Jekyll Island is getting ready for its annual weekend of foodie fun — the Wild Georgia Shrimp and Grits Festival.

Now in its seventh year, the festival is expected to draw thousands of hungry tourists when it opens September 14 at the island state park.

The three-day festival's signature events are its cooking competitions, one for amateurs and another for professional chefs, to determine who makes the best shrimp-and-grits dish on the Georgia coast. Hungry visitors can pick up sampler plates for $3 apiece.

Organizers say they're adding craft beer tasting to the festival this year, with an option for guests to taste 10 beers for $10.

Tags: festival, Jekyll Island, Wild Georgia Shrimp and Grits Festival, shrimp, grits