Frank Derfler with the Upper Keys Rotary Club joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the 30th Annual Gigantic Nautical Market.
The event is this weekend and there are 350 vendors getting ready to serve.
Derfler said, “What I call a parade of boats is actually going to start southbound on US 1 tomorrow, Friday, you’re going to see tractor trailer trucks and all sorts of traffic going southbound to Founders Park, marker 87 in the keys and this is the start of the 30th annual gigantic nautical market. Now this show is a boat show with a beach. It is a food truck rally and a boat show and a nautical market and that food truck rally, 19 food venues, practically anything in the world that you could think of to eat. They’re spread all around the beautiful Founders Park and plus, there’s a few really nifty beverage booths intertwined in there. So if you wanted to start the day with a adult beverage, you can do that.”
Today’s Keys Weekly newspaper has a show magazine in it.
Derfler said, “That show magazine has all kinds of interesting articles in it about students who have been successful here in the Upper Keys. And the reason that’s important is because the whole goal of the gigantic nautical market is to raise money for student scholarships for both technical training and academic education. The Upper Keys Rotary Foundation does something unique. We follow them through four years or five of accreditation to certification or a degree, and that makes us very involved in the community. I’ve got about 20 university students coming back this year. They’re going to ride the shuttle busses from Coral Shores High School to Founders Park, and they’re going to tell people what they’re doing at the university, and I hope they say that they’re grateful that the Upper Keys Rotary Foundation for their scholarships.”
The Upper Keys Rotary provides about $200,000 a year in scholarships.
Derfler said, “We’re up into the millions, and after 30 years. Now, of course, the beginning years started out just a little bit more lean. We had 30 vendors, and just a few Rotarians. Now, about 350 vendors using Rotarians from three clubs, all three clubs here in the Upper Keys. I do have to say something to your many, many, many, many listeners below Marathon. And that is, if you need to get to Miami on Saturday, you should get past mile marker, 87 by about 7:30am, otherwise, I don’t guarantee you’re going to make your plane.”
There could be up to 20,000 in Islamorada people on Saturday.
Derfler said, “We basically max the carrying capacity of US 1. So it is a wonderful thing to do. What everyone should do is to get to Coral Shores High School and take the shuttle bus from Coral Shores High School to the park. The busses will be running regularly. Those bus drivers know exactly what they’re doing. They know how to regulate themselves and how to pace it. There will be two drop off and pick up points in the park. So it works out very, very well.”
An interactive map can be found on the website.
Derfler said, “We’ve got to mention the TDC. We’ve got to mention the Florida Keys Electric Co Op. That is such a wonderful organization for this community. FKEC is just super in the things they do. CBT Construction, you cannot imagine what they do for this community. So it’s not just us. It’s trite to say, it takes a village, but it certainly takes a community to put on something like this. And we’re very, very proud of everybody.”
The event is this Saturday and Sunday at Founders Park in Islamorada.
Derfler said, “We ask for a $5 donation for adults at the gate. We ask you if you’d make a donation, and if you don’t, we say, have a good day.”
For more information, click here: https://rotarynauticalmarket.com/