitor information and online planning, visit www.ameliaisland.com.

WHERE TO STAY: The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island (pictured above)