Thursday, March 06, 2008
Road trip: Florida shrimp festival
What: Amelia's Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
When: May 2-4
Where: Amelia Island, Fla.
Distance from Roanoke: About 575 miles/9-hour drive
Why: As the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, Amelia Island is certainly the place to go for an education in the popular crustacean. In the early 20th century, Greek immigrants decided to veer away from the traditional intercoastal shrimping methods. They put a motor on a boat, headed out to sea and quickly realized that this was a much better way to catch shrimp. Head down to Amelia Island for the 45th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival this May to celebrate the occasion.
More why: You'll quickly understand why Forrest Gump's friend Bubba insisted that shrimp is the fruit of the sea. With everything from the traditional fried and boiled shrimp to more unique selections such as shrimp pie, event executive coordinator Sandy Price guarantees you won't be disappointed. "Any way you want it, you can get it," she says. But this festival is more than just food. With several hundred booths of fine arts, crafts and antiques as well as three entertainment stages, this event will surely make for a memorable, fun-filled weekend.
Call: (866) 4-AMELIA or (904) 261-3248
On the Net: shrimpfestival.com
-- McClatchy-Tribune
