An official website of the State of Georgia.
Coastal Resources Division's 29th annual CoastFest, Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 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 21, 2026. 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:
The main stage program schedule has not been released yet. There will, however, be scheduled events every hour on the main stage. Check back soon for the main stage program schedule.
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! The Wild Georgia Shrimp Eating Contest contestants have not been announced yet.
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. The shirt from 2025's CoastFest featured the artwork of Madalyn Dixon of Camden County. Her "Lemon Shark" watercolor painting was chosen during 2024'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
Last year we had a great lineup of exhibitors bringing exciting experiences to CoastFest. Check back soon to see a list of all of the exhibitors that will be present at CoastFest 2026!
Funding & Support
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.
