Your ultimate guide to the coast
It’s the week of firsts and that means time to head to downtown Fernandina Beach for Sounds on Centre. Fernandina is always a pleasure to visit, and even more so when there’s a free concert outdoors.
Sounds on Centre is held the first Friday of every month through October in the historic downtown on Centre Street (between 2nd and Front) from 6 to 8 p.m.
Bring a chair and your dancing shoes to enjoy the free concert. For more information, visit www.downtownfernandina.com
On the Fourth of July I headed out to Fernandina Beach for the Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival. I really enjoyed myself, even though I had a pretty close encounter with the pirates in the parade.
Take a look at my video!
Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival – Fernandina, Amelia Island, FL
What better way to celebrate America’s independence than the Stars and Stripes Festival in Fernandina, Florida? The festival takes place in Amelia Island’s Central Park and begins with a patriotic parade down Centre Street at 7:00 p.m. in the historic district; followed by a barrage of fireworks to conclude the festivities.
This annual observance of America’s liberation takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Bring the whole family to the park for lots of activities and fun. First and foremost, there’s the Touch-A-Truck Public Safety display. Here you, or your little ones, can get hands on, up close and personal look at a number of fascinating vehicles. There will be fire trucks, police cars, garbage trucks, excavators – even an 18 wheel log truck and helicopter is scheduled. The vehicles on display come from the City of Fernandina Beach Police, Fire/Rescue and Streets Departments, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and Fire/Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, Coast Guard, and more.
This event is a sure hit with the younger ones.
Other activities include a Parent-Child Look-A-Like Contest. Sign up starting at 10 a.m., the contest itself at 1:00 p.m. I thought about asking one of my teenagers to participate with me, but I’m sure the answer would be a “No Wayâ€. So instead I had my hopes up for the All American Apple Pie Contest. It turns out that you have to bake pies, so I quickly crossed that off my list. Then there’s of course the usual stuff with Fun for the Kids playground, food, arts and crafts vendors.
Also the band FACE FOR RADIO, will perform on the Pirate Ship Stage during the festival.
Festival goers are invited to wear red, white and blue for the Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival Parade starting at 7 p.m. After the parade, everyone will gather in front of the Depot to enjoy music in the spirit of Independence Day by the community choir, the Sine Nomine Singers and the New Horizons Band of the Amelia Arts Academy.
After dark, it’s time to find a spot to watch the fireworks. The fireworks exhibition can be viewed to the south of the Fernandina Harbor Marina at approximately 9:30 p.m. A perfect close to a perfect day.
More information, concert agenda, and applications for the contests can be found at www.shinybadgesball.com.
Click here to visit our events calendar for Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival in Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida
The British royal family has a long history and tradition. Part of the tradition is embodied in the British Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1303. The Crown Jewels are kept in a part of the Tower known as Jewel House, where armed guards defend them.
While the jewels never leave the Tower of London, the only existing sanctioned replicas will be on display at the Amelia Island Museum of History, April 22nd through July 24th.
Amelia Island is a suitable place for the exhibit, since the island itself is names after King George II’s daughter Amelia Sophia.
In 1733, James Oglethorpe founded the 13th British colony in America naming it Georgia after King George II. Later on he name Amelia Island after George’s daughter. The experts are not sure why. Some believe that Oglethorpe was trying to get support from George II in his endeavor to add Florida to the British colonies, while others think that Amelia Sophia and Oglethorpe might have been romantically involved.
Now you can experience a little bit of royal history right here on the coast. The Crown Jewel exhibit continues at Amelia Island Museum of History until July 24th.
Admission is free for museum members and $5 for non-members.
Amelia Island Museum, 233 South Third Street, Fernandina, Florida 32034
Phone: 904-261-7378
Each year, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival invites internationally acclaimed talent and the finest musicians from the Southeast to Amelia Island, Florida. Performances are held at a variety of venues in Fernandina Beach during a two week period from May 21 – June 14, 2009.
The Festival includes a wide range of musical tastes, including: traditional chamber music string quartets and composers such as Haydn and Mozart; chamber music ensembles, including voice, guitar and wind instruments and also modern and non-traditional chamber music.
Click here for details about the 2009 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.
