Irish and Scottish tunes floated through the air as kilts in every direction heralded the return of the Florida Keys Celtic Festival on Jan. 11 and 12 at Marathon Community Park.
Thunderous drumbeats, feats of strength in the Highland Games, herding dog demonstrations and copious amounts of frothy adult beverages are annual highlights of the festival, but the already family-friendly event had an extra draw for kids in 2025 with the addition of pony rides and a petting zoo on top of a pet parade and “Zero-K” fun run.
Now in its 11th year, proceeds from the fest pay for scholarships for graduating MHS seniors as well as St. Columba Episcopal Church’s Hammock House to provide free after-school and summer camp programs for children in the Middle Keys.
“We’d like to thank all our sponsors, volunteers, the MHS Drama Club and senior class,the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the city of Marathon and the Parks and Recreation Department, and everyone who attended the festival,” said event co-organizer Cathy Walters.
