Space Coast Seashell Festival

The annual Space Coast Seashell Festival is held in Melbourne, Florida, in January. Hosted by the Astronaut Trail Shell Club, this event kicks off seashell festival season in Florida.

Now in its 45th year, this festival is welcomes about 3,000 visitors to admire the scientific and educational exhibits, see and shop the vendor displays, and enter to win raffles and door prizes. The event has moved to a bigger venue this year to be able to feature more exhibitors and vendors than ever before, plus you'll find plenty of free parking.

All proceeds from the raffle are used to offset the cost of putting on the festival, which is free of charge to the public, and the funds raised also go towards raising funds for a scholarship for a marine sciences student. Look for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Beachcombing shop in this year’s raffle.

Every year, organizers invite collectors to exhibit shells in their collections at this two-day event. This event is the highlight of the year for the Astronaut Trail Shell Club. The club strives to educate and preserve nature’s shells and sea life through sharing knowledge with like-minded individuals and through community outreach for the intellectual inspiration of our neighbors. Their mission is to perpetuate the health, beauty, and diversity of earths sea life through active participation for generations.

• Fun for all ages! Free Admission & Parking.
• Educational with unique shopping opportunities.
• See seashells from around the world.
• Win great prizes - Door Prizes & Raffles
• See amazing Shell Artistic Entries and Scientific Exhibits!
  

45th Annual Space Coast Seashell Festival
Saturday and Sunday, January 17–18, 2026
9:30 AM - 4 PM
Wickham Park Community Center
2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne, FL 32935
Free admission

Learn more about the Astronaut Trail Shell Club website and Facebook page.

Learn more about beachcombing events around the world featuring sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, floats, mudlarking and more for beachcombers. Articles ›

View a list of upcoming beachcombing shows, festivals, and events ›

Learn more about seashells

Learn more about identifying shells, the history of seashell collecting, great shelling beaches, and the lives of the animals who make the shells we find on the beach. Articles ›

No live shelling: Be sure shells are empty and sand dollars, sea stars, and sea urchins are no longer alive before you bring them home.