The Golden Isles are absolutely loaded this Memorial Day Weekend — from waterfront pig roasts and reggae cruises to late-night karaoke, metal fundraisers, harbor markets, and enough live music to keep your calendar in full panic mode. Whether you're chasing sunsets on Jekyll, hopping between Brunswick patios, or trying to decide between tiki drinks and guitar solos on SSI, this weekend has serious summer-kickoff energy. We’ve rounded up 70+ live shows plus festivals, memorial events, markets, and coastal weirdness to help you make the most of the long weekend.

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Fly Tying Night
🕰️ 6PM–8PM
🎯 On The Fly Outfitters, Brunswick

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or somebody who just thinks fly fishing people seem mysteriously peaceful, this community fly tying night is open to all skill levels.

Participants can bring their own tools and supplies or reserve a beginner kit for $20. The event is designed to be casual and welcoming, with experienced fly fishers helping newcomers learn the ropes without any intimidating “you tied that wrong” energy.

Call ahead to register for a kit — only 10 are available.

📞 912-342-7086

Thirsty Thursday
🕰️ All Day Thursday
🎯 Arte Pizza, Brunswick

Every Thursday at Arte Pizza, buy one beer and get the second free with the purchase of a meal.

Line Dancing with Halle
🕰️ 7PM–9PM
🎯 The Hangout Bar & Grill, Brunswick

Boot scootin’ returns to The Hangout with line dancing lessons led by Halle.

Whether you’ve got country bar confidence or the coordination of a folding chair in a windstorm, this weekly dance night is meant to be fun, casual, and beginner-friendly. Expect country hits, lots of laughter, and at least a few people discovering muscles they forgot existed.

Volleyball Tournament
🕰️ 4PM–7PM
🎯 Lanier Landing, Brunswick

Lanier Landing is serving up volleyball, food trucks, sunshine, and competitive chaos Friday afternoon. Whether you’re diving for saves or just showing up hungry, this one sounds like a fun kickoff to Memorial Day weekend. Nelly’s Food Truck will be onsite keeping everyone fueled while teams battle it out on the sand.

Memorial Day Welcome Party
🕰️ 5PM–8PM
🎯 Sand Bar at Jekyll Island Club Resort, Jekyll

Live music, waterfront views, cocktails, barbecue favorites, and coastal sunset energy? Yeah, this sounds like a pretty strong way to begin Memorial Day weekend. The Jekyll Island Club Resort is kicking things off at the Sand Bar with a relaxed island-style welcome party overlooking the water.

I Love 80's to Death Murder Mystery Dinner
🕰️ 5:30PM
🎯 Jekyll Club Resort, Jekyll

Neon colors, giant hair, murder, mystery, and apparently absolutely zero chill. The Jekyll Club Resort is throwing an 80s-themed murder mystery dinner where guests are encouraged to go full retro while solving the crime. Sounds like the perfect excuse to dust off the jean jacket and over-accessorize responsibly.

Tickets are required and seating may be shared for smaller groups.

More info: https://www.jekyllclub.com/local-experiences

Brookwick Experience: Movement & Mocktails
🕰️ 6:30PM
🎯 Brown Butter Shoppe, Brunswick

Yoga, movement, mocktails, and community vibes all collide at this first-of-its-kind Brookwick Experience downtown. Expect a lighthearted movement session designed for all experience levels followed by mocktails and socializing to roll into the weekend feeling a little less stiff and a little more human.

Bright colors encouraged. Summer energy required.

More info: https://balancebwk.com/events

Friday Stern Army Tournament
🕰️ 7PM
🎯 The Pinball Palace, Brunswick

Pinball warriors assemble. The Pinball Palace is hosting a Friday Stern Army Tournament with a $25 entry fee and plenty of opportunities for both glory and public humiliation courtesy of silverball physics.

A pretty solid Friday night for anyone whose idea of stress relief includes multiball and aggressive flipper saves.

Late Night Fridays
🕰️ 9PM–12AM
🎯 Downtown Cooter Brown’s, Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick is officially entering karaoke-after-dark season. Cooter Brown’s is extending the party every Friday night with late-night hours, drinks, music, and karaoke from 10PM until midnight.

There is approximately a 73% chance somebody attempts “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Red, White & BBQ
🕰️ 8AM–12PM
🎯 American Legion Post 9, Brunswick

If you’re planning a Memorial Day cookout but don’t actually want to stand over a smoker all day sweating into pork butt fumes… the American Legion has your back. Whole smoked pork butts and pulled pork are available for preorder, with proceeds helping support local veterans and their families.

🔥 Whole Smoked Pork Butt – $40
🔥 Pulled Pork – $45

More info: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/memorial-day-pork-butt

Brunswick Harbor Market
🕰️ 8AM–2PM
🎯 Mary Ross Waterfront Park, Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick’s Harbor Market returns with local food vendors, handmade crafts, art, specialty items, and all the usual Saturday waterfront wandering energy. One of the best excuses to slowly drift around downtown with coffee in hand pretending you only came for “one thing.”

Butts for Mutts
🕰️ 9AM
🎯 Darien

Another smoked pork emergency has entered the chat. Castaways Pet Rescue is hosting “Butts for Mutts,” where legendary smoked Boston butts help raise money for rescue animals. Honestly, this may be the most Georgia fundraiser name ever created.

THE COAST Summer Kickoff Party
🕰️ 10:15AM–3:15PM
🎯 Southern Edge Apparel, Townsend

This one’s shaping up to be a full-on coastal summer market party with food, shopping, permanent jewelry, trucker hats, painted art, cheesesteaks, sourdough, boiled peanuts, hair tinsel, and enough boutique energy to power three beach towns.

Vendors include:

A fun daytime road-trip style event if you’re looking to wander, snack, and pretend summer officially starts this weekend.

Howard Coffin Park Community Celebration
🕰️ 11AM–1PM
🎯 Howard Coffin Park, Brunswick

The City of Brunswick is officially unveiling $2.7 million in upgrades to Howard Coffin Park with a community celebration Saturday afternoon featuring family-friendly activities, refreshments, and the reopening of the pool for the season.

The improvements are extensive and honestly pretty impressive:

This is one of the biggest park investments Brunswick has seen in years and could become a genuinely important upgrade for local families, youth sports, and recreation.

The pool also officially opens for the season from 12PM–5PM.

Summer Kickoff at Holiday Inn Jekyll Island
🕰️ 12:15PM–6:15PM
🎯 Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island, Jekyll

Jekyll is going full vacation mode Saturday with a giant summer kickoff party featuring live music, bounce houses, family activities, cocktails, and poolside vibes all afternoon long. The resort’s “24 Colada” alone sounds dangerously convincing.

This feels like one of those events where locals accidentally end up staying six hours longer than planned.

Brantley Fire Fund Rager
🕰️ 3PM–10PM
🎯 1315 Grant Street, Brunswick

This massive benefit concert and community fundraiser is bringing together local bands, food vendors, raffles, artists, and one very loud Saturday lineup — all to support folks impacted by the recent Brantley County fires.

Bands include:

Food from Messy Buns and Robbin’s Nest. Drinks from Tipsy McSway’s. Raffles, prizes, local art, and a whole lot of community support packed into one event.

Honestly this feels less like a concert and more like one giant Brunswick community gathering with distortion pedals.

Chassity Andrews Book Signing
🕰️ 4PM
🎯 Respect for Life Bookstore, Brunswick

Author Chassity Andrews will be at Respect for Life Bookstore discussing her books, answering questions, signing copies, and talking about her nonprofit organization Helping Empower Resilience.

A nice slower-paced community event tucked into a very busy weekend lineup.

Gypsy Trane Live @ La Playa Park
🕰️ 6PM–9PM
🎯 La Playa Park, Brunswick

Classic 60s and 70s rock takes over La Playa Park Saturday evening with Gypsy Trane covering Hendrix, CCR, Clapton, ZZ Top, and more while food trucks and vendors keep the park buzzing.

Featured food trucks:

Bonus points for the fact the bar stays open until 2AM.

Patti O'Furniture's May Flowers Drag Show
🕰️ 7:30PM & 9:30PM
🎯 Tipsy McSway’s, Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick gets loud, glittery, and fabulous Saturday night with Patti O’Furniture’s “May Flowers” drag show at Tipsy McSway’s. Two performances are scheduled, with dinner service during the earlier show and drinks/entertainment for the later crowd.

Featuring:

Strong chance this becomes one of the liveliest downtown crowds of the weekend.

More info & tickets: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/tipsy-mcsways/patti-o-furnitures-may-flowers-drag-show

Grace Community Church Memorial Day Cookout
🕰️ 12:30PM–2:30PM
🎯 Grace Community Church, Brunswick

Food, fellowship, games, and a relaxed Memorial Day gathering with the church community out on Blythe Island Highway. Simple, friendly, and family-oriented.

Starlight & Splash Cinema Series
🕰️ 8PM–10PM
🎯 Jekyll Club Resort, Jekyll

Movies under the stars at the Jekyll Club Resort continue Sunday night with “Night at the Museum” on the giant outdoor screen. A pretty unbeatable combo of island breezes, lawn chairs, and nostalgic family movie energy.

Brunswick Memorial Day Ceremony 2026
🕰️ 10AM
🎯 Veterans Memorial Park, Downtown Brunswick

The Veterans Council of the Golden Isles invites the community to gather downtown for Brunswick’s annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to the country.

The ceremony will feature:

A complimentary lunch at Brunswick Elks Lodge 691 will follow the ceremony.

Coastal Georgia Historical Society Memorial Day Observance
🕰️ Daylong Event
🎯 World War II Home Front Museum, SSI

The World War II Home Front Museum will host a Memorial Day commemoration honoring servicemembers lost in American wars while also welcoming visitors for exhibits, memorial displays, and special activities throughout the day.

Highlights include:

A meaningful and thoughtfully curated Memorial Day experience on St. Simons.

Taps at Twilight
🕰️ Starts at 4PM (Program begins at 6:45PM)
🎯 St. Simons Casino Building & Neptune Park, SSI

One of the Golden Isles’ most longstanding Memorial Day traditions returns Monday evening as the St. Simons Rotary hosts Taps at Twilight at Neptune Park.

The evening includes:

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. A beautiful, reflective coastal ceremony that has become a meaningful tradition for many local families.

This week’s Live Music Roundup is sponsored by Dreamweavers DJ — a father-and-son DJ team helping couples celebrate across Brunswick, SSI, Jekyll, Savannah, and Jacksonville.
https://dreamweaversdj.com

🎸 Levi Moore @ Fish Tales Pub & Grill, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Whiskey Charmers @ Hootenanny’s BBQ, Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 Roy Gentry @ Ocean Lodge Resort, SSI – 6-9pm
🎻 The Pine Box Dwellers @ Reed's Ponderosa, Tarboro – 6:30pm
🎹 Tony Adams @ Bennie’s Red Barn/Tree Bar, SSI – 7pm
🎤 Crawford & Company Songwriters’ Round ft. Crawford Perkins, Jim Quigley, Terry Wilson & Brad Metz @ Tipsy McSway’s, Brunswick – 7pm
🎸 Pier Pressure @ Wee Pub Beach, Jekyll – 7-10pm
🎸 Rider @ The Wharf, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Sidetone @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Ryan Wilson @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 8-11pm
☕ Hot Banana Coffee @ Reid’s Apothecary/The Study, Brunswick – 9pm

🎸 Leo Dean @ Jekyll Westin Lobby, Jekyll – 4-7pm
🎸 Lanie Mae @ Founders Social, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Ryan Wilson @ Hootenanny’s BBQ, Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 60s Vinyl Band @ Tortuga Jack’s, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Clara Easterlin @ Eighty Ocean Kitchen & Bar, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎹 Jerry Gowen @ Georgia Sea Grill, SSI – 6:30-9:30pm
🎸 Peyton Chambless & The Backshift @ Captain Stan’s Smokehouse, Woodbine – 6:30pm
🎸 Common Ground @ Alec’s Sports Bar & Grill, Jesup – 6:30-9pm
🎸 Dexter Jones @ Sago at Sea Palms Resort, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 Thunderbird @ The Wharf, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Jacob Sands @ El Dorado, Jesup – 7-10pm
🎸 Phil King @ Ember/Mas Lounge, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Backbeat Boulevard @ Gnat’s Landing, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Live Music @ Fish Dock Bar & Grill, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Squirt Gun @ Fish Tales Pub & Grill, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Willis Gore & Greg Kearney @ Brogen’s South, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Defunk @ Rafters, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Hot Banana Coffee @ Tipsy McSway’s, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 3 Day Weekend @ Toucan’s Ale House, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🪕 Woodbine Opry Acoustic Bluegrass/Gospel Jam, Woodbine – 7pm (free admission)
🎸 Altamaha Sound @ Strand Bistro/Chophouse, Jesup – 8-11pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe @ Bar at Mallery, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Gabe Spell @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 DOiNK @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 SaltWater Gypseas @ Three Oaks Steak & Seafood, Brunswick – 7:30-10:30pm
🎸 The Long Stride @ Bennie’s Red Barn/Tree Bar, SSI – 9pm
🎸 Live Music @ Reid’s Apothecary/The Study, Brunswick – 9pm
🎸 Sidetone @ Murphy’s Tavern, SSI – 10:30pm-1:30am
🤠 Brody Williams Band @ Honky Tonk South, Savannah – 10:30pm

🎸 Sidetone @ The Wharf, Jekyll – 11:30am-3pm
🎸 Live Music @ King City Kitchen, SSI – 12-4pm
🎸 Backbeat Boulevard @ Founders Social, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Coastal Chaos Productions Brantley Fire Fundraiser ft. Mouthguard, Endbringer, Trauma Code, Ars Goetia, Forgive & Forget, Wellwater, Dream Crisis, The Maple Street Band & Clayton Hiers @ Queen & Grant, Brunswick – 3-10pm
🎸 Ted Stuckey @ 24 Coastal Grill, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Triple Shot @ Heritage Oaks Golf Club, Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 Uncle Dave Griffin @ Hootenanny’s BBQ, Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 Lanie Mae @ Tribuzio’s Grille, Jekyll – 5:30-8:30pm
🎸 Bubba’s at Mary Ross Park Live Music, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Gypsy Trane @ La Playa Park, Brunswick – 6-9pm
🎸 Emma Mac @ Shore Restaurant/Courtyard Residence Inn, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Leo Dean @ Sea Palms Resort, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 SaltWater Gypseas @ Tortuga Jack’s, Jekyll – 6-9pm
🎸 Seaside Cliff & the Salty Dogs @ Uptown Tap, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 Live Music @ Ocean Lodge Resort, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 Once Again @ Captain Stan’s Smokehouse, Woodbine – 6:30pm
🎹 Jerry Gowen @ Georgia Sea Grill, SSI – 6:30-9:30pm
🎸 Levi Moore @ Fish Dock Bar & Grill, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Defunk @ Gnat’s Landing, SSI – 7-10pm
🎸 Ryan Wilson @ The Local, Nahunta – 7-10pm
🎸 3 Day Weekend @ Three Oaks Steak & Seafood, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🎸 Live Music @ Toucan’s Ale House, Brunswick – 7-10pm
🪕 Woodbine Opry Electric Dance Band Show, Woodbine – 7pm (free admission)
🎸 Live Music @ Bar at Mallery, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Your Mom’s Favorite Band @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 8-11pm
🎸 Last Call @ Bennie’s Red Barn/Tree Bar, SSI – 9pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe @ Reid’s Apothecary/The Study, Brunswick – 9pm
🎸 Wasabi Rush @ Murphy’s Tavern, SSI – 10pm
🤠 Brody Williams Band @ Bubba’s Up, SSI – 10pm-1am
🎸 The Pine Box Dwellers @ Rafters, SSI – 11pm

🎸 Clara Easterlin @ La Playa Park, Brunswick – 11am-2pm
🎸 Triple Shot @ Sea Palms Resort Poolside, SSI – 11am-2pm
🎸 Bubba Garcia’s Live Music, SSI – 12-3pm
🎸 Bubba’s at Mary Ross Park Live Music, Brunswick – 12-3pm
🎸 Coastal Kitchen Live Music, SSI – 12-3pm
🎸 Hootenanny’s BBQ Live Music, Brunswick – 12-3pm
🎸 Brody Williams & Emma Mac @ Founders Social, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Sidetone @ Tortuga Jack’s, Jekyll – 1-4pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe @ Uptown Tap & Cigar, SSI – 3-6pm
🎻 The Pine Box Dwellers @ Captain Stan’s Smokehouse, Woodbine – 3-6pm
🌺 Feeding Firebox Luau & Pig Roast ft. Jamie Renee Walker @ Southern Soul BBQ, SSI – fun begins at 3pm
🎸 Defunk @ Beachcomber BBQ, SSI – 5-8pm
🎸 Live Music @ Hangout Bar & Grill, Brunswick – 5-8pm
🎸 Live Music @ JI Beach House, Jekyll – 5-8pm
🎸 Live Music @ Mullet Bay, SSI – 5-8pm
🎸 Gravity Bomb @ Gnat’s Landing, SSI – 6-9pm
🎶 Reggae Cruise with Rastar @ Anchor Excursions/The Emmeline, SSI – 6:30pm
🎹 Tim Akins @ Brogen’s North, SSI – 6-8pm
🎸 Brody Williams @ Village Inn & Pub, SSI – 7-10pm

🎺 Taps at Twilight Memorial Day Commemoration @ Neptune Park, SSI – music begins at 5:45pm
🎹 Tim Akins @ Georgia Sea Grill, SSI – 6-9pm
🎸 Live Music @ Wee Pub Beach, Jekyll – 7pm
🎤 Open Mic Night hosted by Anthony Stubelek @ Palm Coast Coffee, SSI – sign up 8pm, music 8:30pm
🎸 Cody Marlowe & Friends @ Rafters, SSI – 9pm

The Golden Isles Lantern continues to grow, and we’re opening a few spots for local sponsors who want to reach an engaged audience across Brunswick, St. Simons, Jekyll, and the surrounding area.

If you run a local business and would like to get in front of Lantern readers each week, I’d love to talk. Sponsorships help keep the newsletter free while supporting more local coverage, events, and community conversations.

Interested?
Email: [email protected]

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