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.

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 schedule will be announced soon.

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, 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. A list of food trucks attending will be provided on this website once they are confirmed.

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!

For Exhibitors

Exhibition space at CoastFest is available for natural resources or conservation focused nonprofit organizations, government agencies, clubs, and at the discretion of DNR, some for-profit businesses. The same of items (including memberships, raffle tickets, etc.) at CoastFest is prohibited due to federal grant rules. To apply for space at CoastFest on Saturday, March 22, 2025, please complete the form below. A representative from DNR will contact you with more information after your application has been completed.

If you would like to be a food vendor, please contact DNR's Jim Long at jim.long@dnr.ga.gov or 912-264-7218.

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.