Key Colony Beach is throwing a birthday party.
On Sunday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the “Gem of the Florida Keys” will celebrate the 69th anniversary of its incorporation in 1957 with Key Colony Beach Day, presented by the Key Colony Beach Community Association. Set to take place again near KCB’s City Hall, the day packs the tiny city with vendors, food trucks, live music and a parade – plus the signature “Barracuda Races.”
“It’s going to be a great day,” said KCBCA president Ted Fischer. “Thank you to all of our sponsors who made this happen.”
The Keys Weekly has all the party details in one convenient place:
The tunes: Live music runs from 1 to 5 p.m., beginning with “Elvis” and shifting to a set from the Rick Lieder Band at 3 p.m.
The parade: The celebration’s annual parade begins at 11 a.m., led by grand marshal Jim Figuerado. Local businesses and organizations are welcome to participate by contacting Larry Smoot (moboatin24@gmail.com) to register. Line-up will begin at 10:30 a.m. for vehicles at the 15th Street circle, and walkers and bikers will be staged at Sunset Park. The parade will proceed from 15th Street to 1st Street.
The “Barracuda Races”: OK, we’ll admit, they’re not really barracudas. But step up to KCB Day’s classic booth and bet your cash on the fastest bait fish you can find – the pilchards hit the watery race course every few minutes. A 50/50 raffle throughout the day provides even more chances to win with drawings in the morning and afternoon.
The vendors: More than 65 vendors are scheduled to attend until 4 p.m., including art booths, fishing gear, apparel, nonprofits and more from throughout the Keys.
The food: Four food trucks will provide the day’s dining options, including Pop’s Smoke Shed, Tommy T’s, The Pretzel Bar and Greek Food Express USA. The Inn at Key Colony will provide breakfast sandwiches and Bloody Marys in the morning, along with the Rotary Club of Marathon’s traditional beverage booth with beer, wine and soft drinks.
The auction: A silent auction will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with proceeds supporting the dolphins, seals, sea lions, birds and tortoises at the nonprofit Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key. Donations for Payton’s Promise Sanctuary, which provides care for senior and special-needs dogs, are also accepted at a free face-painting booth.
