A seafood extravaganza, more than 100 artists and crafters, and an entertainment lineup featuring jazz, country and Americana music will be among the highlights of the 36th Annual St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival.
To be held Friday March 3 through Sunday March 5 at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine, the festival will serve up boatloads of seafood, with everything from jambalaya and conch ceviche to fried lobster tail, whole belly clams, crawfish, calamari, clam chowder and more on the menu. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, Greek delicacies and desserts will also be available from the approximately 20 food vendors at the event.
Along with the wide assortment of seafood, the festival will present a three-day lineup of entertainment, including such artists as Lonesome Bert & the Skinny Lizards, John Dickie with Collapsible B, the Florida State Bluegrass Band, the Kate Keys Band and more. Family fun, meanwhile, will be available in the Kid Zone, Pirate Village and Spanish Landing, where entertainment will include the Clown Adventure, pirate parties and costume contests, Nutter Interactive Percussion and more. Kids’ rides will be available all day with a discount ride wristband. Kids will also be able to meet popular superheroes and fairy tale princesses.
Free parking and shuttle
Francis Field is located at 25 W. Castillo Drive, next to the downtown parking garage. Seafood festival hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Friday March 3, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday March 4 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday March 5.
Building on the success of the free shuttle operated during St. Augustine’s “Nights of Lights” holiday extravaganza, the city will offer free parking and a free shuttle on Saturday, March 4 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Festival attendees may park for free at the St. Johns County Health Department at 200 San Sebastian View or the San Marco lot at 301 San Marco Ave. and take the free shuttle to the festival. Shuttle pick-ups will occur every 20 to 25 minutes, with attendees dropped off at the St. Augustine visitor center adjacent to the event.
Admission to the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival is $5 for adults; children 15 and under are free. Active duty military with ID are also free. Proceeds from the annual event benefit the charitable activities of the St. Augustine Lions Foundation. For more information, visit www.lionsfestival.com.
