ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (Oct. 23, 2026) – St. Augustine’s most delicious festival returns in 2027 with a brand-new venue. The 44th Annual St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival is back on March 6-7, 2027, but it’s moving out of downtown St. Augustine to the St. Johns County Fairgrounds at 5840 State Road 207. While the move is a big change, it will allow the festival to keep growing and offer a better guest and vendor experience.
“Something we’re really looking forward to is the abundant parking, lack of traffic jams, and additional space,” says Lion Memory Hopkins, Festival Co-Chair. “Being at the Fairgrounds will provide more space for our food vendors, fun zone, craft exhibitors and more live music. We’re really excited to make this the most successful event yet. A bigger and better event means more money for the Lions charitable goals.”
The St. Johns County Fairgrounds, near Elkton, is about 19 minutes from downtown St. Augustine. Because of the easy access, driving from northeast Florida is faster than driving into crowded St. Augustine. The grounds cover 90 acres and are surrounded by forest-lined land, giving the festival much-needed space to grow at a lower cost. SJC Fairgrounds feature modern amenities, including a covered arena with seating for 2,000 people, many restrooms, indoor dining and ample parking.
The St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival began in 1981 as a simple fish fry. Currently, the festival features food vendors serving boatloads of Seafood prepared in a variety of styles. Bar-B-Q, Cajun, Americana, Asian and additional fun fair foods will be available. The festival includes two days packed with live music from regional and local performers playing everything from rock to pop, country, Latin and dance music. Festival-goers can shop at a curated arts-and-crafts village. Fun seekers of all ages can explore the Fun Zone with virtual reality, axe throwing, bungee jumping, rock walls, performances and much more. Keep an eye out for Pirates, SAL the Lion, Smokey the Bear, and loads of festival activities. “Hey, We’re Havin’ Fun Now!”
The St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival is the St. Augustine Lions Foundation's primary fundraising event. Established in 1941, the St. Augustine Lions Club raises funds each year to support charitable causes, focusing on helping people with visual impairments and other special needs. They perform vision screenings in St. Johns County grade schools and fund eye exams and glasses for those in need.
