Shrimp Painting Sparks ‘Coastal Cowboys’ as Virginia Nelson Headlines 38th Jubilee Festival of Arts

Birmingham painter Virginia Nelson, creator of the “Coastal Cowboys” series, is the featured artist for the free 38th Jubilee Festival of Arts, Oct. 17-18 in Olde Towne Daphne.

By James Bullard

October 13, 2026 · 7:25 am 6 min read

The 38th Jubilee Festival of Arts returns to Olde Towne Daphne Oct. 17-18.

DAPHNE, Ala. — A painting of shrimp that seemed to be missing something has become the signature image of this year’s Jubilee Festival of Arts. Birmingham artist Virginia Nelson, whose “Coastal Cowboys” series grew out of that unfinished canvas, is the featured artist for the 38th annual festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, in Olde Towne Daphne.

The free, two-day festival will fill Daphne’s historic district with more than 120 booths, live entertainment, food, student artwork and hands-on activities for children, according to the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, which presents the event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

How a shrimp became a cowboy

Nelson, a Birmingham-based painter, has long been drawn to the coast as subject matter. She described the origin of her best-known recent work as something close to an accident.

“I have always been inspired and drawn to coastal art. Then I was working on a big shrimp painting and felt it needed something else. That is when I invented my coastal cowboys that you see in this painting!”

Nelson said that moment amounted to a creative breakthrough. Her style relies on textured acrylic paint, often applied with palette knives rather than brushes, and blends abstract and realistic elements drawn from coastal ecosystems. Palette-knife work tends to leave thick ridges and layers of paint on the canvas, giving the finished piece a sculptural surface that catches light differently depending on where a viewer stands.

Her “Coastal Cowboys” series and other works will be featured throughout the festival weekend, offering visitors her interpretation of the beauty and character of the natural world along the Gulf.

“We are honored to feature Virginia Nelson’s stunning work and to welcome our community to this vibrant celebration,” a spokesperson for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce said. “This festival is a testament to the power of art to inspire, unite, and uplift.”

A festival named for a bay phenomenon

The Jubilee Festival of Arts takes its name from one of the Eastern Shore’s most famous natural events. A jubilee happens when oxygen-poor water pushes fish, crabs, shrimp and flounder into the shallows along the shoreline, usually on summer nights. When word spreads that a jubilee is underway, residents rush to the water with buckets, nets and gigs to gather the bounty. Mobile Bay is one of very few places in the world where the event occurs regularly, and Daphne proudly calls itself the Jubilee City.

The festival has grown into a fixture of Daphne’s cultural calendar over nearly four decades, drawing thousands of visitors to Olde Towne each October. The 36th edition in 2024 and the 37th in 2025 each featured more than 140 local and regional artists, along with food, local musicians, free kids’ art activities, high school art exhibits and a tailgating area streaming football games, centered on W.O. Lott Park and the oak-lined streets of the historic district.

The chamber describes the event as a free celebration of art, culture and community designed to encourage visitors to explore, create and connect.

Young artists take the spotlight

One of the festival’s longest-running traditions is its showcase for student work. The High School Art Exhibition, presented by Riviera Utilities, gives students a chance to exhibit and compete while fostering artistic growth and highlighting emerging regional talent. This year’s exhibition will feature work from:

Spanish Fort High School
Daphne High School
Fairhope High School
Bayside Academy
St. Michael’s Catholic High School
Bayshore Christian School
Home-schooled artists from the Eastern Shore

For many student artists, a juried public exhibition is the first time their work hangs in front of strangers rather than classmates and teachers, and the experience of preparing pieces for competition is often a step toward college art programs or portfolios.

Jubilee Market celebrates the art of making

The Jubilee Market, presented by Terry Thompson Chevrolet, broadens the festival’s definition of art to include craftsmanship and food. Local artisans will showcase crafts, sustainability practices and culinary offerings, including honey harvesting, canned jellies, baked treats and farm-fresh produce.

The market reflects the Eastern Shore’s agricultural roots. Baldwin County remains one of Alabama’s leading farm counties, and small producers selling honey, preserves and produce are a familiar sight at farmers markets from Daphne to Foley.

Kids Art Park offers free hands-on fun

Children can make their own art at the Kids Art Park, presented by OWA Parks & Resort. The area will be open during all festival hours and is designed for children of all ages. Free activities will include:

Face painting
Jewelry-making
Fish printing
Freeform art
A sneaky snake craft station

Fish printing, sometimes known by its Japanese name, gyotaku, is a fitting choice for a festival named after a bay phenomenon. The technique involves brushing paint or ink onto a fish or a fish-shaped model and pressing paper onto it to capture the scales and fins in fine detail.

The Kids Art Park is supported by Ecoview, Blackwell Realty, The Right Hue, Family Security Credit Union, Harvey & Thomas Orthodontics and OWA Parks & Resort.

Something for football fans

Because the festival lands squarely in the middle of football season, organizers have built in space for fans who do not want to miss a game. The Tailgater Area, presented by Red Branch Outdoor Living, Eastern Shore Ace Hardware and Bryant Bank, will feature grill demonstrations and tailgating activities.

The Gameday Fan Zone, presented by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, will live-stream football games throughout the weekend, letting visitors keep up with scores while they browse.

Music, awards and food

Live music, performances and community gatherings will take place in the Entertainment Area, presented by Coastal Events & Design.

Local artists will be recognized at the Artist Awards Reception, presented by United Community Bank. The Food Court, presented by United Bank, will offer a variety of local eats and treats.

About Olde Towne Daphne

Olde Towne Daphne is the city’s historic core, a district of shaded streets and older homes and businesses centered on Main Street near the bluffs above Mobile Bay. In recent years the area has added restaurants and shops that give festivalgoers places to eat and browse beyond the booths, making the festival weekend a natural time to explore the neighborhood.

Daphne sits on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay between Spanish Fort and Fairhope and is easily reached from Mobile across the Bayway (Interstate 10) or the Causeway (U.S. 90/98).

Tips for visitors

Arrive early. Festival hours begin at 10 a.m. both days, and morning visits typically offer cooler temperatures and lighter crowds.
Wear comfortable shoes. The festival spreads across Olde Towne’s streets, and visitors will be on their feet.
Plan for purchases. With more than 120 booths, many visitors find a piece of art to take home. Ask individual artists which forms of payment they accept.
Bring the kids. The Kids Art Park activities are free and open during all festival hours.
Check the weather. October on the Eastern Shore is usually pleasant, but an outdoor festival is always subject to Gulf Coast weather.

If you go

What: 38th annual Jubilee Festival of Arts
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Olde Towne Daphne
Featured artist: Virginia Nelson of Birmingham
Cost: Free admission
Presented by: Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce