Attending Florida Fin Fest is an enriching experience, especially for those passionate about marine conservation and sustainability. This unique festival held in Jacksonville Beach, Florida blends entertainment, education, and advocacy for the ocean and marine life conservation. It’s not just a fun weekend by the sea, it’s an opportunity to engage with experts and organizations working to protect the world’s most precious marine ecosystems.
This post was sponsored by Visit Jacksonville. All opinions expressed in this article are solely my own.
What is Florida Fin Fest?
Florida Fin Fest is held annually in September, at the Seawalk Pavillion in Jacksonville Beach. The event brings together conservation, education and entertainment over the course of two days and is held rain or shine!
Attendees can spend their time perusing the local vendors market, educating themselves on ocean conservation, indulging in foods from various ethnicities or listening to incredible live music on one of two stages set up during the course of the festival.
This year’s live music line up included:
Florida Fin Fest Educational Village
The festival brings in leading marine biologists, conservationists, and environmental advocates to share their insights on the current state of our oceans. These various organizations have interactive exhibits, encouraging public engagement and creating a deeper connection to the cause. This year’s lineup included representatives from:
- Ocearch – known for their groundbreaking work in tracking and tagging large ocean predators, OCEARCH aims to collect vital data on migration, breeding, and feeding patterns of various species. You can find their data shared in real-time via their website.
- Guy Harvey Foundation – focuses on promoting sustainable fishing practices, preserving marine ecosystems, and protecting endangered species, particularly sharks, billfish, and other large ocean predators. Through scientific research, educational outreach, and community engagement, the Guy Harvey Foundation works to raise awareness about the importance of healthy oceans and inspire actions toward conservation.
- St. Johns Riverkeeper – dedicated to protecting and restoring the health of the St. Johns River, the Riverkeeper works to ensure the long-term sustainability of the river’s ecosystem through education, community outreach, and legal action when necessary.
- Jacksonville University – emphasizes sustainability, marine research, environmental policy, and conservation. With access to cutting-edge facilities and partnerships with local organizations, the university is well-equipped to address global marine challenges.
Live Panel Discussions
From the exhibitors to the speakers, the focus is on fostering a deeper understanding of the ocean’s importance and the urgent need to protect it. The presentations were engaging, featuring real-world examples of the impacts of climate change and pollution on marine life. Other discussions dove into the life story and ongoing research of our ocean’s apex predators (sharks!). These sessions provide a wake-up call, reminding attendees of the fragility of our oceans and the immediate need for action. They also highlight success stories—instances where conservation efforts have led to the recovery of marine species or the restoration of critical habitats. These stories of hope inspire action, reinforcing that individual and collective efforts can make a significant difference.
For attendees who care about the environment, this is a perfect space to connect with like-minded individuals, learn about the latest conservation initiatives, and discover tangible ways to make a difference. The festival also emphasizes solutions. It’s not just about highlighting problems but focusing on what can be done to protect our oceans. Attendees learn about simple changes they can make in their daily lives. Changes like reducing single-use plastics, supporting sustainable seafood, or participating in local beach cleanups. These actions can contribute to larger conservation efforts.
Who Can Attend Fin Fest?
The annual event is FREE and open to the public. This is a family friendly event, open to all ages.
What are the Amenities?
Food and Drink
Florida Fin Fest prides itself on being a single-use-plastic-free event and encourages attendees to subscribe to the cause. There are food trucks on-site selling a wide variety of foods of various ethnical origins. Each of them using non-plastic serving materials. Additionally, the on-site bars, strictly offer beverages (beer, wine, seltzer, soda and water) in aluminum cans. You’ll also find several recycling bins at the festival for proper disposal of these containers. Large water reserves are also on site for refiling personal water bottles.
Facilities
Port-o-Poties are also on-site for use by festival attendees.
VIP Options
The festival also provides an option to purchase VIP and Platinum VIP passes for each day of the festival.
VIP passes include:
- access to a premier viewing area which includes pit access, as well as a shaded patio with open seating
- private bars with complimentary beer, seltzers and water
- lunch, dinner and snack provided by The Local Neptune Beach
- artist encounters
The Platinum VIP passes include all the VIP perks as well as:
- access to a private pre and post Florida Fin Fest events
- platinum viewing area with air conditioned, 2-storey viewing decks
How to Get to Florida Fin Fest
Parking is limited near the event so it is recommended that attendees arrive by alternative means. Attendees are encouraged to walk, ride bikes, carpool or use ride share services. Jacksonville Beach also offers a FREE ride share program called Beach Buggy! The program uses small, electric-powered buggies to shuttle people between over 20 designated areas along the A1A beach highway. This eco-friendly service operates on a tip-based system and aims to reduce traffic congestion and minimize the environmental impact of driving. Just download the app and summon your free ride!
Where to Stay Near Florida Fin Fest
The hotel partners for the festival are nearby Courtyard Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront and Springhill Suites Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront. However, for our trip to the festival, we stayed at the conveniently located Element by Westin. This modern, eco-conscious hotel is designed for both short and extended stays. Located near the beach, it offers guests comfortable, sleek accommodations with a focus on sustainability, featuring energy-efficient appliances and environmentally friendly practices. Hotel amenities include a fitness center, an outdoor saline pool, and a guest happy hour, as well as complimentary bicycle rentals and breakfast.
Attend the Next Florida Fin Fest
For anyone with a passion for the ocean, attending Florida Fin Fest is a must! It’s more than just a festival; it’s a movement aimed at educating, inspiring, and mobilizing people to take action for the health of our oceans and the future of marine life. Interested in attending Florida Fin Fest next year? Follow them on Instagram for updates on next year’s schedule of events!
Exploring Jacksonville Beach
While you’re in the Jacksonville area, check out some of the extra flair offered on ‘the Flipside of Florida’ – there is something for everyone in the Jacksonville area! Whether you enjoy discovering the local art installation and murals, or exploring one of Jacksonville’s foodie trails (Ale Trail, Coffee & Donuts Trail, Mayport Shrimp Trail).
There are several nature trails in the area that offer a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the beach. If you’re more the active type, check out the unique landscape at Boneyard Beach or rent a paddleboard and cruise the marshes at Castaway Island Preserve.
Planning to spend some time with your toes in the sand? Be sure to follow these 10 Tips for An Eco-Friendly Beach Day.
Will I see you at Florida Fin Fest next year?
If there was ever an event MADE for Staying Afloat, this was it! 🌊
Sounds like such a great time! I hope it gets bigger every year!