An official website of the State of Georgia.
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
- 12:15 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.: 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! Competing for each division of DNR are:
- Coastal Resources Division: Maitland Bass, permit coordinator
- Environmental Protection Division: David Lyle, program manager
- Law Enforcement Division: Lucas Barnard, Region VI game warden
- State Parks and Historic Sites Division: Jason Baker, Fort Morris site manager
- Wildlife Resources Divisions: Caleb Mills, Richmond Hill Hatchery fisheries technician
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.
Confirmed food trucks (as of 8/21/24):
- Kona Ice: Shaved ice treats
- All American Take-Out: Fried Oreos and funnel cakes
- Brunswick Boiled Peanuts
- Cool Kats: American fare (burgers, fried pickles, wraps)
- Johnny's Cluckernaut: Chicken wings and sides
- Don Que's BBQ: Smoked BBQ meats and traditional Southern sides
- La Taqueria Oaxaquena: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas
- Shake It Up Milkshakes: Gourmet milkshakes
- Maddi's Lemonade: Fresh squeezed lemonade
- Johnny Boy Cookies: Cookies cream pies, ice cream sandwiches, edible dough bites
- R&R Shrimp Shack: Shrimp
- Sweet Spice Mobile: Jamaican cuisine, jerked chicken, rice and peas, Jamaican beef patties and American cuisine
- Robbin's Nest Simply Delicious: Southern comfort foods, seafood egg rolls, crab cakes, wings, sandwiches
- Ciccio's Pizzeria: Fresh Neapolitan pizza
- Cal's Sweets: Cupcake jars, jumbo cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, banana pudding and more
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- 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.
GaPorts.com- Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Information about coastal advocacy issues and stewardship opportunities.
GIPL.org- Glynn Environmental Coalition
Safe Seafood Outreach Initiative - a youth fishing activity that helps children understand how to read a fishing advisory.
www.glynnenvironmental.org- Glynn County Government
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.
www.glynncounty.org- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Dolphin Project
'Protecting Our Wild Dolphin Neighbors'. We'll have a fin-matching game and dolphin information
- Savannah State University
'Hands-on activity related to our current research, and discovering more about marine science at Savannah State University.
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division | Georgia DNR
Aquifer display and trash fishing game! Learn how to dispose of household solid waste.
EPD.Georgia.Gov- Jekyll Island Authority
Learn about nature and conservation on Jekyll Island.
JekyllIsland.com
- 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.
GaLandTrust.org- Manomet
Shorebirds in the Georgia Bight and wildlife beaches.
https://www.manomet.org/project/ga-bight-shorebird-conservation/- 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 - Community Organized Relief Effort (coreresponse.org)
- Brunswick Golden Isles Airports- Aviation Career Day
Learn all the fun jobs that are in the Aviation industry.
www.flygcairports.com- 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.
- Georgia Southern University
This exhibit will highlight coastal research being conducted by faculty and students at Georgia Southern and will include activities.
- 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.
- 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.
- Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Working to serve, support, and celebrate Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.
- Surfrider Foundation Georgia
Information on the mission of Surfrider Georgia.
- 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.
For Exhibitors
CoastFest is open to governmental and nongovernmental agencies with a focus on environmental conservation. The sale of items by exhibitors is prohibited. Exhibitor registration has closed. If you still wish to participate in CoastFest, please contact Tyler Jones at tyler.jones@dnr.ga.gov or by calling 912-264-7218.
View the exhibitor placement map (Updated 9/10/24)
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.
