Key West Market to Host Rock the Red Ribbon Event for AIDS Memorial
KONK Life announced a special edition of the Key West Artisan Market called Rock the Red Ribbon will take place Sunday, November 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Indigenous Park, honoring the Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial and tying into World AIDS Day activities. The event will showcase artisans and vendors while raising awareness and funds for the memorial group, offering residents a chance to support local makers and local public health remembrance efforts.
A special community edition of the Key West Artisan Market will convene at Indigenous Park on Sunday, November 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., organizers announced in a KONK Life community notice posted November 23. The market edition, titled Rock the Red Ribbon, will honor the Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial and include artisans, vendors, and a fundraising and awareness element linked to World AIDS Day activities.
Scheduled one day before World AIDS Day on December 1, the market brings cultural celebration together with public health remembrance and local fundraising. For Monroe County residents the gathering is both a community commerce event and an opportunity to acknowledge the continuing impact of HIV and AIDS on families and neighborhoods. The market is part of the Keys seasonal community event calendar and aims to draw visitors to Indigenous Park while centering the memorial group whose work preserves memory and promotes awareness.
Public health experts say events that combine visibility with community engagement can reduce stigma and encourage conversations about prevention testing and care. While the notice focuses on artisans and vendors, the Rock the Red Ribbon edition also serves a public health purpose by drawing attention to ongoing needs for education, support services and equitable access to care for people living with HIV. Local volunteers and supporters of the Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial will be visible at the park, and proceeds from the fundraising element are intended to assist the memorial group in its work.
The market also has economic implications for local makers who rely on seasonal events to sell their crafts and sustain small businesses. For many residents supporting the market means bolstering independent artists and vendors while contributing to an important community cause. The timing and outdoor setting may encourage a broad cross section of attendees, from longtime Keys residents to winter visitors.
Monroe County residents interested in attending can visit Indigenous Park on Sunday to shop, learn about the memorial and participate in fundraising and awareness activities. The event underscores how local cultural gatherings can serve as sites of remembrance and solidarity, and how community driven efforts remain central to addressing health inequities and preserving collective memory.
