Along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay the cry of “Jubilee!” traditionally means a unique occurrence when the fish and crab of the bay come to the surface, making for an easy and abundant harvest. On September 29 and 30, 2018 the call also means a plentiful catch of art and festival fun in Daphne at the 30th Annual Jubilee Festival of Arts.

Celebrating the milestone of 30 years, the festival is located along Main Street in Old Towne Daphne, in front of City Hall. All points are an easy walk and the main festival stage is located at City Hall.

The juried art show attracts prominent artist from throughout the Southeast. Their pieces are complemented by performance art, music, theater, dance and the very delicious World Food Championships Qualifier Competitions. It seems that no matter how you define art, you can find it, see it, hear it and taste it here!

Wait? What’s that about the World Food Championships?  If you are a fan of the Food Network or just enjoy great food, you’ll want to check out the two elite qualifier competitions for sandwich making and the chef’s challenge. Some of the area’s best chefs will be putting their skills to the test in hopes of securing a spot in the World Food Championships in Orange Beach in November.

New this year, they’ve added a High School Art Exhibition in the Jubilee Courtyard next door to The Pigeon Hole. Young artists will be able to display their work and win prize money for their school’s art departments.

September’s forecast can still call for warm temps, so you’ll definitely enjoy the graceful canopy of oaks providing shade as you stroll to see the booths displaying paintings, pottery, jewelry and other artistic creations.

But what about your festival budget? Admission to the festival is free. And the kids? They’ll be able to express their creative side with six different hands-on activities in the Kids Art Park in Centennial Park.

But don’t leave your wallet at home. You’ll want to showcase your Eastern Shore pride with a print of this year’s featured artwork and festival t-shirt. The food vendors will keep you full and happy. And most certainly, take home a treasure that you can purchase directly from the artist.

The Jubilee Festival of Arts is hosted by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. To see the complete entertainment and demonstration schedules, visit the festival’s website and Facebook page.

See you in Daphne in September!

For more fun ways to explore the Eastern Shore, check out our Daytrips.