Drive over the Seven Mile Bridge at night, and the sunset isn’t the last glow you’ll see.
The island of Pigeon Key is already ablaze with thousands of lights in anticipation of the second annual Pigeon Key Holiday Spectacular, held on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 1 to 9 p.m.
Building on the success of the inaugural event last December, the all-day celebration in the five-acre offshore holiday village is packed with cookie decorating, face painting, ornament making, food vendors, kids’ games, and guaranteed snow in the forecast. For the not-so-little ones, a full bar is at the ready.
Taking time out of his hectic dash to the holidays at the North Pole, Santa Claus will pay a visit from 3 to 5 p.m. And with a new audio system pumping holiday tunes in the air, the island will offer its hourly historical tours from 2 to 7 p.m.
Shark feedings in the on-island lagoon are scheduled for 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., and Pigeon Key’s wet lab and touch tank will be on display for visitors to enjoy. Members of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will add static exhibits from the agency’s SWAT team, dive team and bomb squad.
Admission to the event is $5 for those who walk or bike from the Old Seven Mile Bridge. The Pigeon Key Express (Polar Express?) is available for a $20 round-trip ticketed transport, along with shuttle vans and buses ($15 for kids 12 and under). The last transport to the island will be at 7:40 p.m., and return transports are first come first served. Private watercraft will not be allowed to dock or unload passengers during the event.
“Last year, we set out to accomplish a vision and bring Marathon a brand-new iconic holiday event,” said Pigeon Key executive director Kelly McKinnon. “As soon as it was over, we knew we had to bring it back bigger and better this year, and we can’t wait to welcome the community this weekend.”
More information is at pigeonkey.net/holiday-spectacular-2025.
