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Florida Keys Seafood Festival: A Sun Drenched Seafood Extravaganza

Key West, Florida, has been a haven for warm weather seekers since the 1820’s. Being the southernmost location in continental America gives Key West a unique fusion of Caribbean flair and laid back Southern charm. This small island community is absolutely packed full of live entertainment, shops, restaurants and activities that are ideal for all ages. The outdoor activities here are second to none and include fishing, snorkeling, sailing, photography, hiking, biking and the list goes on. Take a stroll on one of the many pristine white sand beaches and observe the breathtaking aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. No matter where you look in Key West, you are greeted by stunning panoramic vistas of the unique vegetation, classic architecture and abundant wildlife. When it comes to things to do during the winter months, you'll find no shortage of events, festivals and celebrations. One of the most anticipated and popular events during the winter is the Florida Keys Seafood Festival.

 

For over a decade now, The Florida Keys Seafood Festival has been one of the highlights of the Key West Community. Fishing is a very large part of the culture in Key West and this event is the main source of support for the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association. The fishermen themselves catch, prepare, and cook all the delicious seafood you’ll find at the festival. The environment here is warm, welcoming and great for families or anyone looking for a great experience. Aside from all the great culinary creations, you can stop by the marine life exhibit for an upclose look at some of the sea creatures that call the area home. Your youngsters will love the “Kids Fun Zone”, that is loaded with fun activities for all ages. Take the cold out of your winter and head to Key West for the Florida Keys Seafood Festival and you won't be disappointed. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportunity to sit down with Vicki Gale, the Event Cooridnatior, to talk about the Florida Keys Seafood Festival.

 

RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.

VG: This is the 11th year of the Florida Keys Seafood Festival. It’s held by and benefits the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman Association. We usually draw between 8,000 and 10,000 people to the festival. The number depends on how many cruise ships are in town during our run. As far as demographics go, this festival is designed to be family-friendly, but we encourage everyone to come down and join us in all the fun. We have food and entertainment for people of all ages, backgrounds and tastes.  

 

RAL: What makes the festival unique?

VG: Our fishermen catch, cook and serve all the foods at our event. We like to showcase our fresh local seafood. It is our major fundraiser for the year to keep our organization strong and our fishermen doing what they love: putting seafood on your dinner plate. Plus, it's a great way to raise awareness in the community and the perfect place to meet new people and have a great time.

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event?

VG: Anyone attending our festival is going to have a blast. We have a wide variety of delicious seafood dishes including grilled Florida lobster, fried fish, stone crab claws, Key West shrimp, smoked fish dip, conch fritters, conch chowder and much more. Beer, wine and rumaritas will be available for the adults and kids can grab pop, juice or water. For those with a sweet tooth, we will feature the ever popular key lime pie tarts, ice cream and a selection of tasty baked goods, all of which are reasonably priced.

 

We will have continuous live music played throughout the festival by some great local bands and performers, including our headliner, Paul Cotton, legendary musician from the group POCO. Arts and crafts vendors will be set up within the festival selling nautical themed artistic creations and much more. Other vendors will be selling everything under the sun from hoodies to designer soaps. At the marine life exhibits, everyone will get an upclose look at the different sea creatures that call the area home and learn all about how they function in their natural environment. To round out the festival we have the “Kids Fun Zone”, which  has a bouncy house, giant slide, rock climbing wall, water balls and many more activities.

 

RAL: What is the overall environment of the festival like?

VG: Key West is a beautiful place to visit no matter what time of year you choose to travel. The local environment gives our festival an unparalleled backdrop. The entirety of our celebration takes place in the always beautiful Bayview Park in Old Town Key West. We have large tents set up with tables and chairs, so if you need to take a rest or sit to eat, there is plenty of room. This is a fun and vibrant festival and the environment reflects that.

 

RAL: What people can expect to find for local lodging?

VG: You’ll find just about every type of lodging in town, from high end resorts to modest bed & breakfasts. While we don't have any specific lodging partnerships set up for the festival, many of the lodging providers offer deals and packages for visitors. A few of the close by establishments include The Grand, Silver Palms Inn and Frances Street Bottle Inn.

 

RAL: What does this festival mean to the community?

VG: The festival supports the local fishing community, which is quite large in Key West. It the perfect place to show off the fishing and cooking skills of our local fisherman. In addition, it's a way to educate the community and the tourists about the cultural heritage of our fisherman, while promoting a sustainable seafood industry. We want everyone to have a great time and help support the fisherman who put seafood on their plates.


For more information about the Florida Keys Seafood Festival, please visit their website.