COFB Bicentennial Celebration, 204 Ash Street, Fernandina Beach, FL (2024)

07/09/2024

This week at the FFernandina Beach Market Place

"Our nod to the City of Fernandina Beach's Bicentennial Celebration is corn, grown by King's Kountry Produce of Starke, Florida. In 1825, when Fernandina officially became a city, corn would have been a staple crop and a significant part of daily life. Farmers in the early 19th century grew different varieties of corn, primarily dent corn and flint corn. Dent corn kernels look like Candy Corn, with a little dent on the crown; and flint corn, is rounder, like the kernels you would use to make popcorn. Both were suitable for growing in our local climate and soil. Pick up an information sheet from the management booth to learn more about this amazing product you will find today, and 200-years-ago, in our seaside community's trading post or farmers' market."

07/03/2024

Have you always wanted to know who resides at Bosque Bello Cemetery?

Domingo Pedro de Los Santos Acosta was born in St. Augustine and was sent to Amelia Island in 1808 as part of the Spanish Militia. You can learn more about Domingo at the Graveside Chronicles Tour taking place on October 12th. (This image is of a Spanish Militia uniform similar to what Domingo might have worn.)

The guided tour at Bosque Bello Cemetery offers a unique chance to learn about the lives and stories of notable past residents of Fernandina.

During the tour, you will be escorted to 8 different gravesites. Here, Costumed Interpreters will share the intimate tales of these individuals who played a significant role in shaping the community surrounding Amelia Island.

Here are some key details about the event:

*Date and Time: Saturday, October 12, 2024, Tours start at 9:00 AM, the last tour departs at 4 pm.
*Duration: The tour is expected to take approximately 1 ½ hours.
*Tickets: Timed tickets will go on sale September 6th and may be purchased online only at www.ameliamuseum.org
*Accessibility: Due to the Bosque Bello terrain, the tour might not be wheelchair accessible or suitable for those using walkers.

06/27/2024

Update: The R.L. Lewis event has been canceled.

R.L. Lewis, an original Florida Highwayman, art event hosted by the Amelia Island Genealogical Society
June 29, 2024 ; Peck Center Auditorium ; 10:00am- 2:00pm
Mr. R.L. Lewis Sr., one of the 26 artists known as, "The Highwaymen", will talk about the famous group of African Americans artists. Mr. Lewis will paint an original piece of artwork while presenting.
*Photo taken from Ocala Star Banner

Christian Heritage Parade and Faith Festival
June 29, 2024; Parade begins at Central Park; 10:00am
This is a parade celebrating the Christian heritage. The parade begins at 10am and follows the traditional parade route. Festival to follow at Central Park from 11-1pm. The Festival will include musical performers, food trucks, popcorn and snow cones.

06/17/2024

We love seeing what the Fernandina Beach Market Place comes up with each week!!

"Tommy King with King's Kountry Produce has the featured bicentennial product of the week, cowpeas, a crop easily found at a trading post or community market in 1825 Fernandina.

This family of beans is popular for the protein they provide, their ease of growing and how they improve the quality of soil. Originally from Africa, cowpeas such as pink eye peas, zipper peas, and white acre peas, have a rich history closely tied to the transatlantic slave trade and the agricultural practices enslaved Africans brought with them. They had invaluable knowledge of farming and food preservation techniques, as well as seeds of their staple crops, including cowpeas, a crop that had been grown in their homeland for thousands of years. The soil and climate of Amelia Island makes them an easy crop to grow. Saturday, at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market you will find three easy to identify varieties at King’s Kountry Produce. Pink eye peas are known for their distinctive pink or purple eye. Zipper peas are named for the ease with which the peas can be shelled, and the white acre pea is a small, creamy-colored pea. Cowpeas naturally replenish soil nitrogen and can be used as a green manure, plowed back into the soil to decompose and release nitrogen, an essential nutrient that supports plant growth."

06/11/2024

We are so happy to announce an exciting addition to our Fourth Annual Island Hop Craft Beer Fest!

January 1, 2025, marks the 200th Birthday of the City of Fernandina Beach. In honor of the COFB Bicentennial Celebration, a few of our local brewers are creating a special beer for our VIP ticket holders! Check out a sneak peak of the label created by Mocama Beer. We can't wait to try it!!!

06/10/2024

Check out this week's feature at the Fernandina Beach Market Place:

"Continuing our Fernandina Bicentennial Celebration this week we are sharing information about what you would find in a community market or trading post in 1825. One of the less pleasant items found at a community gathering 200 years ago would have been the plagues and diseases that afflicted citizens of the area. With our deep-water port and quick access to the Atlantic Ocean, the area was indeed a melting pot of people and their cultures, but also illness and fevers, as well as their ideas and attempts for healing.

After bloodletting and purging, chemicals like o***m and camphor were introduced as medicines. It was the bark of the cinchona tree, quinine, that was found to be a good source for treating fevers, including yellow fever and malaria. Quinine’s bitter taste meant that it was hard to enforce usage, so officials encouraged mixing it with soda and sugar, creating “tonic water.” This tonic water was sometimes mixed with gin to conceal the bitterness, giving rise to today’s gin and tonic cocktail.

The concept of mixing ingredients into medicinal tonics has deep historical roots. Some of the traditional remedies that we use today, began with combining vinegar, honey, and various herbs. Uses and results were well-documented across several cultures long before the modern iteration of this week’s Bicentennial Product, Fire Cider.

Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy made from a combination of apple cider vinegar, honey, and various herbs and spices. It is often used to boost the immune system, improve digestion, and ward off colds and flu. Fire cider, as it is known today, was popularized by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the 1970s, but its predecessors were included in Nicholas Culpeper's writings of 1653 that documents the medicinal use of many herbs and plants, including those found in fire cider. Stop by the Empowering Journey Herbals booth to learn more."

06/06/2024

Check out the upcoming events! Also, don't forget the "Brushes with History" event with a Florida Highwayman has been rescheduled to June 29. Event page in the comments.

05/28/2024

We love hearing what the Fernandina Beach Market Place comes up with each week in honor of the Bicentennial!

"Fernandina Beach, located on Amelia Island in Florida, has a rich history, but in 1825, it was still a small and developing area. A local farmers market, or community trading post would have been a trader's market, but also would be a major social event including gossip, sharing of local and regional news, music, and even poetry readings. With the diversity of travelers coming in and out of our deep-water port, located just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, different cultures would bring a variety of music to port.

A town gathering is the perfect place to hear a sea shanty like “Drunken Sailor” often sung during tasks that required a steady rhythm, such as loading and unloading silks, lumber, liquor, and spice. "Spanish Ladies" reflected the journey of sailors returning to England and highlight the various landmarks they pass along the way. The song captures the spirit and camaraderie of sailors during their voyages. Folk Ballads like "Barbara Allen" and "The House Carpenter" were popular among the settlers and traders and part of the rich tradition of storytelling through music, capturing themes of love, regret, and tragedy. Not unlike the music you hear at today’s farmers market, it reflects life’s journey and helps us through the mundane tasks of the day.

Each week we offer a musician in the farmers market to showcase local and upcoming Fernandina talent, this week, Rose Winn will be giving a solo performance. Rose is a student at Full Sail University, where she is pursuing a degree in the Arts. She attended school in Fernandina Beach and Douglas Anderson School of Arts, where she began her journey. She has directed several local productions and is part of the musical trio, The Alley Cats. She is thrilled to add an author to her list of talents, as she recently co-wrote and published a children’s book, “The Adventures of Rose Bud!”, with her father, Frank.."

05/23/2024

This week's Fernandina Beach Market Place Bicentennial feature is fresh squeezed lemonade. Each week we highlight an item that you would find in a community farmers' market or trading post in 1825 Fernandina. Lemon Sensations is one of our most popular springtime vendors in the Market Place.

Lemonade dates to ancient times, and can be traced to Egypt around 1000 AD. In the 1630s, Paris street vendors carried tanks of lemonade on their backs and dispensed the drink into cups for customers. Lemons, sugar, and fresh water were readily available in 1825 Fernandina. In 1817, a group of French privateers took control of Amelia Island. It could have been these French Pirates who brought lemonade to Fernandina. It is also reasonable to conclude that by 1825, Fernandina would have been introduced to lemonade due to its active involvement in maritime trade. Either way, as far as flavored lemonades go, some things really do get better with age. While classic lemonade may have been all the rage in 1825 Fernandina, in 2024, Lemon Sensations brings us classic, blueberry, strawberry, and “The Felix” a mango and pineapple flavored lemonade. Stop by their booth to learn more.

05/20/2024

Upcoming Bicentennial Events!

05/09/2024

From the Fernandina Beach Market Place:

"We are continuing our series celebrating the Bicentennial of Fernandina Beach by featuring an item each week that you would have found 200 years ago in a community trading post or farmers market in our sweet little Victorian village. This week we are looking at the friend of every traveler, sailor, hiker, and wilderness camper, Mad Mike's Jerky. Jerky has been a staple source of nutrition for travelers for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Early settlers survived by hunting wild cattle and pigs and preserving the meat through “boucanage”. Leading us to learn a fascinating bit of etymology that is intertwined with our own history. Stop by Mike's booth to learn more."

05/02/2024

Another exciting Bicentennial Event on the books!

04/23/2024

Drop by the Fernandina Branch library (25 N 4th Street) on Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm for a History of the Fernandina Pirates Club!! This group has made a HUGE impact on our community!

Nassau County Public Library System

04/23/2024

Check out this week's Fernandina Beach Market Place feature:

Skilled cowboys and local ranchers, known as "crackers," would have played a central role in supplying beef to Fernandina and surrounding communities 200 years ago. Raised on the open ranges of Florida, the cattle would be herded from neighboring grasslands to the trading post, where they would be sold or traded for other goods. The cattle, raised on the open ranges of Florida, would have provided a source of fresh meat for residents of Fernandina and neighboring communities.

200 years ago, beef had no antibiotics, hormones, or steroids, and JD Beef does not use them today. Visitors to the trading post or market would have had the opportunity to interact directly with the ranchers, much like talking to Sandra and Danny Durrance at the local farmers' market. This direct connection welcomes direct conversations between the rancher and the consumer about the food you are purchasing, and the methods used in its production. Stop by JD Beef and ask about their cattle ranch and farm. They will have a full load of fresh beef, pork and chicken!

04/16/2024

This week's Bicentennial feature at the Fernandina Beach Market Place is the Oyster Mushroom!

04/16/2024

04/10/2024

Have you gotten your Bicentennial Passport yet? You can pick one up at the Amelia Island Welcome Center downtown, at the Nassau County Public Library System (Fernandina Branch), or at the Amelia Island Museum of History!

04/09/2024

Continuing the Bicentennial of Fernandina Beach, this week the Fernandina Beach Market Place is calling attention to Nina Epperson, of Epperson Farms. Nina is all about life on a functioning farm and she brings a variety of homemade jelllies and jams to the farmers market every Saturday. She is also an expert when it comes to baking sourdough bread. Sourdough starter is a living culture of wild yeast and lactobacilli bacteria that is used to leaven bread. It can be dried or preserved in a dormant state, and Nina also brings the dried starter to the market, exactly as they would have in a community market or trading post in Fernandina 200 years ago. Before Louis Pasteur's work on fermentation in the mid 19th century, yeast was not yet commercially available, so it was quite common for bakers to sell, trade, or transport dehydrated starter. Stop by her booth to learn more, or even sign-up for her sourdough bread making classes.

04/08/2024

The period of British control over Amelia Island may have been brief, but it left a lasting mark on this region—including the name Amelia!

The British transformed the economy and communities of Amelia Island, with the expansion of plantations, the rise of indigo cultivation, and conflict with the newly-revolting “Americans” to the north. To guide you through this tumultuous history is Dr. Mike Harrison, a long-time museum volunteer and member of the Fernandina Historic District Council.

This will be the next chapter in our year-long speaker series celebrating Fernandina’s 200th anniversary, so join us on Wednesday, April 3rd to learn more about this fascinating history!

Attendance is free and open to the public and attendants may bring their lunch. Seating is limited on a first come, first served basis. This program is wheelchair accessible.

Watch this program remotely at https://www.twitch.tv/ameliaislandmuseumhistory

For more information contact Jarrett at 904-261-7378 x.102 or [email protected]

04/08/2024

Don't miss tonight's COFB Bicentennial Celebration program presented by the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society...

04/02/2024

04/01/2024

The Fernandina Beach Market Place has been celebrating the city's Bicentennial by featuring a product you would find in a trading post or community market 200 years ago. This week, the Market Place is answering the question, "Could you have a cup of coffee in Fernandina 200 years ago?" Visit SweeTThangs Coffee or Bunna Cafe Saturday to learn the answer.

03/26/2024

This week's Bicentennial feature at the Fernandina Beach Market Place... the tomato!!! 🍅

Shortly after Jean Ribault claimed Amelia Island for the French, raising the 1st of our eight flags, Spanish explorers sailed a fleet of ships to Florida. With our 2nd flag came ships full of provisions to build and sustain a new settlement including livestock and crops... like tomatoes. By 1825, tomatoes, seeds, or plants would have been readily available for trade at a 200-year-old community market in coastal Fernandina. Celebrate the COFB Bicentennial Celebration with us every Saturday.

03/25/2024

In celebrating the unique history of the City of Fernandina Beach Government during its Bicentennial, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions is celebrating 250 years of William Bartram's Travels and the local sh*****ng industry of Nassau County, FL. To preserve the legacy and celebrate the area's history, join us for this celebration! Also, meet the local individuals who have been working together on marking the official Nassau County Bartram Trail.

Nassau Bicentennial & 250th Bartram Trail Anniversary Celebration
April 13, 2024
12pm Master Naturalist -Led Kayak Tour
12pm Historic Van Tour (3rd Generation Shrimp Boat Builder)
2:00pm Bartram Society of Florida Interpretive Chat

Check out the event link here: https://fb.me/e/6Jt9k80In

03/19/2024

This week at the Fernandina Beach Market Place!

"Each Saturday of 2024, the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers' market pays homage to the city's heritage in anticipation of the city's Bicentennial Celebration that will culminate in one fabulous event in January 2025. Diving into our 200-year-old history, the farmers' market features an item found in the market today that you would have found 200 years ago in a trading post or community market. This week, the market is featuring the Red Royal shrimp.

One of the key events in the history of Fernandina Beach is the role it played in the sh*****ng industry and the introduction of the "otter trawl" net in the late 19th century. This innovation revolutionized shrimp fishing in the area, allowing fishermen to catch larger quantities more efficiently. The industry boomed, and Fernandina Beach became known as the "Birthplace of the Modern Sh*****ng Industry." Eddie and Debbie of Chesser Seafood will have these deep red delicacies at their booth. The Royal Red shrimp are found in deeper waters and are prized for their lobster-like flavor. Local chefs, and those known for their mastery of French cuisine, rave about their firm and meaty bite. They are only available for a few weeks each year, and like the Atlantic white shrimp, they sell out fast. Be sure to pre-order at (904) 509-3337. With sh*****ng having been a significant part of the local economy and culture for many years, it is no surprise the only Saturday of the year the farmers' market is closed is for the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, "Always Held the First Weekend in May." This year's festival will be held May 3 - 5, with the kick-off Pirate Parade on Thursday, May 2nd, at 6:00 p.m."

03/14/2024

In celebrating the unique history of Nassau County during it's Bicentennial, Amelia Island Kayak Excursions is celebrating 250 years of William Bartram's Travels and the local sh*****ng industry of Nassau County, FL. To preserve the legacy and celebrate the area's history, join us for this celebration! COFB Bicentennial Celebration Amelia Island TV Amelia IslandWest Nassau Historical SocietyBartram Garden Club of Amelia Island Florida Bartram Trail Society of Florida...

more info:https://fb.me/e/hgFXpV9VU)

03/14/2024

The Amelia Island Opera and the Amelia Island Museum of History present Songs of the Sea featuring the Galway Girls!

"As the city of Fernandina Beach gears up to commemorate its upcoming bicentennial on January 1, 2025, we're thrilled to be part of the festivities with Songs of the Sea.

Anchored in melody, this concert will delve into the fun world of sea shanties! Set sail with members from the Galway Girls, a multi-instrumental band known for their harmonies and memorable arrangements as they perform enthralling renditions of pirate songs, sea shanties, and even a sprinkling of opera! Joining the Galway Girls on multiple instruments will be musicians John Dutton and Martin Landry!

Be part of Fernandina Beach’s bicentennial celebration and join us at the history museum for Songs of the Sea!"

More info: https://www.ameliaislandopera.org/songsofthesea

03/12/2024

The City’s Youth Advisory Committee is looking for small items, letters, and photos to be included in their time capsule.

The Time Capsule is part of the City’s 200th Birthday celebration and will be unearthed in 2075.

Items included should have an element of Fernandina history or current life.

Please email a description of your item to [email protected]

03/05/2024

The Fernandina Beach Market Place is so clever! Here's what they have for us this week:

"While we don't set our clocks back until 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, this Saturday we are going to take you back 200 years at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market in historic Fernandina Beach.

Continuing our focus on Fernandina Beach's Bicentennial and what one may find in an 1825 farmers' market, this week we are exploring the heritage of our flavorful cuisine that came to us from our time under the Spanish and Mexican flags. Twice, Spain's colors flew over Amelia Island. The second occupation was a formative time for Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island, shaping the area's history, culture, and traditional cuisine, while establishing an identity as a Spanish colonial outpost in the New World.

Our natural, deep-water port, and quick access to the Atlantic Ocean, made Amelia Island a target for many invasions, and one additional occupation may have added to the interesting history of our culinary influences. Jared Irwin, who served twice as Georgia's Governor, partnered with a man named Ruggles Hubbard, a New York City sheriff. The two then joined forces with the French pirate, Luis Aury, permitting him to claim the island on behalf of the Revolutionary Republic of Mexico. This week we are featuring ceviche, salsa, and guacamole; all three with deep roots in the City of Fernandina Beach's family tree.

Ceviche is made from onions, peppers and herbs, mixed with fresh local seafood that is cured in citrus juices. The citric acid breaks down the proteins, similar to heat, and turns seafood opaque as well as killing harmful bacteria. Salsa is made from tomatoes, onions, and peppers, with other optional fruits and vegetables, and plenty of fresh herbs and seasonings. Guacamole is a Mexican avocado dish that dates back to the time of the Aztecs.

All three are delicious items you will find at the King of All Guacamole booth Saturday, and perhaps 200 years ago, in our small, coastal town."