4/23/25 @ 3:00 p.m. 

We have some great local artists to perform all your favorite tunes at our 2nd Annual Opening of the Beaches Even on May 17th. 

10:30 a.m. - Laid Back
12:15 p.m. - Brian Ernst
1:45 p.m. - The Sean McCarthy Band
3:30 p.m. - Gilberto 77
5:30 p.m. - The Honey Badgers

Over the next few days, we will share videos highlighting each band/performer in an effort to spread excitement about the event so stay tuned!

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

4/21/25 @ 11:15 a.m.

Several thousand residents and visitors joined us last May for an Opening of the Beaches event where we celebrated Nassau County’s 200th birthday and engaged with the community about the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative. We had so much fun last year that we’ve decided to make this an annual event!

Join us on Saturday, May 17, 2025, for our Second Annual Opening of the Beaches. This FREE, family-friendly event will bring the community together for nature-themed activities, food and beverage, music and fun, and updates on Vision 2050. This year, we will be celebrating at two locations: Main Beach and Peters Point.

Taking place at Main Beach from 10am-7pm will be food trucks, live music, a Children’s Entrepreneur Market, kid’s activities, and a beer garden. Featured on stage will be a series of local favorites including Laid Back, Brian Ernst, the Sean McCarthy Band, Gilberto 77 and The Honey Badgers.

While there, be sure to stop by the Vision 2050 tent to review and provide comments on the draft Vision 2050 plan. The draft Vision 2050 plan is the result of an 18-month collaborative effort to gain feedback on Nassau County’s future and represents the overarching themes and ideas of the collective community. The final Vision 2050 Plan will be used to guide policies that will promote and manage growth while protecting and enhancing key areas of importance.

Also featured at Main Beach will be the 16th Annual Wild Amelia Nature Festival, brought to you by Keep Nassau Beautiful, which will include exhibits and live animals at the Wild Amelia Eco-Expo. This popular annual event introduces Nassau County’s diverse ecosystem and the wonderful creatures that inhabit them.

Looking for something slower paced? Head down to Peters Point Beachfront Park between 10am-3pm where you will find a vendor’s market, food trucks and a DJ playing all your favorite tunes.

Be sure to visit our news blog at www.thecountyinsider.com for future updates on this event. You can also find updates on our FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/nassaucountyfl. We look forward to celebrating with you at the Second Annual Opening of the Beaches.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

4/4/25 @ 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a FREE, family friendly gathering featuring beach and nature-themed activities, food & beverage, music and fun, and Vision 2050 Updates. Now celebrating at two beach locations!

MAIN BEACH
32 N. Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach
10am-7pm
*featuring Wild Amelia Nature Festival

PETERS POINT
4600 Peters Point Road, Fernandina Beach
10am-4pm

Stay tuned for additional details.

​
-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

VIETNAM'S VOICES: HONORING HEROES

The Town of Hilliard and VFW Post 100095 are hosting Vietnam Voices, a 5-day event to pay tribute to the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. Below is the schedule of events. At this time, they would like to ensure that every Vietnam Veteran gets a meal. If you know a Vietnam Veteran, please register them at this link so they can be honored at this special event.
https://www.ticketleap.events/.../vietnam-veteran-dinner...


Event Highlights:
Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Wall Escort & Setup

Friday, April 18, 2025
- School Field Trips (9 AM - 3 PM, Closed to Public)
- Evening Opening for Elderly at 4 PM
- Vietnam Veterans Dinner (5 PM - 7 PM)
Reserve your spot here: [Vietnam Veterans Dinner Tickets](https://www.ticketleap.events/.../vietnam-veteran-dinner...)

Saturday, April 19, 2025
- Opening Ceremony at 9 AM

Sunday, April 20, 2025
- Sunrise Easter Service at 7 AM
- Candlelight Ceremony at 8 PM

Monday, April 21, 2025
- Wall Disassembly & Cleanup

Questions? Contact the town of Hilliard at (904) 845-3555

1/8/25 @ 3:00 p.m. - Nassau County Parks & Recreation is excited to announce the return of Seniors Night Out! The first event held in March 2024 was very well attended so they're doing it again but this year's theme will be a Valentine's Party.  

Join us on Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Callahan Multi-Use Facility located at 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan. Enjoy live music, dancing and a free buffet dinner. There is no cost to attend, however the event is limited to seniors ages 55 and up. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (904) 530-6120 or email Parks Director Jay Robertson at [email protected]. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

1/2/25 @ 2:15 p.m. - Happy 200th Birthday to the City of Fernandina Beach! Incorporated on January 1, 1825, the City of Fernandina Beach is the largest incorporated City in Nassau County with an estimated population of of 13,053 (2020 Census).  

To celebrate the City's 200th Birthday, Fernandina Beach Main Street and the City of Fernandina Beach hosted Dining Down Centre for nearly 1,000 attendees. The event featured a ticketed community dinner provided by approximately one dozen local restaurants including, but not limited to, AIBC the Tavern, Arte Pizza, Baba's Mediterranean Grill, The Boathouse, The Crab Trap and more. Though tickets to the dinner were sold out, hundreds of others gathered downtown to enjoy additional activities at the event which included live music by the Honey Badgers, speakers from the City of Fernandina Beach, historical characters from the Amelia Island Museum, and the Fernandina Beach Pirates. 

Congratulations to Fernandina Beach Main Street and the City of Fernandina Beach on a very successful event. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

1/2/25 @ 9:00 a.m. 

The Town of Hilliard and VFW Post 10095 have partnered to bring "Vietnam Voices", a special program to honor Veterans in Nassau County. This will include a heartwarming display of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall which will be placed at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds from April 17 - April 21, 2025. The Vietnam Traveling Wall is a 3/5 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and honors the sacrifices made by those who served in the Vietnam War. Having it placed in Nassau County will give our community the opportunity to reflect, honor and remember. 

"Vietnam Voices" will also include a special Veteran Dinner on April 18, 2025 from 5:00-700 p.m. at the Callahan Fairgrounds. This heartfelt evening will feature a delicious meal provided by Mission BBQ and allow Veterans to come together, share stories and enjoy a memorable evening. All Nassau County Veterans are invited to participate. Pre-registration is required. Reserve your spot today by clicking here. There is no cost to participate. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Town of Hilliard at (904) 845-3555.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

12/16/24 @ 12:30 p.m.

​Over two dozen performers will join the musical ensemble, Sonofarious, for Currents and Tides: A Musical Tribute to Our Waters on December 27 and 29 to recognize the Fernandina Beach and Nassau County Bicentennials, and celebrate the remarkable ocean, rivers, creeks and marshes that sustain them.

“With Currents and Tides, Sonofarious is delighted to shine a light on the incredible waterways that shaped our communities,” says Brenda Kayne, Sonofarious founder. “Without them, Amelia would not be known as the ‘Isle of Eight Flags’; Fernandina would not have become a prosperous shipping, shrimping and tourist hub; the St. Marys River basin would not be one of the most ecologically productive estuaries in North America; and Nassau County would not be among the fastest growing communities in Florida.”

Each Currents and Tides concert will feature classical and traditional songs, dance, original music and poetry. There will be reflections on Pogy watermen, Gullah Geechee culture and plenty of audience participation, Kayne says. Performers from the Amelia Island Dance Festival, Amelia Island Museum of History, and other artistic organizations will assure a lively, harmonious afternoon with fun for the whole family. In addition, attendees will find information from non-profit local groups that support our maritime environment and a special Currents and Tides Chapbook featuring poems by Fernandina native and poet, Kim Lewis.

Currents and Tides will take place December 27 and 29 at 3 PM, at Story and Song Center for Arts and Culture,1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach. Proceeds will benefit the St. Marys Riverkeeper’s programs to protect and enrich the rivers, marshes, bays and streams that flow through Nassau County.  
​
For tickets, stop by Story and Song Bookstore/Bistro, call 904-601-2118, or visit storyandsongarts.org/

12/16/24 @ 10:30 a.m. - On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Nassau County Parks & Recreation hosted its 4th Annual Breakfast With Santa event at the Callahan Fairgrounds. This event featured a free pancake breakfast, photos with Santa and a gift exchange. Thank you to everyone who came out to the event. We hope your littles had a great time with Santa! And a big thank you to Commissioners Farmer, McCullough and Huppmann for volunteering their time Saturday morning to cook breakfast for our guests. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer 

12/3/24 @ 9:00 a.m. - Approximately 1,500 residents joined us on Friday, December 6, 2024 for the 3rd Annual Tree Lighting. This family-friendly event included holiday vendors, holiday performances by the Nassau Community Band and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), train rides, Santa's village photo ops, food trucks, a kid's zone, roller skating, photos with Santa, and the lighting of the tree. This year's event also included a 10-minute fireworks display as we wrapped up our year of Bicentennial Celebrations. 

A big thank you to all of the vendors and performers for participating. We couldn't have done it without you! And congratulations to Nassau County Parks & Recreation for another successful event. We appreciate all of your hard work and efforts to bring events to the community. 

Last but not least, thank you to the hundreds of residents who stopped by our Vision Tent and participated in games and activities while providing input for Nassau County's future. Residents can still provide feedback by participating in the Growth Scenarios Survey. This survey was built upon the community building blocks identified from previous community engagement and surveys. One final preferred growth scenario will be created and included in the 2050 Vision Plan. This preferred scenario will inform updates to the Future Land Use Map and the Future Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Learn more here. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer