2026 Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival

Application for all Food Trucks & Food Booths that DO NOT SELL shrimp & grits. 

The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival is a coastal favorite and a nationally award-winning event that combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, art and craft vendors, live music, food, and more. Now in its seventeenth year, with more than 30,000 guests, the festival is held in Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District.
 
 Note: This is not a Georgia Grown Member Application and is not transferable if used by mistake. Food Court Vendor DO NOT sell Shrimp & Grits or have it on their menu 

Established restaurants or caterers that specialize in a Shrimp & Grits dish need only apply.

Only eight (8) Prime Food Vendors SPACES available. This is not a Food Court Vendor application and is not transferable if used by mistake. This is not a Georgia Grown Member Application and is not transferable if used by mistake. Georgia Grown members are not eligible for a discount in this category.  

The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival is a coastal favorite and a nationally award-winning event that combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, art and craft vendors, live music, kids’ zone, food, and more. Now in its seventeenth year with more than 30,000 guests, the festival is held in Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District. 

Prime Food Vendor Requirements: You are an established restaurant or caterer that specialize in a Shrimp & Grits dish. Download, read and follow all Requirements & Regulations Download, read and follow the “Vendor Guidelines for Waste Reduction and Recycling" Pay a Non-refundable application fee of $40.00 Provide a shrimp & grits dish as THE primary option on your menu.

Applicant must provide five (5) Images:   

• One (1) image of your shrimp & grits dish as it will be served at the festival.
• One (1) image of the menu that will be served at the festival.Pricing must be on the menu and must remain the same for the duration of the festival.
• Three (3) different images of the other food options on your menu for the festival.

An application will be rejected if these rules are not followed.·     

When accepted Prime Vendors must provide the following on or before September 25, 2026 or forfeit vendor space: 

• Food vendor License Agreement (attached to application)
• Certificate of Liability Insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 with the Jekyll Island Authority listed as additionally insured. An application will be rejected if all requirements are not followed. 

All Prime Food Vendors will be invited and must attend a mandatory meeting on Monday, October 12 from 2:00 - 3:00pm to receive staff hangtags and load-in instructions. 

Application only for artists that handcraft their original artwork.

 Buy-Sell/Production items are prohibited.

The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival is a coastal favorite and a nationally award-winning event that combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, art and craft vendors, live music, food, and more. Now in its eighteen year, with more than 30,000 guests, the festival is held in Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District. Note: This is not a Georgia Grown Member Application and is not transferable if used by mistake.  Artist Market Vendor Requirements: Download and read all Requirements & Regulations. Provide a non-refundable application fee of $40.00. All vendors are required to use only white tents. Only vendors displaying their original artwork may participate. Buy-sell/Production items are prohibited. Reproductions of other artists' work is prohibited. Applicant must submit five (5) images:

• Three (3) of the artwork that will be sold at the festival (catalog photos will NOT be accepted)

• One (1) of the artist creating their art 

• One (1)  of the entire outside and front of the artist's booth, in an outside setting as it is set up for sales.

The booth image must reflect what the booth will look like at the Festival. Most of the time a photo of the outside of the booth is the final deciding factor for acceptance. An application will be rejected if all requirements are not followed.

Artist Market Vendors WILL NOT be located on  a parking lot.