Shell show and shell festival to feature all things shell
Shell lovers will have the chance to celebrate everything shell related at two upcoming events.
Presented by the Shellcrafters and Sanibel Community Association, the 88th Annual Shell Festival will take place on March 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Community House on Sanibel. Just across the Sanibel Causeway, the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club will host the 2025 Sanibel Shell Show on March 6-7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 8 from 9 am to 4 p.m. at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa.
SHELL FESTIVAL
The 88th Annual Shell Festival will feature a mix of shells and shell art, crafts and local art vendors, shell artistic displays with a People’s Choice Award, live mollusk tanks and more for the whole family.
“It’s to bring everyone together,” Cheri Bailey, a member of the Shellcrafters group and one of the event co-chairs, said. “This one is actually going to be a throwback to the original one from the ’30s.”
There will be about two dozen vendors with shell-related items, arts and crafts, and more.
“Vendors from in and around the islands,” she said. “They’ll have their wares and crafts for sale.”
There will also be various individual shells and bags of shells available.
“We’re going to have shells that have been donated and found on Sanibel and around Sanibel,” Bailey said. “We’re also going to have fossils for sale.”
Artistic exhibits will be on display for attendees to vote on for the People’s Choice Award.
“It’s all shell related,” she said of the entries, noting that first, second and third place will receive ribbons. “It’s an opportunity for people to bring in their artwork and have the community vote on it.”
A Shellcrafters member will provide a shell crafting demonstration.
“We’ll have a lady there who will be making shell flowers,” Bailey said, adding that the member will make two or three different kinds and there will be books available on how to make shell flowers.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium and students from The Sanibel School will have live mollusk tanks set up for attendees to learn more about the creatures that make seashells.
“Everybody raves about it,” she said. “They really love it.”
There will be a children’s area, which will include face painting and a bunny petting zoo.
“All of that will be outside,” Bailey said.
Attendees can bid in a silent auction, with over 30 goodies up for grabs.
“We’ll have local artwork from the community, pieces donated by artists,” she said, noting that there are baskets from local businesses, one vintage and one modern mirror from the Shellcrafters, and more.
“Some of those are collector shells,” Bailey added.
There will be raffle tickets available for purchase to win prizes, including daycation passes at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, items from businesses like The Magic Bus Ice Cream & Caffeine, a quilt from the Three Crafty Ladies, a trip on the Hemingway Water Shuttle on Marco Island and more.
“All kinds of stuff,” she said.
Attendees can fill their bellies with options from food trucks such as Pilar’s Empanadas Argentinas, Sweet Dreams and Vesuvius Wood Fired Pizza. There will also be a hot dog stand set up on-site.
“All of the festival type stuff,” Bailey said. “Homemade lemonade, cotton candy.”
Local artist and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland designed the logo for this year’s event, which will be available on shirts and hats.
The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club is the presenting sponsor.
She thanked it and the additional supporters, as well as the volunteers helping out.
Admission is a $5 donation. It comes with a small bag of shells and a buy one, get one 50% off admission coupon for the shell museum.
The proceeds will benefit The Community House.
The community is encouraged to come out.
“It’s bringing us all together to rebuild and start a new chapter,” Bailey said. “And to continue the legacy of The Community House and the Sanibel Shellcrafters.”
For more information, visit the Sanibel Shellcrafters page on Facebook or https://sanibelcommunityhouse.net/.
The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
SANIBEL SHELL SHOW
The 2025 Sanibel Shell Show will feature a juried show with scientific and artistic exhibits and awards, shell and shell craft vendors, a live mollusk display, a youth scavenger hunt and more for all ages.
“The fundamental mission of the club is to expand the knowledge of our members and the community about the field of mollusks and the environmental conditions of the world they live in,” Shell Club President Laurie Jansen, who is also event co-chair with club Membership Chair Kathy Hofstad, said.
“As part of that, we raise funds and give them out as grants and scholarships,” she added.
The proceeds will benefit different causes and organizations not only on Sanibel and Captiva, such as the shell museum and Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), but for other educational research in Southwest Florida. Grants go toward education and research in the fields of conchology and malacology, including supporting university research of mollusks and water quality, as well as for conservation and water quality projects.
There will be hundreds of exhibits on display between the scientific and artistic divisions, with shell enthusiasts from across the United States and from Canada, Europe, New Zealand, India, Japan and the Caribbean competing in categories. It is the most prestigious, competitive shell show in the country.
“It’s interesting to see what types of things people bring,” Jansen said.
The scientific division focuses on single specimen shells and multiples of shells. There are 85 entries this year covering about 27 classes. In the artistic division, there are 148 entries covering two categories: hobbyist and professional. There will be sailor’s Valentines, lamps, needlecraft and more.
“Within the artistic and scientific, every one of the classes has the opportunity to win first, second or third place. It is all based on judging,” she said. “We also give out trophies and special awards.”
Attendees will also have the opportunity to browse 20-plus vendors showcasing about 70 tables worth of merchandise, including specialty and specimen shells, shells for crafting and shell-oriented items, like jewelry and clothing.
“Items can range from tables of specimen shells from all over the world — there are craft shells. There’s some really fun items,” Hofstad said, adding that there will be jewelry vendors, all types of shell art, various sailor’s Valentines, shadow boxes and mosaics, even a vendor of tropical fabric.
For the first time, there will be an educational and environmental exhibit area. It will be a space where attendees can learn about mollusks and the organizations that support them. Captains for Clean Water, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Conchologists of America, Florida Gulf Coast University and SCCF will have booths, and there will be information about careers within the field and education.
“This is really a whole new area that we’ve been able to expand on,” Jansen said. “We thought it was important to help people understand that it’s real animals that are alive that create these shells.”
There will be live mollusk tanks from the shell museum, plus activities for youths. A scavenger hunt will have participants seeking out features across the scientific and artistic exhibits, and they can interact with a model of a lighthouse with a marine lab to learn about marine ecosystems and sea life.
“The scavenger hunt is something that has always been part of the show over the many years. This year, we were able to expand upon that,” she said, adding that there will be coloring stations with coloring sheets and word search games and puzzles for youths to take part in. “A variety of things.”
A shell-fie station will offer the chance to take fun photos with props.
There will be a silent auction featuring about two dozen items, including artwork from artists like Susan Lloyd and Constance Miller, shelling tools from the Historic Bait Box, seashell apparel from A Little Adventure, gift certificates from Billy’s Rentals and Marriott, and more.
“They range in anything from a few jewelry items, quite a few specimen shell options, some shelling tools and several beautiful donated artistic pieces,” Hofstad said.
Tickets for a 50/50 raffle will be available, with half of the winnings to support the cause.
The club’s Artistic Chair designed the logo for this year’s event, which will be available on unisex shirts — in white, light blue and heather gray — and souvenir pins in a round or rectangular shaped option.
In addition, the club will have shelling bags and tote bags with charms.
“We are also selling shells that have been donated to the club,” she said. “Specimen and craft shells.”
Laurie and Bill Harkey are the junonia sponsor and Gussie Ross is the golden olive sponsor, with additional supporters helping to sponsor the event through their generosity.
Admission is an $8 donation for adults. It comes with a bag of locally collected shells and a buy one, get one 50% off admission coupon for the shell museum.
The community is encouraged to come out.
“It’s just outstanding, all of the variety of things we have available for people to see,” Jansen said. “Whether lovers of collecting shells or creating things with shells, we have something for everyone.”
For more information, visit the Sanibel Shell Show group on Facebook or http://sanibelshellclub.com or contact info@sanibelshellclub.com.
The Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is at 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive, Fort Myers.
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IF YOU GO
What
2025 Sanibel Shell Show
When
March 6-7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 8 from 9 am to 4 p.m.
Where
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive, Fort Myers
Details
Admission is a requested $5 cash donation
IF YOU GO
What
88th Annual Shell Festival
When
March 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where
The Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
Details
Admission is $8 donation for adults