Shrimp shine at 60th Shrimp Fest

The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade was held Thursday. The Ritz-Carlton's float, pictured, won Best Large Business. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

Bo Gatti was crowned Miss Shrimp Fest during the 2025 Shrimp Festival Pageant. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

Bo Gatti was crowned Miss Shrimp Fest during the 2025 Shrimp Festival Pageant. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant was held Friday during the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant was held Friday during the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Blessing of the Boats held Sunday. The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo courtesy of David Beverly

Visitors enjoy the vendors Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Vendors on Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Sheriff Bill Leeper enjoys the festivities Saturday morning downtown. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Several attendees of the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival donned shrimp hats over the weekend. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Shrimp Festival hosted a number of pets. Many dogs joined their owners at the events, a racoon was in the parade and one attendee brought his friendly blue macaw to greet visitors Saturday. Top right, this dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Andria Shinn and The Loyal Souls perform on Saturday at the 60th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. The Riverfront Stage at the marina in Downtown was host to entertainment of many kinds such as the Miss Shrimp Festival 2025 Scholarship Pageant; shrimp and ice-cream eating contests and other contests; Invasion of the Pirates! and various musical performances.

Andria Shinn and The Loyal Souls perform on Saturday at the 60th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. The Riverfront Stage at the marina in Downtown was host to entertainment of many kinds such as the Miss Shrimp Festival 2025 Scholarship Pageant; shrimp and ice-cream eating contests and other contests; Invasion of the Pirates! and various musical performances.

Andria Shinn and The Loyal Souls perform on Saturday at the 60th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. The Riverfront Stage at the marina in Downtown was host to entertainment of many kinds such as the Miss Shrimp Festival 2025 Scholarship Pageant; shrimp and ice-cream eating contests and other contests; Invasion of the Pirates! and various musical performances.

The Pirate Club's pirate ship parked down by the marina downtown Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Visitors enjoy the vendors Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Visitors enjoy the vendors Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Visitors enjoy the vendors Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Amelia Island’s first immersive pirate experience lands next month in Fernandina Beach with multiple daily voyages for families, evening BYOB cruises and private charters aboard the Flying Dutchman, a newly built 53-foot replica pirate ship with room for 49 buccaneers of all ages. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

The Blessing of the Fleet was held Sunday during the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

The pirate ship parked at the downtown marina Sunday during the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

Pirates Invasion! at the 2025 Shrimp Fest. Photo by Todd Wilson/News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade was held Thursday. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

Congressman Aaron Bean, right, in the 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade was held Thursday. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo by Penny Glackin/Special to the News-Leader

The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo courtesy of David Beverly

The 2025 Shrimp Fest Parade. Photo courtesy of David Beverly

The 2025 Shrimp Festival. Photo courtesy of David Beverly

This dog had his feet protected from the hot pavement Sunday with a pair of dog Crocks. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

Visitors enjoy the vendors Saturday morning at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Kid's Zone on Saturday at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Kid's Zone on Saturday at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Kid's Zone on Saturday at the 60th anniversary Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Yulee High School wrestling coach Brandon Crowder and Dieuseal Dauphin grill up shrimp skewers Saturday for the Hornets’ booth at the 60th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader