Amelia Island's popular Taste of Amelia is getting a serious upgrade this fall. What was once a single culinary crawl through Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach has grown into a full three-day weekend celebration — Taste of Amelia Weekend — running October 23–25, 2026, with a lineup that spans craft spirits, Napa Valley wines, island history, and of course, a whole lot of great food.
Friday kicks things off with two distinct experiences: a Sunset Pirate Voyage along the Amelia River, or an evening at A1A Marlin & Barrel Craft Distillery, where guests can tour the working facility, watch a handcrafted cocktail demonstration by Paul Lore, and enjoy food pairings alongside premium spirit tastings. Saturday afternoon brings the heart of the weekend — the Taste of Amelia Culinary Crawl — a stroll through Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach with samples from participating local restaurants. The crawl has sold out consistently in past years.
Saturday evening steps things up further with an exclusive ZD Wines Premium Tasting at a downtown rooftop venue, featuring Napa Valley wines from the Silverado Trail served alongside artisan charcuterie and chef-inspired bites. The weekend wraps up Sunday with a brunch and special program at the Amelia Island Museum of History, complete with a tour and narrated stories about the island's storied past.
The event is presented by the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club and raises money for education and scholarships benefiting Nassau County students. Organizers encourage attendees to extend their visit and take in everything Amelia Island's restaurants, accommodations, and historic downtown have to offer while they're in town.
Tickets and the full weekend schedule are available at the Taste of Amelia website. Details for this story were originally reported by the Fernandina Observer.
