50 YEARS OF HISTORY AND CELEBRATIONS!
Festivals are and always will be essential public showcases for promoting an industry to consumers. Florida’s seafood festivals in 2024 employed approximately 3,000 people and contributed more than $365 million to the state’s overall economy. Every year, they provide an opportunity for the entire population to come together and enjoy a convivial moment.
In 2026, no fewer than 54 major seafood festivals are scheduled in the Sunshine State, ten of which are in March, including the one in Marathon, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Oldest, Original, Indigenous, Authentic!
These four adjectives are often used to describe this seafood festival: the oldest, original, indigenous, authentic! It began in 1976 with a group of local professionals who, after fishing for fish and seafood, cooked them outdoors while their wives prepared lime pies and desserts, all on a volunteer basis! Today, the event raises approximately $75,000 each year, which is given back to the community in the form of scholarships for local Middle Keys students and charitable donations.
Once again this year, more than 200 vendors are expected to attend. This five-day festival is now the second most popular festival in the Keys after Key West Fantasy Fest. It has grown over the past decades, gradually incorporating various activities such as live music, an art fair, a face painting booth, rides, children’s games, a climbing wall, bungee jumping, obstacle courses, Jenga, a small boat show, and various kiosks selling products ranging from seaweed hats to sculptures made from materials taken from old lobster traps. As always, visitors will be able to enjoy an abundance of fresh local seafood, including lobster tails, stone crab, fish, shrimp, and much more. It’s important to remember that during this festival, the seafood, fresh off the boats, is the real reason to attend this event, which can also be described as iconic!
For more information: Original Marathon Seafood Festival – Original Marathon Seafood Festival
Admission to the festival is a $5 donation for adults and free for children under 12. Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. To get there from Miami and the surrounding area, head south on the Overseas Highway to mile marker 49, then turn toward Marathon Community Park, 200 36th St., which is on the east side of the road. Please note that there are few free parking spaces in town, and the best option for parking may be schools and churches that charge for parking to raise funds. Please note that pets are not allowed.
Here are some other festivals to keep in mind:
March 1-2 – Homestead Stone Crab and Seafood Festival;
March 7-8 – Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival;
March 7-8 – Grant Seafood Festival;
March 14 – ShrimpaPalooza, Homosassa;
March 14 – Port Orange Seafood Fest;
March 14-15 – Hutchinson Island Seafood Festival;
March 21-22 – St. Augustine Lions Spring Seafood Festival;
March 21-22 – Key Largo Seafood, Music and Arts Festival;
March 21 – Panacea Beer and Oyster Festival.
Sources: www.floridarambler.com – www.wikipedia.org
