Around Fernandina Beach: Lobster Fest, the Right Whale Festival and the run-up to Christmas

The last of the warm weather is going out of the afternoons, and the town has gone straight from pumpkins into the holiday calendar. Here is what is on the books between now and the middle of December.

October

7th Lobster Fest-To-Go — Friday, October 30. One to five in the afternoon in the Atlantic Recreation Center parking lot. You pick it up and take it home, which is the whole idea.

Halloween Trick or Treat Downtown — Friday, October 30. The downtown shops hand out candy the evening before Halloween. Main Street puts it on every year and it is the easiest night of the season for small kids.

November

Right Whale Festival — Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8. At Main Beach Park, ten to six on Saturday with a movie in the park after, then ten to three on Sunday. The right whales calve off our beaches in the winter, so this one is genuinely local.

Veterans Day Parade — Wednesday, November 11. Steps off at eleven in the morning along the usual route. Bring a chair.

Pétanque Amelia Island Open — Friday through Sunday, November 13 to 15. Three days of it at Waterfront Park downtown. Free to watch, and worth a half hour even if you have never seen it played.

Black Friday Pajama Party — Friday, November 27. Ten to two at Second Street and the train depot. Pajamas downtown on the day after Thanksgiving.

Christmas Tree Lighting — Friday, November 27. Four to six at the Waterfront Park, with the tree lit at a quarter to six. Same evening as the pajama party, so you can do both.

December

Lighted Christmas Parade — Saturday, December 5. Starts at six in the evening on the traditional parade route. Get your spot early.

Dickens on Centre — Friday through Sunday, December 11 to 13. The Christmas market takes over historic downtown for three days. Parking downtown is thin, so use the free lot and trolleys at Eleventh Street by Central Park.

At the store

This is the part of the year our gift room is really built for. The hand-painted wooden door hangers are out, along with tea towels and the handcrafted Christmas gifts, and all of it is made by hand in small numbers, so the best pieces go early. If you want something on the front door before the tree lighting, come look now rather than the week of.

Our Annual Christmas Open House is coming. The date is not set yet, and when Katie settles it we will announce it on Facebook and Instagram first.

We are at 1551 S 14th Street, Suite 1, open Monday through Friday, nine to six, closed weekends. Come by, or call us at (904) 261-3171 and we will set something aside.