Held about six miles south of Big Pine Key at the spectacular Looe Key Reef, this submerged songfest invites divers and snorkelers to explore one of the most beautiful reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, while listening to a soundtrack of sea-inspired classics. 

Presented by the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and US1 104.1 FM, the festival blends tropical tunes and marine magic with a message to protect and preserve our underwater playgrounds. For four hours on Saturday, July 12, special speakers hanging beneath boats will beam music straight into the sea. Think Jimmy Buffett, The Beatles and Disney favorites, all echoing through the reef’s aquatic amphitheater. 

The weekend kicks off Friday, July 11, with a free welcome bash from 6-8 p.m. at Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Research Center on Summerland Key. Guests can tour the high-tech facility, meet marine scientists, enjoy live music courtesy of the U.S. Navy’s Rock Band, nosh on and light bites, and dive into the cutting-edge coral restoration efforts happening right here in the Keys. 

Then it’s all fins on deck Saturday morning as boats set course for Looe Key. Whether you’re diving deep or floating with a snorkel, you’ll groove along with the reef’s resident fish who, according to seasoned festivalgoers, might be dancing too. Throughout the broadcast, festivalgoers will also hear eco-friendly dive tips, like how to avoid harming coral, the right way to use mooring buoys, and why respecting the reef is key to keeping it alive and thriving. Messages, event organizers say, are essential. 

“We’re not just making waves — we’re making a difference,” said Steve Miller, executive director for the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce. “This festival is pure underwater Florida Keys fun, while respecting, protecting and enjoying our reefs.” 

For more information and to register, visit lowerkeyschamber.com/chamber-events.  

High-resolution images, photo credits, and captions available at this link.  

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A costumed diver swims near sergeant major fish during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, listening to music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices through education and community engagement. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Two divers costumed as mermaids dance to music piped beneath the sea during the during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Costumed divers perform with prop instruments during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Costumed participants perform with prop instruments at the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes coral reef conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Mike Papish/Florida Keys News Bureau)

JULY FESTIVALS & EVENTS 

Key Lime Festival 

July 2-6, Key West The world’s most sensational citrus dessert gets the celebration it deserves in the birthplace of Key lime pie. Enjoy five delicious days of tangy fun with cookbook signings, lime-inspired brunches, pie drops from the Lighthouse, and the famous Key Lime Pie Eating Contest on the 4^th of July. Runners can join the festive 5K, and cocktail fans can sip their way through a zesty Key lime rum stroll. Learn more.  

Underwater Music Festival 

July 11-12, Looe Key Reef Head to the Lower Keys for a one-of-a-kind celebration of music, marine life and environmental stewardship. The 41^st Annual Underwater Music Festival kicks off July 11 at the Mote Marine Laboratory's Summerland Key facility, where attendees connect with fellow ocean enthusiasts and learn about the importance of preserving the underwater world. The highlight of the festival takes place July 12 at the stunning Looe Key Reef, where divers and snorkelers join costumed characters “playing” whimsical, faux instruments in a vibrant sub-sea concert. Learn more.  

Women’s Dive Day Tours 

July 19, Islamorada On Women’s Dive Day, celebrate pioneering women in diving with special guided tours at the History of Diving Museum. Tours are free with admission and run at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Learn more.  

Hemingway Days 

July 23-27, Key West Each July, Key West honors one of its most legendary residents, renowned author Ernest “Papa” Hemingway, with a vibrant, multi-day festival that blends literature, adventure, and quirky island charm. The week will feature: 

• The Hemingway Look-Alike Contest (July 23-26) at Hemingway’s old haunt, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, features dozens of bearded hopefuls competing in front of cheering crowds. Don’t miss the public “Meet the Papas” mixer on opening night and the hilarious Running of the Bulls on Saturday, featuring Hemingway doppelgängers and wooden bulls parading down Greene Street.  
• Literary events and museum exhibits highlight the author’s life, work, and legacy, including readings, scholarly panels, and a special pre-festival birthday celebration on July 21 with cake and cocktails at Sloppy Joe’s. 
• The Hemingway 5K Sunset Run & Paddleboard Race begins and ends at the island’s most iconic landmark — the Southernmost Point Buoy, followed by a beach party with awards and tastings of Papa’s Pilar Rum and Islamorada Brewery & Distillery Beer. On Sunday, cap off the celebration with the quirky Beach N’ Beer Mile and a lively pool party at Rum Row. 
• Full schedule and details at hemingwaydays.com.  

Reef Relief: 10^th Annual Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash 

July 31, Key West Deadheads unite! Dance to live Grateful Dead jams at this community fundraiser supporting the local ocean education and conservation organization Reef Relief. Taking place at the Green Parrot Bar, good vibes are guaranteed. Learn more.  

 FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS & FESTIVITIES 

• Big Pine Key (July 3): At Big Pine Community Park, enjoy family-friendly fun,  food vendors, live music, and a relaxed fireworks display. Learn more.  
• Key West (July 4): Catch fireworks with your toes in the sand or a view from Edward B. Knight Pier. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Key West. Learn more.  
• Marathon (July 4): A classic Keys celebration with a beach bash at Sombrero Beach. The fireworks will be choreographed to patriotic tunes via US1 Radio 104.1. Learn more.  
• Islamorada (July 4): At Founders Park, experience an evening of live music, kids’ games, food trucks, and waterfront fireworks. Bring a chair and stay for the fireworks at 9 p.m. Learn more.  
• Key Largo (July 4): The daytime parade kicks off at 10 a.m., followed by an evening celebration with food, vendors, and fireworks over Blackwater Sound. Learn more.  

FISHING EVENTS 

• Billy Knowles Memorial Poor Boys Tarpon Fly Tournament (July 4–6):  A grassroots favorite, this tarpon fly tournament is as laid-back as the Keys themselves. Anglers of all experience levels compete for the most tarpon releases over four feet. Learn more.  
• Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament (July 7–10): During this premier fly-fishing event on Sugarloaf Key, top anglers and guides test their skills on the Lower Keys flats. Learn more. 
• Key West Marlin Tournament (July 23–26): Running alongside Hemingway Days, this high-stakes tournament on Stock Island offers $50,000 in cash prizes. Competitors chase marlin and other species in waters once fished by Papa himself. Learn more.  

 High-resolution images and captions are available at this link. 

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David "Bat" Masterson, center, finishes singing a parody of the Garth Brooks hit "Friends in Low Places" during the final round of the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Fla. Masterson, a 71-year-old retired helicopter pilot from Daytona Beach, Fla., bested 121 other contestants to earn the look-alike victory on his 10th attempt. The contest is the highlight of the annual Hemingway Days festival, which honors the renowned author Ernest Hemingway, who lived and wrote in Key West for most of the 1930s. This year's Hemingway Days festival will take place from July 23 to 27, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

David "Bat" Masterson, center, celebrates his 2024 victory with past winners of the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest Saturday, July 20, 2024, outside Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key West, Fla. Masterson, a 71-year-old retired helicopter pilot from Daytona Beach, Fla., bested 121 other contestants to take the look-alike title on his 10th attempt. The contest was a highlight of the subtropical island's annual Hemingway Days festival that honors renowned author Ernest Hemingway, who lived and wrote in Key West during most of the 1930s. This year's Hemingway Days festival takes place July 23-27, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Bearded Hemingway look-alikes in red berets lead wooden bulls on wheels down Greene Street during Key West's whimsical "Running of the Bulls" on Saturday, July 20, 2024. The lighthearted spoof of Pamplona's famous run features a much slower pace and zero danger, with contestants from the annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest parading past the iconic Sloppy Joe's Bar, Papa's old hangout. The event highlights the quirky island spirit of Hemingway Days, the annual festival celebrating the renowned author who called Key West home in the 1930s. This year's festival runs July 23-27, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

A crowd of bearded Hemingway look-alikes in matching white outfits and red berets guide wooden bulls through the streets during Key West's playful "Running of the Bulls" on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Spectators line Duval Street to watch the whimsical tribute to Pamplona's famous bull run. The event is a highlight of Hemingway Days, the annual festival honoring the Nobel Prize-winning author who made Key West his home in the 1930s. This year's festival takes place July 23-27, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Hector Rodriguez of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, triumphed in last year’s World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship by devouring a complete Key Lime pie in 1 minute, 58.52 seconds, without the use of his hands. The competition, held on the Fourth of July, is one of numerous Key Lime Festival events set to take place July 2-6, 2025. (Photo: Carol Tedesco/KeyLimeFestival.com)

Up to 25 contestants will go head-to-head on Thursday, July 4, in the 2025 World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship at Key West’s Southernmost Beach Café, all for a shot at the coveted championship belt. The no-hands, face-first showdown begins at 1:30 p.m. and serves as the sticky, sweet centerpiece of the annual Key Lime Festival. (Photo: Carol Tedesco/KeyLimeFestival.com)

A costumed diver swims near sergeant major fish during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, listening to music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices through education and community engagement. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Two divers costumed as mermaids dance to music piped beneath the sea during the during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Costumed divers perform with prop instruments during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes marine conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Costumed participants perform with prop instruments at the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers participated in the annual event, which features music broadcast underwater through specialized speakers. The festival promotes coral reef conservation and responsible diving practices. This year's festival takes place July 11-12, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Mike Papish/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Fantasy Fest’s final events Sunday include a children's carnival and an afternoon dance party.

The 2025 festival, to be themed “Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters,” is set for Oct. 17-26.

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Standouts included groups portraying silver-suited spacemen in shiny “flying saucers,” riders on a mobile roller coaster, and green-skinned interplanetary visitors.

The annual festival showstopper, Saturday night's Fantasy Fest Parade, is expected to draw some 60,000 people to Key West's historic downtown. The shimmering parade typically includes dozens of large-scale motorized floats, exotically costumed walking groups and island-style dancers.

Fantasy Fest concludes late Sunday after events including a children's carnival and an afternoon dance party.

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Wednesday night's animal antics were a family-friendly highlight of the 10-day costuming and masking festival — this year themed “It’s a 90s Neon Cosmic Carnival!”

The Pet Masquerade featured several dozen entries, ranging from pet-and-person duos to groups of people and animals that performed lighthearted skits.

Standouts included a family costumed as space aliens with their “intergalactic” Newfoundland dog, a troupe of human and canine superheroes and villains, a Key West takeoff on the classic “Baywatch” television show, and an Italian Greyhound portraying Elton John and seated at a glittering red piano.

Proceeds from the Pet Masquerade benefit the Florida Keys’ Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm.

Fantasy Fest continues through Sunday with events including a lavish Headdress Ball, a masquerade march through Key West's picturesque historic district, and Saturday night's flamboyant Fantasy Fest Parade that typically attracts more than 60,000 revelers.

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ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys -- Over 300 swimmers from the United States and several other countries competed in an 8-mile open-water challenge Saturday to raise awareness to fund restoration of an aging lighthouse off the Florida Keys.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resident Maximiliano Paccot, 28, emerged from the Atlantic Ocean Saturday as the fastest individual swimmer at the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse with a time of 3 hours, 11 minutes and 10 seconds.

Originally from Uruguay, Paccot came to the United States on a World Aquatics sponsorship and has competed in open-water swims around the world.

Kristin Ates, 33, of Gainesville, Florida, was the top female and fourth overall finisher with a time of 3:54:14. 

Athletes swam to Alligator Lighthouse off Islamorada, rounded the decommissioned beacon and came back to the start/finish line at Amara Cay Resort. 

Connor Signorin, 32, of Tampa, Florida, finished on the top 2-person relay team with a time of 3:58:13, partnered with his cousin Maggie Owens, 33, of Clearwater, Florida. Veteran participant Signorin was the top overall swimmer in the past three competitions.

Last year’s top female finisher, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Brooke Bennett, 44, of Clearwater, competed this year on the top 3-person relay team that finished in 3:25:05. Her relay team partners were Clearwater’s Konrad Ciolko, 41, and Brian Hatlelid, 41, of Palm Harbor, Florida.

The top four-person relay team, finishing in 4:29:40, included Port Orange, Florida, residents Natalie Heidrich, 57, and Karen Castaneda, 28; and Ormond Beach, Florida, residents Ana Angelov, 33, and Lenny Frazer, 68.

Founded by Florida Keys artist "Lighthouse Larry" Herlth, the annual race is staged to raise awareness about the need to preserve the 151-year-old Alligator Lighthouse and five other aging lighthouses off the Florida Keys. The event also raises college scholarship funds for Keys students interested in competitive swimming.

Constructed to warn ships away from the Florida Keys reef tract, the lighthouses are no longer maintained, as their function has been replaced by modern Global Positioning System navigation.

Established in 1873, the lighthouse was named for the former U.S. Navy Schooner Alligator that grounded on the reef in 1822. Despite its name, there are no alligators that swim near the lighthouse, as those reptiles live in freshwater habitats and the lighthouse is in the saltwater ocean.

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KEY WEST, Fla. -- Thousands of Florida Keys residents and visitors gathered on Key West’s Duval Street late Sunday afternoon for a second-line march paying tribute to internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, on the one-year anniversary of his Sept. 1 death. 

The procession was a highlight of the “Just a Few Friends Key West” celebration on the island where Buffett lived during some of his most productive years -- developing the “tropical rock” style and laid-back persona that helped make him a world-renowned musical icon.

“I think the effect that Jimmy Buffett had on the world is absolutely amazing, because he took the Key West lifestyle, brought it out there in song, just so happened to have a couple billion people listen to it,” said festival co-founder Paul Menta.

Buffett discovered Key West in the early 1970s, and the island’s influence is widely credited with inspiring many of his most enduring songs, including his signature hit “Margaritaville.”

Sunday’s march featured strolling musicians, people carrying large photos of Buffett, and participants sporting the flower leis and offbeat headgear favored by his “Parrot Head” fans.

Led by musician Will Kimbrough, a longtime Buffett collaborator and co-writer of his posthumous hit “Bubbles Up,” they traveled up Duval Street to stop beside the Margaritaville Store and Café launched by the singer in the 1980s. There, guided by Kimbrough and Keys troubadour Howard Livingston, they sang the anthemic “Margaritaville.

Buffett’s portrayal of Key West in song has made it a mecca for his fans, who flocked to the island this weekend for the “Just a Few Friends” festivities.

“It's incredible to be in Key West for this gathering. I mean, you can see and hear how many people there are, how much love there is, how much joy there is,” said Kimbrough. “And so, that's what Jimmy spread around — was joy and love." 

Weekend events included the unveiling of a Florida Department of Transportation highway sign designating historic State Road A1A as the "A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway."

The celebration concludes late Monday after four days of events including concerts by Buffett’s musical friends and tribute bands, beach parties and island tours, sailing excursions and other activities recalling the Key West lifestyle he chronicled in his music. 

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KEY WEST, Fla. -- The unveiling of a Florida highway sign designating historic State Road A1A as the “A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway,” and a ceremony declaring Friday “Jimmy Buffett Day,” kicked off a weekend of Key West festivities paying tribute to the island’s late “favorite son.” 

The highway sign bearing the internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter’s name was unveiled by his sister, Lucy Buffett, at the beginning of State Road A1A on Key West’s Atlantic Ocean shoreline. 

“When Jimmy landed in Key West, he found the inspiration that formed the niche of his creative output that catapulted him into the mainstream,” said Lucy Buffett. “Key West, and the lifestyle that he figured out he could live and contribute to society positively, he took with him for the rest of his life.” 

Jimmy Buffett, who passed away Sept. 1, 2023, called Key West home during some of his most productive years. The island’s influence is widely credited with inspiring many of his most enduring songs, including the classic hit “Margaritaville” -- and he called a pivotal early album “A1A.” 

Following the passage of a bill in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, and its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis, all segments of A1A from Key West to the Florida-Georgia line are now named the “A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.” 

The Florida Department of Transportation is to install the new A1A signs at a future date.

The bill’s sponsors -- Senator Lauren Book, Rep. Chuck Clemons and Rep. Jim Mooney -- spoke at Friday’s ceremony alongside Lucy Buffett. 

The famed musician is being remembered this weekend with the four-day “Just a Few Friends Key West” celebration. 

Festivities kicked off Friday with Key West Mayor DeeDee Henriquez reading a proclamation that declared the day “Jimmy Buffett Day” in Key West. The Florida Legislature also previously designated it "Jimmy Buffett Day" throughout the state.

Community leaders and hundreds of Buffett fans gathered for the waterfront reading and welcome ceremony outside the singer-songwriter’s Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio in the Key West Historic Seaport.

“Jimmy Buffett means everything to our community and to the city of Key West. It’s always five o’clock somewhere,” said Henriquez, referencing the title of a Buffett hit with country singer Alan Jackson. 

The festival continues through Monday with activities including concerts by Buffett’s musical colleagues and tribute bands, beach parties and island tours, sailing excursions, a gathering with nonstop live music at a waterfront park, and the exuberant Second Line Memorial Walking Parade through Key West’s historic downtown.   

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Chosen after a nationwide search that yielded four finalists, Franker has been chief executive officer of Colorado’s Visit Estes Park since 2021. She is scheduled to begin her new position in the Keys Monday, Sept. 9, officials said Friday.

“Kara’s diverse experience with tourism marketing, her legal and executive management background, and her enthusiasm and love of the Florida Keys make her a candidate exceptionally qualified to oversee Florida Keys tourism marketing,” said Diane Schmidt, a TDC and VFK board member and chair of the selection committee comprised of Keys community leaders.

Franker is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), regarded as the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement by Destinations International. The organization is recognized for defining global quality and performance standards in destination marketing and management.

She is the co-author of two tourism white papers on artificial intelligence and holds an executive certificate in artificial intelligence and business strategy from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

“I am so excited to join the team in the Florida Keys,” said Franker. “It is a dream to represent such an incredible destination and community.”

Among Franker’s top goals in the Keys is to achieve Destination Management Accreditation Program certification for the Florida Keys & Key West through Destinations International.

Her planned initial activities include embarking on a listening tour to get to know Keys residents and stakeholders.

“I will focus on continuing the great work that has already been done and strengthening our community engagement, while ensuring we maintain top market share through our marketing programs,” said Franker.

Franker is an at-large board delegate to the U.S. Travel Association. She’s also a member of Destinations International’s CDME board, its foundation and its global leadership and governance and nomination committees.

Franker previously served as a senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Lauderdale in Broward County, Fla.

As founder of Kara Franker Inc. in Miami, she worked with clients VISIT FLORIDA and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau on strategic communications plans.

A seasoned travel journalist, Franker has been a Florida expert and specialist for Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Coastal Living, Travel Channel, Travelocity, Orbitz and other brands. She served as editor-in-chief of several of Modern Luxury’s magazine titles in Palm Beach, Miami and Aspen.  

Also a Florida licensed attorney, Franker is a former Miami-Dade County assistant state attorney.

She earned her law degree from the University of Denver and a B.S. in journalism and strategic communications from the University of Kansas.

Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS (1-800-352-5397)
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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MARATHON, Florida Keys -- A juvenile green sea turtle rehabilitated at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital was fitted with a satellite-tracking transmitter and released from a Keys beach Friday to join the 17th annual Tour de Turtles, a marathon-like “race” that follows the long-distance migration of sea turtles over three months.

The turtle’s rescuers returned early from an African vacation to witness the release.
 
The educational outreach program is organized annually by the Sea Turtle Conservancy to raise awareness about sea turtles and threats to their survival.
 
“Roseleigh” (pronounced Rose-lee), named by her rescuers after being found floating off Islamorada in March 2024, is swimming to raise awareness about water quality. Roseleigh was treated for a severe case of fibropapillomatosis, a deadly tumor-causing disease that may be linked to pollution in the oceans and nearshore waters. 

After a series of successful surgeries and treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood, Roseleigh is back in good health and is swimming strongly. 

Roseleigh’s rescuers, Cindy Wright and her husband Bosley, returned early from an African vacation to watch the turtle be released back to her ocean home.

“We just returned from Africa specifically to see Roseleigh released, and now I’m going to cry,” said Cindy Wright. “This is so amazing -- we thought she was going to die when we dashed her to the Turtle Hospital and to see her now, all recovered, is just amazing.”

Cindy Wright, a University of Maryland journalism professor who splits time between the Florida Keys and the Baltimore region, described the turtle’s condition when found as extremely dire. 

“She was in critical condition, bleeding from her right flipper, just covered -- the tumors covered her eyes, covered her shoulders -- it was so invasive,” she said.

 Hundreds of spectators including Wright cheered and applauded when Roseleigh swam away from Marathon’s Sombrero Beach into the Atlantic Ocean.

“Roseleigh being a girl turtle has the capacity to lay hundreds, if not thousands, of eggs and help up the population of the endangered green turtles,” Wright said. “So that makes her even more special, I think.”

Roseleigh’s progress — and that of nine other hard-shell turtles that have been released to participate in the Tour de Turtles — can be monitored online at TourDeTurtles.org through Oct. 31.

The Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning sea turtles to the wild for over 35 years.

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Womenfest, themed “Fire & Ice Fantasy” for 2024, has been presented by the Key West Business Guild for more than 20 years. A September tradition for singles, couples and groups of women, the festival spotlights the inclusive atmosphere and attractions that have made Key West an internationally acclaimed lesbian and gay vacation destination.

Womenfest’s 2024 festivities begin Wednesday, Sept. 4, with a 6 p.m. welcome party at Winslow’s Bungalows, 725 Truman Ave. featuring small bites, live music and drink specials.

The schedule Thursday, Sept. 5, includes a celebratory brunch and a “beach bash” overlooking Key West Harbor. The Women, Words & Art Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition is to follow at 6 p.m. at The Little Room Jazz Club, 821 Duval St.; while a sunset sail aboard the luxury vessel Argo Navis features libations, gourmet appetizers and a chance to view the sun sinking beneath a blue-water horizon.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 and 7, festival attendees can explore Old Town Key West and learn about the island’s influential women on a fun-filled Key Lime Bike Tour. The tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and end with a slice of luscious Key lime pie.

Friday’s other attractions include a clothing-optional sandbar and snorkel trip on the Blu Q catamaran and a 5:30 p.m. “90s female alt-rock show” by Marjory Lee & The Misspellings.

Saturday night brings Womenfest’s anticipated highlight: the “Fire & Ice Fantasy Prom,” complete with all the trappings — but with a Key West twist. Attendees are to dress in lavish prom attire and dance the night away to tunes spun by the renowned DJ Rude Girl. Hosted by the American Legion at the legion’s Post 168 at 803 Emma St., the gala also is to include a live performance by the celebrated all-female soft-rock band Antigone Rising.

Womenfest participants can end their weekend the “Key West way” with two island city traditions slated for Sunday, Sept. 8. The adults-only Mangoes Sunday Drag Brunch starts at noon at the 700 Duval St. restaurant, combining stellar entertainment and delicious cuisine. And no one should miss the original Sunday Tea Dance at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St., with beloved DJ Rude Girl.

Womenfest information, tickets and complete schedule: gaykeywestfl.com/womenfest/
Key West visitor information: fla-keys.com/keywest or gaykeywestfl.com
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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“And Hemingway was a very adventurous man, and I admire him for that,” he said.

The Look-Alike Contest finals followed preliminary rounds Thursday and Friday. Many entrants wore casual sportsman’s garb or thick fisherman’s sweaters, attempting to emulate the rugged "Papa" persona that Hemingway adopted in his later years.

Saturday night, competitors including Leslaw Jedrysko of Nowy Targ, Poland, paraded across Sloppy Joe’s stage and took turns speaking as hordes of spectators waved signs and applauded their favorites.

Masterson wowed the judges — all previous contest winners — by singing a themed parody of the Garth Brooks hit “Friends in Low Places.”

The new “Papa” said he writes a little bit and shares several other traits with Hemingway.

“I grew up hunting and fishing,” Masterson said. “My father was a lot like Hemingway's father. He taught me all about the outdoors and about fishing and hunting, and taking care and being a good steward of our environment.”

In the rowdy crowd at Sloppy Joe’s was celebrity chef Paula Deen, whose husband Michael Groover won a look-alike title in 2018.

Hemingway Days salutes the vigorous Key West lifestyle and literary talent of the author who wrote classics including "For Whom the Bell Tolls” and "To Have and Have Not" during his years on the island.

Festival events included a quirky "Running of the Bulls" spoof, readings and presentations, and the Key West Marlin Tournament that recalls Hemingway's passion for Florida Keys fishing.  

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Ernest Hemingway famously participated in Pamplona’s bull run, and chronicled bullfighting’s history and traditions in his book "Death in the Afternoon."

The Key West event was headquartered outside Sloppy Joe's Bar, frequented by Hemingway during his Key West years, with a route proceeding along part of the island's renowned Duval Street.
 
Saturday night, finalists chosen from 122 entrants will vie for the title of "Papa" in the final round of Sloppy Joe's annual look-alike contest.

Hemingway Days continues through Sunday, July 21, the author’s 125th birthday. Festival events include a Sunday “birthday bash” at Sloppy Joe's and the Key West Marlin Tournament that recalls Hemingway's passion for Florida Keys fishing.  

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Individuals and two-, three- and four-person teams must conquer the 8-mile roundtrip course to the historic lighthouse and back in less than eight hours. To compete as an individual, a participant must first show proof of completing a prior 1,650-meter or 1-mile swim in 45 minutes or less. All swimmers must have a support kayaker. 

Sanctioned by the World Open Water Swimming Association, the event features an in-water start and beach finish at the host hotel, Amara Cay Resort at mile marker 80.5 oceanside in Islamorada.

First- through fifth-place solo and relay team finishers are to receive awards in male, female and mixed divisions. All successful participants get a finisher medal and souvenir towel.

Early-bird check-in and packet pickup is set for 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Amara Cay. An informal meet-up social is planned for 6-9 p.m. at Florida Keys Brewing Co., 81611 Old Highway. Participants also can check in Friday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Amara Cay.

Saturday’s wave starts for swimmers are to begin by 7:45 a.m. All swimmers must exit the water by 3:30 p.m. An awards ceremony with dinner is scheduled at 7 p.m.

Entry fee is $250 per person for solo swimmers. Fees are $240 per person for two-person teams, $230 per person for three-person teams and $220 per swimmer on four-person relay teams. All swimmers must provide their safety kayaker information to race officials. Online registration is available and the field is to be capped at 490 swimmers, according to race officials.

The annual challenge is a fundraising effort for the Islamorada-based Friends of the Pool Inc., a nonprofit group that in 2021 was granted ownership of Alligator Reef Lighthouse under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The group intends to restore the 151-year-old beacon — a project anticipated to be a 6-year undertaking with a cost of $5 million to $6 million.

Alligator Reef Lighthouse is named after the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground and sank on the reef in 1822.

Event information and registration: swimalligatorlight.com
Lighthouse restoration and donation information: savealligatorlighthouse.org
Islamorada visitor information: fla-keys.com/islamorada or 1-800-FAB-KEYS
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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Rodriguez said his strategy was to plunge his face deep into the pie plate and inhale as much pie as he could.

“It got dirty, it got messy — but if you’re not gonna get your face dirty with pie, you’re not doing it right,” he said after the victory, his face and protective goggles still coated with whipped cream and crumbs of crust.

Believed to have originated in Key West in the late 1800s, Key lime pie is made primarily of condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of tiny yellow Key limes — typically with a graham cracker crust and a whipped cream or meringue topping.

It’s so popular that, nearly 20 years ago, it was designated Florida's official pie by the state legislature — and the pie-eating contest has become a July 4 mainstay in the Florida Keys.

“I know the saying is, ‘As American as apple pie,’ but here in Key West they say, ‘As American as Key lime pie’ — and I think that’s the way it should be,” Rodriguez said.

Other Key Lime Festival events include the gravity-defying Key Lime Pie Drop and tasting strolls for fans of Key lime cocktails and pie. The citrus celebration continues through Sunday, July 7.

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Rules of the event, now in its 33rd year, required each team to build a boat out of a single sheet of 4-by-8-foot plywood, two 8-foot-long 2-by-4s, a 60-yard roll of duct tape and a pound of fasteners.

Even caulking the boats was forbidden, though team costumes were encouraged. As a packed crowd of spectators cheered them on, the boats’ “designated captains” attempted steer the regatta’s short course in the Key West Historic Seaport faster than their rivals — without overturning or sinking.

Standout entries included a miniature pirate ship with a mermaid figurehead and a tiny Titanic replica that quickly capsized.

Prizes were awarded for the fastest boats, most creative designs, best paint jobs, best costumes and sportsmanship — as well as the dreaded “sinker” awards recognizing the least-seaworthy vessel.

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TRT: 03:15 

Filename: KeysReefTrashDerby.mp4

Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys -- Over 600 scuba diving and land-based volunteers have joined forces to remove underwater and coastal debris from the Florida Keys during the I.CARE Trash Derby that ends Sunday.

Cleanup activities from Key Largo to Key West are to continue Saturday, the same day as the Kentucky Derby horse race, and a Sunday Trash Derby Festival is set for Founders Park in Islamorada featuring an awards ceremony, music and environmental exhibits

I.CARE, an Islamorada-based organization that incorporates recreational divers in activities to restore Keys coral reefs, has partnered with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Goal: Clean Seas initiative to offer free dive trips for volunteers with dive operators throughout the Keys.

Over 13,000 pounds of trash was collected by volunteers at last year’s inaugural Trash Derby. This year, the goal is to more than double that, with land-based cleanup crews joining dive teams to compete for awards and prizes for collecting the most trash.  

“In this year’s I.CARE Trash Derby. we have over 600 divers today and tomorrow cleaning up our reef, pulling out debris for the betterment of our ocean,” said Michael Goldberg, co-founder of I.CARE and the derby’s organizer. “We even have about 200 people scouring the shoreline from Key Largo to Key West.

“Keeping our ocean and our coral reefs clean keeps the area free of debris so that corals, as they spawn, their larvae have a place to settle,” Goldberg said. “If it’s taken up by debris, they have no place and it’s vital that we give them a fighting chance.”

Leslie Stair a financial services marketer from Tampa traveled to the Keys to volunteer to help the reef.

“So it’s important to make a little bit of a difference,” Stair said. “You may not be able to change the world, but if you can improve just your little corner of it … if everyone did that it would be hugely impactful.

During three separate dives off of the Upper Keys Stair and her fellow volunteer divers did their part to cleanse the reef.

“We found a lot of anchors today as well as ropes,” she said. “Fishing line, fishing lures and a lot of fishin rods as well.”

All debris is to be weighed and catalogued, with prizes awarded to top collectors and raffle ticket holders at Sunday’s Trash Derby Festival at Islamorada’s Founders Park.

The free, family-friendly festival is open to the public. Attractions include live music, games and activities, environmental vendors and exhibits by local organizations helping to restore Keys reefs.

Underwater debris is harmful to coral reefs and can trap, injure or kill marine life including sea turtles and also impedes the development of future coral reefs. 

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Locator Super: Marathon, Florida Keys
Video: Video to match this story is available on the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (download details below) or can be downloaded now via Google Drive lin here. B-roll of turtle release; SOTs with Bette Zirkelbach (pronounced Betty ZIR kull back), Turtle Hospital manager. 

TRT: 01:40

Filename: FLKeysEarthDayTurtles.mp4
Video Source: Florida Keys News Bureau

MARATHON, Florida Keys -- In celebration of Earth Day, the staff from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital released two rehabilitated green sea turtles back to their ocean home Monday from Sombrero Beach in Marathon.

“Sherry” was rescued in September 2023 off Marathon, where she was found floating and entangled in fishing line, and suffering from fibropapillomatosis, a debilitating tumor-causing viral disease that affects sea turtles around the world.

The larger of the two turtles, “PG,” short for “Pretty Girl,” was rescued in October 2023 off the Upper Keys where she was found with a heavy tumor load.

Treatment for both turtles included tumor-removal surgeries, broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood.

Both turtles are now tumor-free, swimming strongly and back in good health.

“There’s no better way to celebrate Earth Day than releasing two green sea turtles back to their ocean home in the Florida Keys,” said Bette Zirkelbach, the Turtle Hospital's manager.

“It’s important to protect our oceans for future generations,” Zirkelbach added. “Sea turtles are an indicator species -- what happens to them is eventually going to affect all of life.”

Before the turtles were released, kids and their parents had a chance to see the turtles up close and learn from Zirkelbach about the need to protect the world’s oceans.

 The Turtle Hospital, based in Marathon in the Middle Keys, opened in 1986 as the world's first state-licensed veterinary hospital solely dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. The facility has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for 38 years. 

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Locator Super: Marathon, Florida Keys

Video:  Video is available on the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (download details below) and now via Google Drive here.  Aerial and ground-level footage of runners in Seven Mile Bridge Run. Overall men’s division winner video is at 00:43-00:48. Overall female division winner is at 00:48-00:52.

TRT: 01:20

FTP Filename: KeysBridgeRun.mp4 

Video Source: Florida Keys News Bureau

MARATHON, Florida Keys -- A footrace over the Florida Keys Overseas Highway’s longest bridge drew 1,500 participants Saturday, all competing to post the fastest time in the 43rd annual Seven Mile Bridge Run.

Collin Wainwright, 28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was first across the finish line with a time of 40 minutes and 33 seconds. He also claimed the top spot in the men’s division.

Joanna Stephens, 29, of Dallas, Georgia, completed the course in 43:13 to win the women’s division for the second consecutive year.

Finishing second overall with a time of 40:37 was 16-year-old Vaclav “Vance” Bursa of Big Pine Key, Florida, the winner of last year’s race. He was followed in third place by Christian Vazquez, 29, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, with a time of 41:13.

Anne DenOtter, 27, of Tavernier, Florida, posted a women’s division second-place time of 43:52. Key Largo, Florida, resident Holly Smith, 39, placed third with a time of 44:44.

The course record remains at 32:57, set in 1998 by former Florida resident Paul Marmaro.

 The annual race, capped at 1,500 runners each year, drew competitors from around the United States and other countries including Germany and France. 

Begun in 1982, the footrace over the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico was part of festivities celebrating the completion of a project to build 37 new Keys bridges to replace converted railroad bridges constructed in the early 1900s.

The run closed the span between the Middle and Lower Keys to vehicular traffic for three hours Saturday morning. Race organizers and Keys officials publicized the event well in advance to minimize traffic problems, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Just getting a chance to compete is challenging. The April contest is one of the most popular running events in the southeastern United States, and the 1,500-runner field filled within minutes after online registration opened in January. 

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James Earl Carter IV, Clifton Truman Daniel and other descendants discussed the influence of the presidency during the forum at the Little White House, now Florida’s only presidential museum. The sprawling residence was Truman’s refuge for 11 working vacations during his 1945-53 administration — and later welcomed Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and their family.

For Carter, the Saturday afternoon forum provided an opportunity to discuss his grandfather’s legacy — both as a president and as a man he described as “just a great person.”

“I think my grandfather's greatest legacy is that he injected the idea of human rights into the foreign policy of the United States, where that hadn't been a focus before,” Carter said. “And I think that that’s the way he wants to be remembered, as well as a humanitarian — as a person who cared about everyone across the entire world.”

President Carter entered hospice care in Plains, Ga., one year ago Sunday after choosing not to continue life-prolonging treatment.

In addition to Carter IV and Daniel, the forum also featured Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower; Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of William Howard Taft; and Massee McKinley, great-great-grandson of Grover Cleveland.

Presented in part by the not-for-profit Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, Presidential Families Weekend events continue through Monday with two performances of the one-man play “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry,” starring Daniel as his grandfather.

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Since 1978 The Key Players group has provided live community theater in the Upper Keys. The next production, “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” is slated to run April 18-22 and 25-28. This musical comedy is a jubilant tribute to Jimmy Buffett's timeless classics such as “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano” and others. Crafted by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia and Emmy nominee Mike O’Malley, the show promises a hilarious and heartwarming experience. Performances are to be staged at the Murray E. Nelson Government & Cultural Center at 102050 Overseas Highway in Key Largo. Visit thekeyplayers.org or call 305-942-4339.

Started as a small community group in 1944, the Marathon Community Theatre at 5101 Overseas Highway has grown to perform memorable and popular shows with a talented group of local residents. Productions include the theater’s annual “One Weekend Only Silent Auction and Variety Show” running Feb. 8-10. Tickets are $45 each and include a champagne toast and buffet dinner. Another show, "Disenchanted," is to run March 14-16, 21-24 and 28-30. The new musical comedy features original storybook heroines challenging their pop culture portrayals with humor and a fresh perspective. The production has garnered nominations for "Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical" and "Best New Off-Broadway Musical." Additionally, "Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap," a famed classic murder mystery with a surprise finish, is set for May 2-4, 9-11 and 16-19. Visit marathontheater.org  or call 305-743-0994.

Originally built in 1829 as a carriage house, the building that is home to Key West’s Red Barn Theatre at 319 Duval St., rear, has hosted modern-era performances since 1981. This season’s standouts include “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.” To run Jan. 30 – Feb. 24, the outrageous farce chronicles how seven brilliant women scramble to keep the president out of trouble. "The Thanksgiving Play," set for March 5-30, satirizes "woke" teaching artists attempting to produce a holiday pageant that celebrates both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. "The Lifespan of a Fact," scheduled April 9 – May 4, explores the conflict between factual truth and literary deception. All curtain times are at 8 p.m. Visit redbarntheatre.com or call 305-296-9911.

Entertaining audiences for over 80 years at its 310 Wall St. location beside Key West’s renowned Mallory Square, the Waterfront Playhouse presents the world-renowned musical "Singin' in the Rain" Jan. 24 – Feb. 17. The production promises a downpour of unforgettable songs including “You are My Lucky Star,” “Fit as a Fiddle” and “Make ’Em Laugh.” Other springtime performances include "Murder on the Orient Express," a captivating adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic slated March 13 – April 6; "Ten Blocks on the Camino Real," celebrating Tennessee Williams' birth with a staged reading March 17; "Trunk Material," a musical evening March 31 with local and out-of-town talent; and Neil Simon’s 1942 Brooklyn tale “Lost in Yonkers,” to run April 24 – May 11. Visit  waterfrontplayhouse.org  or call 305-294-5015.

Dedicated to art-house theater that showcases intimate settings and Key West talent, Fringe Theater Key West is to stage most of its upcoming performances at the Armory, 600 White St. Fringe presents "Key West Characters True Stories" Feb. 22-23, featuring short plays, monologues and musical tributes celebrating the island city. The spring lineup includes "The Last Five Years" by Jason Robert Brown, a poignant exploration of love and loss over five years set for March 13-23; and "Death and the Maiden" by Ariel Dorfman, a gripping thriller about trust and deception scheduled April 17-27. Performances promise engaging stories and thought-provoking themes. Visit fringetheater.org or call the KeysTix box office at 305-295-7676.

Located on the Key West campus of the College of the Florida Keys at 5901 College Road, the Tennessee Williams Theatre is a nonprofit that presents Broadway national tours, performing artists and theatrical experiences. Highlights this season include "Little Women, the Broadway Musical" on March 5, "Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock n' Roll, Part IV" scheduled March 20, the family-friendly "Dinosaur World, Live!" on April 2 and April 25’s "Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.” The theater also supports the community through its Children Outreach Series that creates accessible opportunities for Florida Keys kids to experience live theater. Visit keystix.com or call 305-295-7676.

The Key West Theater, an all-around performing arts center at 512 Eaton St., presents national touring artists, comedy, concerts, local songwriter showcases and more. Upcoming comedic shows include performances by Tom Papa on Feb. 3-4 and "Kathy Gilmore and Friends” featuring Karen Morgan and Gwen Filosa slated for Feb. 26. Visit thekeywesttheater.com  or call 305-985-0433.

Comedy Key West, located at 218 Whitehead St., Unit 5, exclusively features local and visiting stand-up comedians including Comedy Central stars and nationally recognized performers. February’s scheduled performers include Kerryn Feehan (Feb. 1-3), Shane Mauss (Feb. 6-7), Chad Daniels (Feb. 8-10), Dan Bulger (Feb. 13), Colum Tyrrell (Feb. 14-17), Kevin Bozeman (Feb. 21-24), and Mary Mack (Feb. 29 – March 3). March shows are to feature Derrick Stroup (March 6-9) and Joe Matarese (March 24-27). Amos Gill is set to perform April 3-6. Visit comedykeywest.com or call 305-985-7370.

The Studios of Key West, located at 533 Eaton St., supports artists, inspires creativity and builds community. The Studios present performances, workshops, concerts and exhibitions, while also featuring local studios and an artist residency program. Upcoming highlights include the "First Look" staged reading series featuring “Upstate” by Drew Larimore Feb. 2-3, “The Papers, A Musical” by Rob Baumgartner Jr. and Nathan Dame scheduled April 5-7, and “King Tide” by Key West playwright Michael Marrero slated April 26-27. In addition, the Feb. 23 “Telling My Story” recreates stories by incarcerated women through dance and spoken word, and Moriah Joy presents "Tearing Out My Hair" March 15 — a series of monologues providing insights into the service industry. Visit tskw.org or call 305-296-0458.

Florida Keys cultural information: fla-keys.com/culture  

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Video: Video to match this story can be downloaded from the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (details below) or accessed via Google Drive link here. Spot B-roll of turtle release at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida Keys. SOTs with Ida Short, of New Brunswick, Canada, who, with her husband, found Ida Thursday tangled in a lobster trap line.

TRT: 02:00

Filename: KeysIdaTurtleRelease.mp4
Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau
 

MARATHON, Florida Keys – “Ida” the sea turtle is back swimming off the Florida Keys.

The 200-pound adult loggerhead sea turtle was released Saturday into the Atlantic Ocean off Sombrero Beach in Marathon, located in the Middle Keys, as dozens of spectators watched and applauded.

“Ida” was discovered by recreational boaters Thursday off the Keys entangled in a lobster trap buoy line.

“It makes you feel really good to do a good thing like that,” said Ida Short, a New Brunswick, Canada, resident who, with her husband, found the turtle struggling.  “She weighed 200 pounds… she’s a big girl!”

In honor of Short’s good deed, the turtle was named “Ida.”

The Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital team joined the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue the female marine turtle and bring her to the Turtle Hospital for treatment, which included wound care, broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and an anti-inflammatory.

“Ida” recovered quickly and was returned to her ocean home after the treatment and rehabilitative care.

Short had advice for other anglers and boaters enjoying the waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

“There’s turtles out there all over when you’re fishing,” said Short. “They’re popping up; just watch and make sure that they’re okay.”

The Turtle Hospital opened 38 years ago in Marathon as the world’s first state-licensed veterinary sea turtle hospital. The facility, equipped with “turtle ambulances” for patient transport, has treated, rehabilitated and released thousands of injured sea turtles and assisted scores of hatchlings gone astray after exiting their nests. 

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The mobile-exclusive digital pass enables users to check in at area businesses and earn points while exploring the rich natural world and wildlife of the continental United States’ southernmost island chain.  

Created by the Florida Keys tourism council and technology company Bandwango, the Eco-Experience Trail pass includes nearly 50 geo-tagged, bookable activities that encourage engagement with the Keys’ environment and sustainability initiatives. Other activities and offerings are to be added in 2024.

After accessing the pass via fla-keys.com/experience, users can activate it and begin  exploring parks and nature tours, wildlife centers and refuges, coral restoration opportunities, eco-adventures and more from Key Largo to Key West. Also featured are fishing, diving and snorkeling tours in the protected waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that surrounds the Keys — many conducted by sanctuary-certified Blue Star operators.

Upon checking in at a location on the pass, users receive points based on the level of the experience. Once a specific number of points is earned, passholders can exchange them for Keys-focused prizes. In addition, some participating businesses provide value-added offerings or incentives.

“The Eco-Experience Trail pass is an easy-to-use, mobile-based ‘passport’ that introduces visitors to the best of the Florida Keys’ natural attractions,” said Rita Irwin, chair of the Keys tourism council. “Once they connect with the island chain’s environment, they can make eco-conscious choices that help protect it.”

Eco-Experience Trail pass information and access: fla-keys.com/experience

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Locator Super: Marathon, Florida Keys

Video: Video to match this story to be uploaded to FTP sites beginning at about 1:30 p.m.  Footage is also available on the Florida Keys News Bureau's FTP server (download information below), and can be downloaded via Google link here. Underwater footage of Santa submerged Wednesday at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters in Marathon.

TRT: 01:00

Filename: SantaKeysAquarium.mp4

Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau

MARATHON, Florida Keys -- A scuba diving Santa Claus was spotted spreading good cheer in the Florida Keys when, instead of going down a chimney, he submerged Wednesday at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters.

Visitors seemed thrilled to see Santa at the marine ecological attraction in Marathon in the Middle Keys, where people can snorkel and dive in the facility’s 200,000-gallon Coral Reef tank. 

The jolly old elf added the stop on his busy holiday schedule to thank the aquarium’s fish and other marine creatures for serving as educational ambassadors about the rich diversity of sea life in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that features the continental United States’ only coral barrier reef. 

Captain Spencer Slate of Slate’s Scuba Adventures donned Kris Kringle garb and doled out yummy treats to the aquarium’s residents.

Recipients of Scuba Santa’s holiday generosity included curious cownose rays, a variety of reef fish and a Florida lobster. 

Visitors to Aquarium Encounters can book underwater experiences in the tank to learn more about the Keys’ reef ecosystem. There are options for snorkelers as well as certified and non-certified divers using a hookah (pronounced HOO-kah) underwater breathing system. 

While it is prohibited to feed fish in the open waters of the sanctuary, Aquarium Encounters’ guests have the option, as Santa did, to offer food to the attraction’s inhabitants.

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The warm winter competition, one of a series of events slated around South Florida’s Orange Bowl football playoff weekend, kicks off the New Year at the Jacobs Aquatic Center at mile marker 99.6 oceanside. The premier facility features a 25-meter, eight-lane competition pool.

A series of fast-paced swimming events characterizes the sprint-style meet.

Men’s and women’s teams scheduled to compete in the Swim Classic represent schools including Maine’s Colby College, Connecticut’s Trinity College and Ohio Northern University among others.

The competition takes place from 10 a.m. until noon. Admission for spectators is free.

An awards social at the Jacobs Aquatic Center is to follow the meet, where spectators are welcome to interact with the swimmers and coaches.

Event information: jacobsaquaticcenter.org or 305-453-SWIM (305-453-7946)

Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 1-800-822-1088

Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Pinterest • TikTok • Keys Voices Blog

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The Flamingo Lodge features contemporary boutique-style studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and balconies overlooking scenic Florida Bay.

The adjacent stand-alone Flamingo Restaurant, scheduled to open in December, is to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with South Florida fare and libations from a full-service bar.

“Flamingo is back to life. Flamingo is now a world-class destination — a world-class destination we can all be proud of,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks, during recent celebratory festivities.

The all-new Miami Modern-style facilities, with Art Deco elements, are built from elevated and enhanced climate-resistant modified shipping containers. The lodge includes eight two-bedroom suites that each accommodate up to six guests, 12 one-bedroom suites for up to four, and four studios for two. Four ADA units can be accessed by a walkway and elevator.

Each unit has a balcony facing east for viewing sunrises and sunsets over Florida Bay, as well as full baths and kitchenettes with microwave and coffee maker.

“Development of these 24 lodge rooms and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant is a testament to the vision, hard work and dedication of many, many people over the last five years,” said Nico Foris, chief executive officer of authorized concessionaire Guest Services Inc.

The original Flamingo Lodge opened in the mid-1960s for the National Park Service’s 50th anniversary, but has been closed for more than 18 years after sustaining storm damage.

The park’s Flamingo area is a 50-minute drive from its South Florida entrance in Homestead, Florida, and an approximately 90-minute drive from Key Largo, Florida.

The area’s fully renovated pink Guy Bradley Visitor Center, featuring 6,000 square feet of interactive nature and art exhibits and expansive views of Florida Bay, reopened in July and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Florida National Parks Association bookstore sells books and Everglades souvenirs.

The center is dedicated to Bradley, an Audubon game warden shot and killed in 1905 while protecting wading birds from plume hunters who preyed on them for feathers used to decorate women’s hats.  

“That event crystalized the conservation movement throughout the world,” Ramos said.

Everglades National Park, the United States’ largest subtropical wilderness, is designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a Cartagena Treaty specially protected area. The park’s 75th anniversary was celebrated Dec. 3, 2022.

The 2,400-square-mile park — famous for wildlife such as the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther — is also home to more than 300 bird species. The continental United States' third-largest national park, Everglades is popular for activities including sport fishing and star gazing.

Flamingo Lodge rates range from $259 to $399 per night plus tax through May 2024 and from $159 to $299 per night from June through October 2024, with a 14-day maximum stay.

Park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for up to seven days.

Boat slips, boat and houseboat rentals, and gasoline are available at the on-site Flamingo Marina and Store. Other rentals include 20 eco-platform or “glamping” tents, campsites, kayaks, canoes and bikes. Among adventures are backcountry and Florida Bay boat tours.

Visit flamingoeverglades.com/flamingo-lodge-restaurant or call 855-708-2207 or 239-695-1095.

Everglades National Park visitor information: nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088

Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS

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Ocean conservation, education initiatives and demonstrating positive impacts of citizen science in the Florida Keys and around the world are at the core of the nonprofit Reef Environmental Education Foundation's mission.

The four-day festival features a full slate of social events, ocean-themed seminars, coral reef dives, snorkeling excursions with REEF fish surveyors to share helpful fish species knowledge, and guided kayak eco-tours with Keys operators to search for wading birds and nearshore marine life.

REEF Fest events kick off Thursday, Oct. 19, with morning dive and snorkel trips with area operators. From 4 to 7 p.m. at the REEF Campus, mile marker 98.3 in the Florida Keys Overseas Highway median, attendees can participate in an evening open house gathering for conservationists to meet and mingle, enjoy wine and craft beer, tour the interpretive center or walk a native plants trail.

Friday and Saturday, participants can again join morning dive, snorkel or kayak trips. Dedicated boat charters are reserved for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday dive and snorkel excursions. A REEF representative is to be onboard with fish identification and survey materials.

For paddlers, guided three-hour kayak tours can be booked Friday and Saturday mornings. Tours include all rental equipment, a lesson on paddling techniques, snacks and water, and guide. Visit fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088

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