Amelia Island holiday calendar features farm-to-table dinners, opera and Gator Bowl

The Sprouting Project at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa has four farm-to-table dinners scheduled for November and December, joining an island events calendar that includes opera, chamber music and college football.

The resort's official dinner schedule lists a "Rice" dinner Nov. 14 and three "Truffle" dinners Dec. 11, 12 and 13.

Each evening begins with a 6 p.m. reception featuring harvest-inspired cocktails and passed bites, along with a tour of the resort's aquaponic greenhouse, organic gardens, barrel room and beehives. A five-course meal incorporating ingredients from the Sprouting Project follows at 6:30 p.m. A cash bar is available.

The Nov. 14 dinner costs $129 per person, including taxes and service charges. The Dec. 13 Truffle dinner is listed at $275 per person. Seating is limited.

Omar Collazo, executive chef at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa, told Hotel Management that the resort's sourcing philosophy centers on letting guests taste the region.

"We source seafood fresh from local waters whenever possible, and people truly notice the difference," Collazo said.

He added that the resort partners with Cohen Farms in Georgia for pecans, sources honey from its own Sprouting Project beehives and an Ocala producer, and serves ice cream from Yoder's Creamery in St. Petersburg.

Opera's sixth season opens Nov. 6

Amelia Island Opera launches its sixth season, titled "From Page to Stage," with programming running Nov. 6 through 29.

The season explores stories adapted from literature, sacred texts, radio broadcasts and librettos through opera productions, concerts and community programming.

Among the highlights is "A Night at the Sock-Hopera," a 1950s-themed event Nov. 6-7 at Amelia Community Theatre. The program pairs Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Old Maid and the Thief," originally written for radio, with music from the era.

Carroll Freeman directs, with Arthur Bosarge as musical director. The cast includes McKenna Slack, Emily Geller, Jesse Malgieri and Robyn Marie Lamp.

The season closes with a Sing-Along Messiah at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at Amelia Plantation Chapel. No audition is required, and audience members may participate or simply listen.

Soloists include soprano Robyn Marie Lamp, mezzo Katherine Kincaid, tenor Edward Brennan and baritone John Tibbetts, according to Amelia Island Opera.

Chamber music and Gator Bowl round out December

The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival opens its 26th season Dec. 16 with "Sounds of the Season," an outdoor concert featuring Nicole Zuraitis.

The festival's season continues through June 12, 2027, with performances at venues across Nassau County. Its lineup includes six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell and the Dover Quartet.

College football fans can also look ahead to the 82nd TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

The game will feature teams from the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference and air nationally on ESPN, according to the ACC's official bowl schedule.

The Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau has promoted the island as a lodging destination for visiting fans and says one of the competing teams will stay on Amelia Island.

EverBank Stadium will operate at reduced capacity because of ongoing renovations. The Jacksonville Jaguars have confirmed that stadium construction will affect seating during the 2026 season.

Upcoming events calendar

  • Nov. 6-29: Amelia Island Opera, "From Page to Stage" season
  • Nov. 14: Sprouting Project dinner, "Rice," Omni Amelia Island Resort
  • Dec. 11-13: Sprouting Project dinners, "Truffle," Omni Amelia Island Resort
  • Dec. 16: Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, 26th season opens
  • Dec. 30: 82nd TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, 11:30 a.m., EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville