Spend time in Fort Myers enjoying the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival. With fun for the whole family, this is one local event you do not want to miss!
About the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival
This Lion’s Club sponsored family island event includes a parade, 5k run, Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant, live music and lots of great food featuring shrimp! An old time celebration on the beach gives visitors to Fort Myers Beach an opportunity to enjoy eating shrimp, shopping at vendor booths, and helping out the community. Shrimping is a primary livelihood in the area, and the seafood served at the festival is fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. Each year, the colorful ceremony is the first of a series of events that give visitors a taste of local seafood and lifestyle.
The largest annual event on Estero Island, another name for Fort Myers Beach, is the Shrimp Festival Queen Pageant. The Shrimp Festival Parade is a two-mile long extravaganza that proceeds down Estero Boulevard. The rest of the day is full of shopping the vendor booths for souvenir tee shirts, tank tops and baseball caps, walking on the beach, picking up shells and enjoying some of the thousand pounds of available pink shrimp.
The crowning of the queen occurs in the early afternoon in a family style event where attendance is free, and candidates receive trophies and academic scholarships. Activities spill over onto Sunday to provide more opportunities to listen to music and stroll along water’s edge while enjoying perfectly cooked “peel and eat” shrimp fresh from the boiling pot. Local organizations benefit from the festival, including the Southeast Guide Dogs organization, Florida Lions Eye Bank, and the Baskin-Palmer Eye Institute, with some funds providing large print books for local libraries. Visitors and residents alike often plan their vacation schedule to allow them to attend the festival that honors local traditions.
Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival History
The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that was started in 1951, originally intended to bless shrimpers with safe travels and a bountiful harvest on their four-week trips into Gulf waters. Any boat that passes by receives a blessing as well, adding to the enjoyment of the event for everyone who attends, participates or watches. Over time, the celebration has expanded into a full-fledged festival that provides plenty of food and entertainment for several days in early March. In keeping with the American tradition of celebrating events with street festivals, the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival provides something for everyone.
Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival Schedule
Saturday, March 5, 2016
- Fort Myers Beach Lions Kids Shrimp Run
Saturday, March 12, 2016
- Shrimp Festival Fort Myers Beach 5k Run
- Shrimp Festival Parade
- 24th Annual Shrimp Festival Food Fun & Crafts Expo
- World Famous Lions Shrimp Dinners
- Crowning of the 58th Shrimp Festival Queen
Sunday, March 13, 2016
- 24th Annual Shrimp Festival Food Fun & Crafts Expo
- World Famous Lions Shrimp Dinners
- 2nd Annual Lions Shrimp Festival World Shrimp Eating Championship
Everyone is welcome on Fort Myers Beach, a friendly community that takes a casual approach to life. The Gulf waters are warm and inviting, and the welcoming sunshine invites everyone to relax and enjoy the weather. While planning your visit to the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival, make sure you are booking a stay at the best vacation home rental company the area has to offer, Sun Palace Vacations. With our wide range of incredible rentals, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect home for your trip.