Coastal Resources Division's 
29th annual CoastFest
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
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, Oct. 5, 2024. 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.

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 include:

• Rock Climbing Wall provided by Scouts BSA Coastal Georgia Council
• Archery provided by DNR's Wildlife Resources Division
• Catfish Rodeo provided by DNR's Wildlife Resources Division

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. noon: CoastFest Art Contest Grand Prize Presentation
  Immediately followed by 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.:  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

Join DNR and your fellow shrimp lovers for our first-ever peel-and-eat shrimp eating contest! More details will be announced as we get closer to Oct. 5!

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. 

Art Contest:

Visit the Marshes of Glynn Library of Brunswick across the street from Mary Ross Waterfront Park to view artwork by students from across the coast. A panel of judges will select the grand prize winner, which will be featured on next year's CoastFest T-shirt. Other students receive a variety of other first, second, and third prizes.

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.

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. Follow us on Facebook for updates and announcements leading up to the event at Facebook.com/CoastFest.

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

Meet Our Exhibitors: 

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

Live animals and bio-facts (shells, skins, skulls) from animals found in the coastal plain of Georgia
www.georgiawildlife.com

Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University

Water and Public Health Research, Outreach, and Education
georgiasouthern.edu/IWH

Center for STEM Education

STEM activities will include: Alligator Bite Force, **Using Swamp Milkweed as a dye, and Yaupon Holly Tea
**subject to change**
https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/coe/stem/

Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve

Exploration of Georgia's Estuary's
https://sapelonerr.org/

Keep Golden Isles Beautiful

Georgia's Coast is Not an Ashtray cigarette litter prevention; Storm Drain Litter; Recycle Right!
https://www.facebook.com/KeepGoldenIslesBeautiful     Insta: keepgoldenislesbeautiful

Southeast Georgia Health System 

First Aid/ Blood Pressure Screenings
www.sghs.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA-NRCS Conservation For All
www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov

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
tidelands4h.org

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.
www.mogsu.org

90.7 WAY RADIO

The Way Radio Van and we will have a tent set up with fun stuff to give away and a prize wheel.
wayradio.com

College of Coastal Georgia Biology Program

Discover Biology at at the College of Coastal Georgia!
https://www.ccga.edu/academics/artsandsciences/biologicalsciences/

College of Coastal Georgia Environmental Sciences Program

Discover Environmental Science at the College of Coastal Georgia!
https://www.ccga.edu/academics/artsandsciences/environmentalscience/

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.
https://safmc.net/

Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures

We plan on bringing a few swamp-related table activities that include animal artifacts and a sound identification game. 
okeswamp.org

America's Boating Club Golden Isles

Try your hand at various nautical knowledge and skills challenges with chances to win great prizes
www.gisps.org

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.
www.artesianlliance.org

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.
www.sslt.org

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!
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee

Flotilla St Simons Island (070-10-10) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Recreational Boating Safety and marine (ocean) conservation.

Georgia 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.
gatrees.org

For Exhibitors

CoastFest is open to governmental and nongovernmental agencies with a focus on environmental conservation. The sale of items by exhibitors is prohibited.

 Click here to apply to be a CoastFest Exhibitor

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.