Probably the best predictor of what 2021 holds for the Florida Keys is the Tourist Development Council’s calendar and funding plan. The budget has been approved, and it looks a lot like years past.
“The same organizers are applying, but we didn’t have as much money to give out this time,” said Vicki Tashjian, chair of the DAC III in the Middle Keys. For example, in 2019, the Key West Songwriters Festival received $150,000 in seed money. In 2021, it’s $100,000.
While the budget reflects a best-case scenario, already several big events in the Upper Keys have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Holiday Fest in December and Baygrass Bluegrass in February. The Gigantic Nautical Flea Market will be virtual in 2021, but in a normal year is the second or largest event in terms of attendance in the Florida Keys.
In November, organizers of the Marathon Seafood Festival asked the Marathon City Council permission to continue planning for the event normally held in March.
“We’re planning and hoping things get better by the time of the event,” said Marathon Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Samess.
In conversations with Bob Eadie, the county’s top health administrator, Samess said they will be looking for low positivity rates and numbers trending down.
“If we go ahead, the event will be in complete compliance and reliant upon the department of health’s guidance and blessing, as well as local municipal measures that may be in place,” he said.
Samess said that if a TDC-funded event is canceled due to the pandemic, organizers have the ability to return the money or postpone it.
“We have options. None of them are ideal, but it is what it is,” Samess said.
KEY WEST:
The Key West District Advisory Committee (DAC I) allocated $749,000 to 29 festivals, boat races, triathlons, parades and other events slated for 2021. Most of the events were canceled this past year and organizers plan to come back strong in 2021.
Fantasy Fest received the largest allocation of $120,000, with the Key West Songwriters Festival receiving $100,000 and the powerboat races getting $75,000. The Key Lime Festival got $35,000 and other events received $10,000, $17,000 or $25,000.
Key West event funding allocations
CFK Swim Around Key West — $10,000
Conch Republic Independence Celebration — $17,000
Fantasy Fest — $120,000
Florida Keys Seafood Festival — $10,000
Hemingway 5K Sunset Run & Paddleboard Race — $10,000
Kelly McGillis Classic – Women’s Flag Football — $10,000
Key West Brew Fest — $17,000
Key West Film Festival — 17,000
Key West Food and Wine Festival — $17,000
Key West Half Marathon & 5K – 23rd Annual — $25,000
Key West Holiday Fest — $35,000
Key West Lobsterfest – 25th Annual — $10,000
Key West Pride 2021 — $25,000
Key West Songwriters Festival — $100,000
Key West Triathlon (TRIKW) — $17,000
Key West Whiskey Festival — $10,000
Mango Fest Key West — $10,000
Mile 0 Fest — $50,000
New Year’s Eve Shoe Drop — $17,000
Ocean Fest – 11th Annual — $10,000
Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade — $10,000
Rams Head Presents — $35,000
RWO Offshore World Championship — $75,000
SMART Ride 18 — $10,000
Southernmost Marathon — $10,000
Tennessee William Birthday Celebration — $10,000
The Key Lime Festival — $35,000
Tropical Heat 2021 — $10,000
Womenfest 2021 — $17,000
LOWER KEYS
DAC II in the Lower Keys has allocated $52,500 for destination events. It supports events in Key West, as well as the Lower Keys.
Fantasy Fest — $20,000
Key West Food and Wine Festival $5,000
Key West Half Marathon & 5K — $7,500
Mango Fest Key West— $5,000
Underwater Music Festival — $15,000
MARATHON
DAC III covers events in the Middle Keys and also supports events that have a countywide draw, such as Fantasy Fest. The Seafood Festival was one of the last big events to go on in 2020 in mid-March and shortly thereafter, the Keys were closed to tourism.
Fantasy Fest — $30,000
Heroes Salute Weekend — $10,000
Island Boat Show — $10,000
Original Marathon Seafood Festival — $40,000
SMART Ride 18 — $10,000
Sombrero Beach Run — $10,000
Taste of the Islands — $20,000
ISLAMORADA
DAC IV, which covers Islamorada, allocated $85,000 for 2021 events. The annual Swim for Alligator Lighthouse, organized by Friends of the Pool Inc., received $30,000. This year’s swim to the lighthouse was scheduled for September, but was canceled due to coronavirus. The event is expected to return Sept. 9 to 12. The Islamorada Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Beach N’ Beer Mile put on by Islamorada Running Company LLC received $20,000. The event is set for Dec. 9, 2021. No funds were provided for the annual Fantasy Fest in Key West.
Other Islamorada funding allocations
30th annual Island Fest – $15,000
Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival 2021 – $10,000
4th Annual Ocean Fest by Mote Marine Laboratory – $10,000
KEY LARGO
DAC V covering Key Largo approved $95,000 in event allocations for 2021. The annual Orange Bowl Swim Classic and Winter Training and Jacobs Aquatic Center, put on by Upper Keys Community Pool Inc., received $40,000. The group approved $10,000 for Fantasy Fest.
Other Key Largo funding allocations
Key Largo Brew on the Bay – $15,000
Key Largo Bridge Run – $15,000
REEF Fest 2021 – $15,000
