As the cooler months of winter give way to the warming temperatures of spring, Amelia Island residents and visitors all have a wide range of activities and special events to enjoy!

The festivities start on March 10 and 11 with the annual Amelia Island Home and Garden Tour Benefitting Micah's Place. Four beautiful homes within Amelia Island Plantation will be on display from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. For more details and photos of the homes, go to page 12.

During the weekend of March 13-15, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance returns to the grounds of The Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Now in its 14th year, this is one of the largest classic car shows in the nation, featuring over 250 rare automobiles and motorcycles from private collections worldwide. This year's honoree is David Hobbs, whose versatile driving career spanned 30 years on the Formula One, Indy, Trans-Am, IMSA, Group C and NASCAR circuits. Coachbuilder Bohman & Schwartz will serve as the featured marquee.

Ken Eberts' recent work, ZR-1 at Nürburgring, is among the fine 
automotive art  that will be on display at the AFAS show during the 
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, March 13-15.
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Other events scheduled with the Concours d'Elegance include a road tour, silent auction, golf tournament, art exhibit, test drives, classic car auction and a gala dinner sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. Visit online at www.ameliaislandconcours.org or call (904) 636-0027 for information.

In conjunction with the Concours d'Elegance, the Automotive Fine Arts Society will host its annual art show March 13-15. Mazda North America will once again sponsor this popular exhibit, which will showcase automotive subjects in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolors, acrylics, wood, gouache, pen and ink, clay and metal.

AFAS was established in 1983 and consists of the most celebrated automotive artists in the world. For more information call (214) 520-3430, ext. 301, or visit online at www.autoartgallery.com.

A regular weekend tradition on Amelia Island throughout spring and summer is the Boardwalk Bash, held every Friday from March 13 through October 30 at The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation. Comes and enjoy food and drink specials, $1 beer and live music. It's the place to be for happy hour on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.! Call (904) 432-2202 for more information.

On Friday March 6, the Historic Fernandina Business Association is proud to present the first Sounds on Centre event of 2009. This free community concert event is held the first friday of each month from March through October from 6 to 8 p.m. on Centre Street between 2nd and Front Streets. Bring a chair, your dancing shoes, and song in your heart. For more information visit www.downtownfernandina.com.

April 16 is the date for the third annual "History Alive" event sponsored by the Amelia Island Museum of History. The theme for this year is a reception for Princess Amelia by Lord Egmont at the historic Chadwick House at 121 North 6th Street from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event will features re-enactors playing several local figures from the past who were important to Amelia Island's history. For more information, call the museum at (904) 261-7378, ext. 100, or visit www.ameliamuseum.org.

The annual Katie Ride For Life is scheduled for April 18. This is a premier cycling event in which novices to advanced riders participate to raise awareness of the need for all of us to make an organ donor commitment. Riders also raise funds for a unique organ donor education program at the high school level. For more information visit www.katierideforlife.org.

The first weekend in May means the streets of historic downtown Fernandina will be packed as the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival returns for a 45th year! This island tradition, one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the southeast, was founded to commemorate Fernandina Beach as the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry. Enjoy fine arts and crafts, antiques, live music, family fun, pirates, fireworks and lots of delicious shrimp and seafood! Call 1-866-4AMELIA or visit the official website at www.shrimpfestival.com.

The streets of Historic Downtown Fernandina will be filled with thousand of visitors and a bunch
of pirates for the annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival May 1-3.
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The Wild Amelia Nature Festival May 15-17 invites residents and visitors to experience the wild side of Amelia Island. With more than 25 seminars and experiences, the three-day festival offers something for everyone. For a schedule of activities go to page 32. For more information call 904-277-0717 or visit www.wildamelia.com.

Celebrate Amelia's 8th Annual Art & Wine Fest on Saturday, May 23, at Amelia Island Plantation. Taste and enjoy wines from around the world. Peruse and purchase work by local artists. Live entertainment and light hors d'oeuvres are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (904) 491-4646.

On the second Saturday of every month. Amelia Island hosts an Artrageous Artwalk. This is a free event featuring 13 local art galleries that will showcase a wide array of fine art, including photography, pottery, copper, metal, stained glass, watercolors, acrylics and more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists behind the work. Spring dates for the Artrageous Artwalks are March 14, April 11, and May 9. Times are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information call 1-800-226-3542.