Key Largo's REEF Fest to Celebrate Florida Keys Marine Conservation

This Green Scene story spotlights an environmentally focused attraction, event, person or place that enriches the Florida Keys

KEY LARGO, Florida Keys —REEF Fest, a celebration of marine conservation’s positive impact on the Florida Keys and around the world, enables ocean aficionados to experience social events, eco-adventures and presentations by renowned marine experts Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 7-10, in Key Largo.

The annual festival, hosted by the Key Largo–based nonprofit Reef Environmental Education Foundation, was rescheduled to December after Hurricane Irma’s Sept. 10 passage through the Keys.

Activities are to include a lineup of educational seminars, social gatherings, snorkeling, diving and eco-adventures on the water at America’s best fish-filled coral reefs with some of the most prestigious names in marine conservation.

Festivities kick off Thursday evening with a 6-7:30 p.m. casual picnic dinner followed by an opening seminar, "Recreating Pelagic Habitats in an Aquarium" with Andy Dehart, vice president of animal husbandry for the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. The event is to take place at the Murray Nelson Government and Cultural Center, mile marker 102 bayside.

Friday and Saturday are filled with morning diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking and glass-bottom boat tours with area outfitters. Afternoon presentations from ocean experts and evening social events also are on tap. 

Saturday evening’s 6-10 p.m. “For the Love of the Sea” dinner banquet features hors d’oeuvres, a three-course meal, full-service bar with locally crafted beer, music and a large silent auction. Sponsored by the nationwide Divers Alert Network, this is a ticketed event priced at $65 per person. 

Sunday morning’s schedule also offers diving and snorkeling trips. Ocean enthusiasts are encouraged to join REEF Fest’s eco-adventures to learn more about the marine environment. A percentage of charter proceeds benefits REEF’s ocean conservation programs.

All REEF Fest events are open to the public. Seminars held at the Murray Nelson Government Center are free, as are Thursday and Friday evening social events. Pre-registration online at reef.org/reeffest/registration is recommended.

Specially priced REEF Fest accommodations are available at Key Largo hotels. For a complete events schedule, visit REEF.org/REEFFest/schedule.

Event information: REEF.org/REEFFest or 305-852-0030

Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088 

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