CoastFest 2025

Coastal Resources Division's 29th annual CoastFest, Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ Mary Ross Waterfront Park, Brunswick, Ga.

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.

Location:

CoastFest is held at the scenic and historic Mary Ross Waterfront Park, 10 F Street, Brunswick, Ga. The park's beautiful waterfront views provide the perfect backdrop for this vibrant event.

Date and Time:

Join us for CoastFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025. This day-long celebration offers ample opportunity for families and friends to explore and enjoy all the activities and attractions.

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.

Live wildlife displays are slated to include:

Corn, pine, and indigo snakes, diamondback terrapin, yellow-bellied slider turtle, gopher tortoise (hatchling and adult), alligator at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center booth
Snapping turtle, alligator, and variety of snakes at Okefenokee Swamp Park booth
Hawk, owl, box turtle, burmese python at Georgia Southern University's Center for Wildlife Education booth
And more!

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 ProgramGeorgia State Parks and Historic Sites
11 a.m.: Live Wildlife Program
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, Georgia DNR
12 p.m. noon: 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 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! Competing for each division of DNR are:

Coastal Resources Division: Maitland Bass, permit coordinator
Environmental Protection Division: David Lyle, program manager
Law Enforcement Division: Micah Ballard, Region VI (Charlton Co. and Stephen C. Foster State Park) game warden
State Parks and Historic Sites Division: Jason Baker, Fort Morris site manager
Wildlife Resources Divisions: Caleb Mills, Evans Co. PFA fisheries technician

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. T-shirt prices are:

$15 for all sizes (youth and adult)

Food Trucks:

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.

Admission:

CoastFest is a free event, open to the public. Food and T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Plan Your Visit:

More information about CoastFest, including detailed schedules, exhibitor information, and parking details, and other information will be posted on this website closer to the event's date.

Come celebrate our coast and discover the beauty and importance of our coastal resources at CoastFest!

Click here to see a map of the park showing where activities will be located.

Click here to see where to park your car and the traffic control plan.

Exhibitors

This year, we have a great lineup of exhibitors bringing exciting experiences to CoastFest. Below is a list of all of them, as well as their "theme" and other information.

Exhibitors: Click here to download the 2025 CoastFest Exhibitor Packet

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center: Live animals and bio-facts (shells, skins, skulls) from animals found in the coastal plain of Georgia

? Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Website
Facebook: Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University: Water and Public Health Research, Outreach, and Education

? Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University Website
Instagram/Facebook: @gs_iwh, LinkedIn: Institute for Water and Health, YouTube: @IWH_GS
Center for STEM Education: Theme: Getting Swampy with STEM

? Center for STEM Education Website
Facebook & Instagram @i2stemed
Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve: Exploration of Georgia's Estuary's

? Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Website
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
Keep Golden Isles Beautiful: Georgia's Coast is Not an Ashtray cigarette litter prevention; Storm Drain Litter; Recycle Right!

? Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Website
https://www.facebook.com/KeepGoldenIslesBeautiful Insta: keepgoldenislesbeautiful
Southeast Georgia Health System: First Aid/ Blood Pressure Screenings

? Southeast Georgia Health System Website
USDA-NRCS: USDA-NRCS Conservation For All

? USDA-NRCS Website
No
USDA-NRCS: USDA-NRCS Conservation For All

? USDA-NRCS Website
No
4-H Tidelands Nature Center/ Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll: Live reptiles-such as box turtles, gopher tortoises, snakes, etc. As well ID various beach finds, such as mollusk shells, egg casings, along with crab molts, etc

? 4-H Tidelands Nature Center/ Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll Website
https://www.facebook.com/Tidelands4H/
Marshes of Glynn Girl Scouts: "Live By The Girl Scout Law" Girl Scout activities are designed to be more than just fun; they're structured to foster teamwork, empathy, and understanding among girls. From the iconic Girl Scouts cookie sales and camping trips to community service projects and STEM activities, each event is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to work together, celebrate each other's successes, and support one another through challenges. These experiences build skills and create a foundation for lasting friendships grounded in shared experiences and mutual goals.

? Marshes of Glynn Girl Scouts Website
www.mogsu.org
90.7 WAY RADIO: The wayradio Van and we will have a tent set up with fun stuff to give away and a prize wheel.

? 90.7 WAY RADIO Website
Facebook: wayradiobwk - Instagram: wayradiobwk
College of Coastal Georgia Biology Program: Discover Biology at at the College of Coastal Georgia!

? College of Coastal Georgia Biology Program Website
College of Coastal Georgia Environmental Sciences Program: Discover Environmental Science at the College of Coastal Georgia!

? College of Coastal Georgia Environmental Sciences Program Website
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: Visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's booth to learn more about Best Fishing Practices and citizen science projects. Race to record information about fish in an app, learn how to use descending devices, hold life-size replicas of the fish we manage, and discover more about South Atlantic fisheries.

? South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Website
Facebook: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council ; Instagram: southatlanticcouncil
Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures: We plan on bringing a few swamp-related table activities that include animal artifacts and a sound identification game.

? Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures Website
Facebook: Okefenokee Swamp Park
America's Boating Club Golden Isles: Try your hand at various nautical knowledge and skills challenges with chances to win great prizes

? America's Boating Club Golden Isles Website
Facebook:GISPS
Artesian Alliance (Chehaw, Flint RiverQuarium, and Thronateeska): Artesian Alliance brings you a variety of critters to meet and greet along with amazing biofacts such as bones, fur, feathers, and more.
St. Simons Land Trust: Native Plants: The St. Simons Land Trust will provide engaging information and activities that educate the community on the important role that native plants play in coastal Georgia's habitats. We will also provide information on the mission of the Land Trust and the protected properties you can visit.

? St. Simons Land Trust Website
Instagram: stsimonslandtrust; Facebook: St. Simons Land Trust
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Learn about the plants, wildlife, and recreation opportunities at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the largest blackwater swamp in North America!

? Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Website
https://www.facebook.com/okefenokeewildliferefuge/
Flotilla St Simons Island (070-10-10) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary: Recreational Boating Safety and marine (ocean) conservation.

? Flotilla St Simons Island (070-10-10) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Website
N/A
GA Forestry Commission: The GA Forestry Commission offers a wide range of forest related services, such as forest management plans, cost share programs, prescribed burning, so much more.

? GA Forestry Commission Website
Facebook and Instagram: Georgia Forestry Commission
Georgia Ports Authority: Georgia’s deepwater ports in Brunswick and Savannah are major U.S. gateways for the import-export of vehicles and containerized goods. Georgia Ports Authority’s CoastFest booth will highlight GPA’s sustainable operations, supporting more than 609,197 jobs across the state, and linking Georgia producers with the world.

? Georgia Ports Authority Website
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light: Information about coastal advocacy issues and stewardship opportunities

? Georgia Interfaith Power & Light Website
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
Glynn Environmental Coalition: Safe Seafood Outreach Initiative - a youth fishing activity that helps children understand how to read a fishing advisory.

? Glynn Environmental Coalition Website
Facebook: GlynnEnvironmental; Instagram: glynn_environmental
Glynn County: Celebrate Glynn County! Located on the Atlantic coast south of the Altamaha River, we are one of Georgia’s original eight counties. The county was created February 5, 1777 from 423 square miles of land formerly held by Creek Indians. Glynn County’s coastal location is a recreational haven for residents and visitors alike. The county features award-winning golf courses, some of the best fishing on the East Coast, as well as beautiful beaches on the four coastal islands. The five islands of Glynn County, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Blythe Island, make up the Golden Isles, so named because of their vast marshes that turn a beautiful golden color in the fall.

? Glynn County Website
FB: glynncountyboc Insta: glynncountyga
Fort Frederica National Monument: Learn about early colonial life in Georgia with Fort Frederica National Monument! Understand how a town of over thousand people protected the early colonial in the 1730s & 1740s from a Spanish invasion.

? Fort Frederica National Monument Website
Facebook: Fort Frederica National Monument
One Hundred Miles (maybe along with the SSI Sea Turtle Project - will let you know!): Learn about Georgia's extraordinary 100-mile coast and how you can take action to protect it!

? One Hundred Miles (maybe along with the SSI Sea Turtle Project - will let you know!) Website
FB: OneHundredMilesGA / Insta: onehundredmiles / X: 100MilesGA
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary: Take a virtual dive with sea turtles, sharks, and schools of fish on the largest near-shore live-bottom reef in the South Atlantic bight. The sanctuary is home to over 900 types of invertebrates and 200 types of fish, and a haven for fishers, divers, and scientists.

? Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Website
Facebook: GraysReefSanctuary; Twitter/currently known as X: GraysReefNMS; Instagram: GraysReefNMS
Tybee Island Marine Science Center: We will bring out our 21 foot inflatable right whale "Smoke", along with whale artifacts and activities to teach about the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale.

? Tybee Island Marine Science Center Website
Facebook: TybeeIslandMarineScienceCenter
The Dolphin Project: Protecting Our Wild Dolphin Neighbors'. We'll have a fin-matching game and dolphin information

? The Dolphin Project Website
Facebook: TheDolphinProject
Savannah State University: Hands-on activity related to our current research, and discovering more about marine science at Savannah State University.

? Savannah State University Website
Facebook: SSU Dept. of Marine & Environmental Sciences / Instagram: mscioutreachssu
Georgia EPD - Coastal District: Aquifer display and trash fishing game! Learn how to dispose of household solid waste.

? Georgia EPD - Coastal District Website
Jekyll Island Authority: Learn about nature and conservation on Jekyll Island.

? Jekyll Island Authority Website
Facebook, Instagram
Georgia Alabama Land Trust: Decorate your own frog house with us and learn about land conservation in the Southeastern United States with the Georgia Alabama Land Trust.

? Georgia Alabama Land Trust Website
Manomet: Shorebirds in the Georgia Bight and wildlife beaches

? Manomet Website
Instagram: manometcenter Facebook: Manomet
CORE Response: CORE is a 501c3 disaster relief organization that brings services and resources to rural and underserved communities. We have been operating globally since 2010, and in Georgia since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in April of 2020. Under a contract from the State of Georgia Department of Public Health, CORE is currently providing the following free services to communities across the state via mobile vaccination units: COVID-19, flu and MPOX vaccinations, COVID-19 tests, HIV/STI tests, benefits navigation, resource coordination and health education. This year, we are planning to expand our services for chronic health prevention and health promotion, including blood pressure screenings, glucose testing, harm reduction educational sessions and more. We currently have 15 mobile units serving the entire state. CORE also supports disaster relief efforts as they arise. We evaluate the situation and the need of the community to help assist in emergencies such as tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves.

? CORE Response Website
NA
Brunswick Golden Isles Airports- Aviation Career Day: Learn all the fun jobs that are in the Aviation industry

? Brunswick Golden Isles Airports- Aviation Career Day Website
AviationCareerDay on Facebook and Instagram
VDCI - Mosquito Control: Educate citizen on mosquito control at home and how they can help while, having a few fun crafts and activities for kids to do as well showing the process of mosquito life cycle.

? VDCI - Mosquito Control Website
Georgia Southern University: This exhibit will highlight coastal research being conducted by faculty and students at Georgia Southern and will include activities.

? Georgia Southern University Website
Birds Georgia: Birds Georgia is building places where birds and people thrive. Learn about the conservation, education, and community engagement efforts we are leading in the state of Georgia. The booth will feature bird trivia and prizes.

? Birds Georgia Website
Facebook: BirdsGeorgia... Instagram: BirdsGeorgia
Coastal GreenSpace Guardian: Build Dragonflies and talk about their life clucked and importance on the wetlands. We will also had out bags of cornflower seeds

? Coastal GreenSpace Guardian Website
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561877909954&mibextid=JRoKGi
Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites: Working to serve, support, and celebrate Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites

? Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Website
Facebook & Instagram: friendsofgastateparks
Surfrider Foundation GA: Information on the mission of surfrider ga

? Surfrider Foundation GA Website
FB: SurfriderGA IG: surfrider_ga
Cumberland Island National Seashore: Cumberland Island is Georgia's largest barrier island with a variety of habitats to explore and a rich cultural history to learn.

? Cumberland Island National Seashore Website
Facebook: CumberlandIslandNPS

Funding & Support

NOAA Logo
CoastFest is funded by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Georgia Coastal Management Program, a program of the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.