Events produced by Jekyll Island Authority earned recognition in a wide array of categories at the Southeast Festivals & Events Association’s Kaleidoscope Awards, Feb. 25 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
 
The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits festival took the Gold award for Best Festival Poster, along with Silver awards in the Best Marketing and Best Selfie Station categories, and a Bronze award for Best Volunteer. Night at the Mosaic, an event that celebrated the reimagined Jekyll Island museum, won the Gold award for Best Selfie Station and Bronze for Best New Event. The Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl claimed the Bronze Award for Best Festival/Event Under 75,000 people.
 
Nancy Kring-Rowan, director of events at the Authority, said she was proud that the Shrimp & Grits Festival continues to bring home awards year after year, but is equally pleased that additional events produced by her team are also earning accolades.
 
“We strive for excellence in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of every event, large and small. That’s why it’s gratifying to receive recognition in so many areas,” Kring-Rowan said. “Our team is dedicated to creating high quality experiences that attract people to this beautiful island throughout the year. The Kaleidoscope awards prove we are succeeding in this mission, and we are grateful for the support we receive from the entire JIA staff, our volunteers, and our event partners.”
 
The Shrimp & Grits Festival poster was designed by Lindsey Dale, a graphic designer at the Authority, and inspired by her experiences working shoulder to shoulder with other JIA staff members at previous festivals. Ann Johnson, the Best Volunteer Award winner, has been involved with the Shrimp & Grits festival since 2005 and has led the growth of the Craft Brew Fest.
 
“The quality of submissions continues to increase each year. This year there were 171 entries from 12 states,” said Lisa McCray, executive director for SFEA.