Jekyll Island, Georgia, Gears Up for Its Most-Loved Festival of the Year

The holidays will be here before you know it, and that means resorts around the world are preparing to pull out all the stops. Things are no different on Jekyll Island, off the southern coast of Georgia, but before the holidays get into full swing, the island makes time for its most-loved festival of the year.

The annual Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival returns for a two-day event Oct. 24 and 25. The festival showcases a Southern favorite, shrimp and grits, and chefs and restaurants come from all around to prepare their best versions of this iconic dish in hopes of winning the top prize. Visitors get to try shrimp and grits to their hearts content, but part of the draw of this fun festival is the location.

Jekyll Island, part of Georgia State Park system, is one of the most picturesque places you can spend a family vacation. The island’s signature resort, historic Jekyll Island Club, is steeped in 19^th-century charm and hospitality, and offers the ideal place to experience what the island was like in its heyday when it was a getaway for the country’s elite.

If you’re heading to the festival for a couple’s weekend getaway, the club is the ideal place to stay. Not only can you enjoy the luxury of a resort that perfectly preserved a bygone era, but you can also grab tickets to the garden party on the night of Oct. 25 to enjoy snacks and cocktails in the refreshing night air. If you’re attending the festival with kids, then you’ll definitely want to book a stay at Ocean Club Resort, the resort’s sister property on the other side of the island, where a sandy beach, swimming pool and family-friendly suites are perfect for a family vacay.

The festival itself is free to attend (you’ll have to pay a parking fee in addition to the state park entrance fee to get on the island), and it will take place across 32 acres in the island’s historic district and will feature live musical performances, food trucks, an art market, fireworks, and, of course, plenty of shrimp and grits. When you aren’t busy working your way through the festival, head to Hospitality Hall, also known as Morgan Center, where you’ll find all kinds of ways to relax in the air conditioning and have fun during the festivities.

For this year’s festival, the center hosts live entertainment, live streaming of college football games on big-screen TVs and plenty of comfortable lounge seating to watch from, as well as activities like vintage games, a cornhole tournament and a quarterback challenge. There will also be a full bar and plenty of food on hand if you want a break from the shrimp and grits.