CoastFest

CoastFest is an exciting annual event hosted by the Coastal Resources Division, dedicated to celebrating and educating the public about the rich coastal heritage and natural resources of our region. The festival brings together a wide range of activities, exhibits, and live entertainment, offering a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages.

What to Expect:

Interactive Exhibits: Explore a wide variety of exhibits from local, state, and federal environmental agencies and other nongovernmental organizations. Learn about marine life, coastal ecosystems, and conservation efforts through hands-on displays and engaging presentations.

Entertainment: See live birds of prey from the Georgia Southern Center for Wildlife Education, along with other birds, reptiles, and animals from the Wildlife Resources Division's Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. And we promise you won't miss the cannon firings and black powder demonstrations from Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Division! Other entertaining activities will be announced soon.

Main Stage Program Schedule:

10 a.m. | Black Powder (Cannons & Muskets) Demonstrations and History Program Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

11 a.m. | Live Wildlife Program Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, Georgia DNR

12 p.m. | Center for Wildlife Education Georgia Southern University

1 p.m. | Black Powder (Cannons & Muskets) Demonstrations and History Program Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites

2 p.m. | Art Winner presentation Wild Georgia Shrimp Eating Contest!

2:15 p.m. | Live Wildlife Program Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, Georgia DNR

3 p.m. | Center for Wildlife Education Georgia Southern University

4 p.m. | End-of-CoastFest black powder demonstration

Wild Georgia Shrimp Eating Contest: Georgia’s shrimp industry faces economic challenges due to low dockside prices caused by competition from imported, farm-raised shrimp, dropping from $12.00 per pound in the late 1980s (adjusted for inflation) to $3.61 per pound in 2023. To help raise awareness about Georgia's Wild Shrimp industry, and show our support, DNR is holding its inaugural Wild Georgia Shrimp Eating Contest. Join DNR on the main stage at 2 p.m. as we have a friendly inter-divisional contest to see which division of DNR can peel and eat the most shrimp in two minutes. The winner will get bragging rights and a special surprise!

Food & Official T-Shirts: Savor delicious local cuisine from a variety of food trucks and stands. A complete list of food vendors will be available on this website closer to the event. T-Shirts in a variety of adult and youth sizes will be available, featuring the artwork of Madalyn Dixon of Camden County. Her "Lemon Shark" watercolor painting was chosen during last year's CoastFest. A list of food trucks attending will be provided on this website once they are confirmed. $15 for all sizes (youth and adult)

• Cal’s Sweets - Cupcake Jars, Jumbo Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Brownies, Banana Pudding, and MORE!
• King of Pops - Dye-free, Handcrafted, Organic Popsicles
• Kona Ice of Brunswick - Shaved Ice
• Rita’s Italian Ice On The Road - Italian Ice, Shakes, Frozen Drinks, Cookie Sandwiches and Custard Treats
• Shake It Up Milkshake Bar - Gourmet Milkshakes
• Wanda King’s Funnel Cakes- Funnel Cakes, Deep-fried Oreos, Cotton Candy, and Candy Apples
• Chelle's Shaved Ice LLC - Over 30 flavors of Shaved Ice and 3 flavors of Italian Sodas
• La Taqueria Oaxaquena - Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, and Tortas
• Willyum’s - American Cajun Comfort Food
• Messy Buns - Loaded Hotdogs
• Brunswick Boiled Peanuts - Serving the best boiled peanuts in town!
• Maddi’s Lemonade Stand - Fresh-squeezed Lemonade
• Baldino's Pooler - Subs, chips, fries, and salads
• Don Que's BBQ – Best BBQ in town!
• Ciccio's Pizzeria - Fresh Neapolitan Pizza
• Sweet Spice - Jamaican classics including Jerk chicken, Rice & Peas, Jamaican beef patties along with some American dishes

Educational Activities: Participate in educational games and demonstrations designed to teach visitors about coastal conservation, wildlife protection, and sustainable practices. Activities are suitable for all ages, with special programs tailored for children.

Coastal Resources Division Pavilion & Touch Tanks: Come learn all about the mission of Coastal Resources Division as you walk through our self-guided "Uplands to the Ocean" exhibit. You'll see how we balance conservation with public use, learn about our fisheries surveys, and can even take a virtual dive to one of our reefs using virtual reality goggles. Don't forget to stop at our Touch Tanks, where you can interact with live marine life found on the Georgia coast like starfish, stingrays, and fish.