February Art Festivals in the Florida Keys
February 3rd, 2010
Florida Keys – February is a big month for art in the Florida Keys. There are four large art festivals planned as artist and art lovers converge in the Keys. Festivals include the Purple Isles Art Guild, Old Island Days Art Festival, Pigeon Key Art Festival and just in time for Valentine’s Day the Sweetheart Arts & Crafts Fair.
Pigeon Key Art Festival in Marathon Feb 6-7
More than 80 nationally recognized fine artists and craftspeople are to exhibit their creations at the 16th annual Pigeon Key Art Festival scheduled Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 oceanside in Marathon.
The critically acclaimed festival is named for Pigeon Key, a small island beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge that housed workers constructing the Overseas Railway in the early 1900s. The picturesque island was the festival’s original setting, but the event was relocated due to planned repairs to the old bridge.
The festival’s participating artists and artisans generally show work with a tropical theme, and special efforts are made to feature sought-after artists new to the event. Periodically during the two-day show, artists demonstrate their skills for attendees to observe.
Organizers expect the park will be virtually canvassed in watercolors, oil paintings, acrylics, sculpture, jewelry, photography, graphic arts, pottery, glass and other fine art with Florida themes.
Marathon Community Park’s amphitheater comes alive with live music throughout the two-day festival, and food and beverage booths feature local delicacies and sweet treats. The park offers abundant open space for art lovers who want to picnic or simply sit and listen to music.
Marathon’s Rocket Man, Rocky Hudson, is to emcee both days. Saturday he will play his own brand of island music, calypso, country and oldies, along with another Keys favorite, Tommy Tunes. New this year is a musical couple called Patchouli, whose groove is described as Joni Mitchell meets Santana.
Scheduled Sunday morning, Feb. 7, is Brian Roberts, and in the afternoon Patchouli returns for more musical entertainment, as well as longtime local favorite Dave Feder, a self-described “hillbilly flamenco guitarist.”
An art raffle beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday concludes the weekend.
Festival admission is $7 per person for adults, $3 for students and free for children under 12. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with free parking and shuttles available from 33rd Street bayside.
Festival goers can retain their ticket stubs and use them for free admission for a ferry trip to Pigeon Key, good for one year.
Proceeds from the event are to benefit the Pigeon Key Foundation.
Sweetheart Arts & Crafts Fair in Islamorada Feb 12-14
Deliciously popular, the annual Sweetheart Arts & Crafts Fair at Holiday Isle Beach Resorts and Marina, mile marker 84 oceanside in Islamorada, is set for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 12-14.
The festival traditionally is a popular venue for attendees to find unusual and unique St. Valentine’s Day gifts. Artists and craftspeople are to show original handmade goods, and shoppers can explore a range of artisan booths featuring wall, table and floor art.
Vendor booths are to be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day for attendees to explore. Booths will be located in the parking lot area behind the offshore charter fleet.
For more information, contact Kat at 305-394-4263.
Old Island Days Art Festival in Key West Feb 27-28
In 1965, the Key West Art Center originated and sponsored a show of original fine art to promote the cultural image of Key West. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28, the 45th annual Old Island Days Art Festival is to continue that tradition with works by approximately 100 artists from throughout the United States and Canada.
Now a nationally recognized event, the open-air art show is still presented by the Key West Art Center in the island city’s historic Old Town district. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Key West’s Whitehead Street is to be closed to vehicular traffic from Greene to Eaton streets, creating a lively outdoor marketplace where attendees can enjoy exhibitors’ offerings in the typically balmy February weather.
Booths also are to be placed on Caroline Street within Truman Annex, a gracious enclave that includes the Harry S. Truman Little White House where the late president spent 175 days during his 1945-1953 tenure in office.
The festival is to feature pieces in media such as watercolor, oil painting, acrylic, sculpture, collage and photography. In addition, selected original jewelry, ceramics, art glass, woodcrafts, textiles and other fine crafts are to be showcased.
The show is juried to ensure the high quality of the offerings.
Admission to the Old Island Days Art Festival is free. For more information, call 305-294-1243.
Purple Isles Art Guild in Key Largo Feb 27 – Mar 7
Unique gifts of fine art in Key Largo are to be offered by the Purple Isles Art Guild at its 44th annual judged art show set for Saturday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, March 7.
Art lovers can find pieces by many of the Keys’ most talented artists. Works are to include watercolors, acrylics, oils, colored pencil pieces, pastels, photography and three-dimensional artistry.
The show is to be staged indoors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the community room of the Key Largo Library at Tradewinds Plaza, mile marker 101.4 oceanside.
For more information, contact Michael Mayer at 305-852-0668 or visit www.purpleislesartguild.com.
To find out about area accommodations, call the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce at 305-743-5417 or 800-262-7284, or visit www.fla-keys.com.
