Islamorada Holiday Fest Lights Founders Park, Draws Families
The Village of Islamorada staged its long running Holiday Fest at Founders Park on the evening of December 5, turning MM 87 bayside into a family festival with a 30 ton snow mountain and a 35 foot tree with artificial snow. The event matters to Monroe County residents because it activates local artists, vendors, and charities, and serves as an economic and social kickoff to the Upper Keys holiday season.
The Village of Islamorada hosted its Holiday Fest at Founders Park, MM 87 bayside, on the evening of December 5, bringing families and tourists together for the Upper Keys traditional start of holiday activities. The park featured a 30 ton snow mountain and a 35 foot tree with artificial snow blown through the branches, complemented by food vendors, live performances and a holiday parade that began at 7:30 p.m. Activities aimed at children included a Santa Paws dog contest and other hands on attractions, while a Holiday Gift Bazaar showcased local artists and included an ornament auction that ran online ahead of the event.
Attendance at the festival concentrated economic activity along the bayside corridor, creating short term demand for food, retail and lodging that benefits small businesses across Monroe County during the seasonal transition. The ornament auction and artist booths channel spending directly to local creators, while online bidding extended reach beyond the island. For artists and vendors who rely on concentrated holiday weekends, these events help smooth revenue across the fourth quarter when tourism patterns shift from peak summer months to winter season travel.
Organized by the Village of Islamorada, the fest required coordination with public safety and municipal services to manage crowd flow, parking and waterfront access. In a coastal community, event planners must also balance recreational offerings with environmental stewardship, particularly when staging artificial snow and large installations near sensitive bayside habitats. The festival’s placement at Founders Park reflects a broader local policy approach that leverages public spaces for community marketing and seasonal economic stimulus.
Looking ahead, community festivals like this one underscore longer term trends in Monroe County toward experience based spending, support for local makers and hybrid fundraising that combines in person and online sales. For residents, the value is both cultural and economic, preserving a community ritual while putting cash in the pockets of local artists and small businesses at the start of the holiday season in the Upper Keys.
