Andy Newman of the Tourist Development Council joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM to talk about various events in the Keys.
The original Marathon Seafood Festival will happen this weekend.
Newman said, “It’s Saturday and Sunday and it’s at the Marathon Community Park. It certainly is the premier event in the Keys for delicious fresh seafood and also enter entertainment. No disrespect to the Florida Keys Seafood Festival down in Key West of course. There’s going to be live music throughout the festival weekend. There’ll be games for children’s as well as adults, raffle giveaways, some 200 vendors selling jewelry, clothing, art, boats, and so much more. There’s the US Navy fighter jet flyover, by the way, scheduled for one o’clock on Saturday. Admission is $5 per person per day, kids 12 and under free with a paying adult. On Sunday, both active and retired military and law enforcement personnel can get in free. Parking is to be available directly across US 1 us one at Stanley Switlik Elementary. I know that the sheriff’s office does a lot of good work in helping to try to keep the traffic flow while also trying to keep pedestrians who are crossing US 1 very, very safe.”
The annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest will be in Key West on Saturday.
Newman said, “This is this is one of my favorites, quite honestly, it’s the indigenous music, I guess we could say of the Florida Keys. But I’ll tell you something, I remember going back a long time ago covering this event, back in the 80s. There was a lady who won the contest so many times that they finally sort of banned her from competing but made her a permanent judge, but she would still come and start the contest with her tooting of tunes from the mollusk. It’s always a lot of fun. The creativity, in terms of entrances is always quite appealing. It’s something that we manage to always get a lot of news play around the country with. There are some who are really, really good. There’s a couple of standouts that I remember who actually played the theme from 2001 on the conch shell, and it was accompanied by a timpani. The contestants are judged on duration, loudness, tone, and also their creativity.”
People come from around the world to take part in the contest.
Newman said, “When the Calusa Indians inhabited the Florida Keys, it was actually a communications tool and depending on the number of toots, it’s either a sign of survival or conflict. There are a lot of local captains that continue carrying a conch shell as a legal form, quote unquote, of communications in terms of having a horn on your boat. I don’t know if that’s still recognized by the Coast Guard or not. But I remember at one point that was actually true. Maybe for a boat that’s 16 feet or smaller, that’s still considered the appropriate signaling device, but certainly the conch shell blowing contest is steeped in history of Key West. When you think about the about the conch, it is an iconic symbol of Key West and the Florida Keys.”
The Studios of Key West has their first Thursday open house this evening from 6 to 8pm.
Newman said, “If you’re into astronomy, the Florida Keys Astronomy Club is going to be up Curry Hammock State Park tomorrow evening with their Starry Starry Night. Also the Key West Historical Society through April 28 has its Shadow and Light art exhibit. That’s at the Custom House Museum in the Brian gallery. I think this is very special through March 23 in Key West, the Jag Gallery has a new exhibition, it’s called Living my Life Like a Song. It’s a very special gallery tribute dedicated to celebrating the life of legendary Jimmy Buffett, featuring artworks and words from the circle of the musician’s and singer songwriters circle of artists and writer friends from Key West and beyond. It’s supporting the Singing for Change Charitable Foundation and an opening reception is set for Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30pm. The galleries located at 1075 Duvall Street. Foreigner will be at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Sunday. Gosh, we all know Foreigner. Doors open by the way at 5:30. The show starts at 7 p.m. Also on Sunday they Key West artisan market themed hope and promise edition. That’s from 10am to two o’clock at Sunny McCoy Indigenous Park. Another favorite on Sunday, the sheriff’s Animal Farm has it’s open house. That’s from one to 3pm at the Detention Center on College Road. All month long is the Tennessee Williams Festival, and on Monday the Tennessee Williams classic movie Baby Doll, that’s going to be at Tropic Cinema. The film begins at 6:30pm. Also Tennessee Williams Theater has Jillian Todd, celebration of music of Joni Mitchell, and that’s at eight o’clock on College Road on Monday. Finally the Key West Theater on Tuesday has David Mason, a legendary guitarist and founding member of Traffic. He’ll be playing solo at eight o’clock.”
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