A Look Back at the Marathon Seafood Festival

By Emily Schulten

 

When a group of Middle Keys fishermen and seafood dealers got together in 1976 to showcase their seafood, few could have guessed what would develop over the course of the next few decades. The Original Marathon Seafood Festival has grown into the second largest event in the Florida Keys, drawing over 20,000 people each spring to celebrate the local food culture and character.

 

Thirty-nine years ago, when Marathon was just a fishing village with little more to offer than church on Sundays and a couple of local bars to over imbibe in, a few members of the Marathon chapter of the Organized Fishermen of Florida (OFF) hatched a plan to draw a crowd and bring attention to the commercial fishing that was happening on the road between Key West and the mainland.

 

The crew who kicked off the seafood festival wanted to be more than a pit stop en route to Key West, so they approached the board of directors at the bank to propose their idea. They had to do a good deal of convincing, but eventually plans were approved.

 

That first year, the only tunes you would’ve heard were local country and western bands, and organizers were only given one day to set up, serve up, and break down in the bank parking lot, before business hours Monday. People from all over the world plan their vacations to be in Marathon for festival weekend every year.

 

At the heart of the seafood festival is giving back to Marathon and the Middle Keys. All proceeds go into local athletic and educational programs, as well as initiatives to support the fishermen of Marathon, who continue to contend with the requirements of South Atlantic, Gulf, and federal regulation entities. To date, they’ve given back in excess of $150,000.

 

Most of the initial turnout consisted of those who caught the fish and their wives who prepared side dishes and favorite pies for the local fishermen’s event. One thing that has remained the same is that the catch is still fresh from the fishermen of Marathon. Since that first year the festival has moved from the bank parking lot to the electric company to the airport, each time outgrowing the venue. Marathon City Park currently hosts the hosts and event. Nowadays, there are several food booths from which guests can choose from a wide variety of seafood.

 

In addition to the local fare, there are plenty games and activities to keep you busy. Over the years there has been a wide array of entertainment, ranging from cloggers who traveled from Homestead to mud wrestling shows put on by local children. This year, you can try out the rock climbing wall or skate park, among many other games, vendors, and shows.

 

The 39th annual Original Marathon Seafood Festival will be held this year on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 15th: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The cost is $5, and kids under ten attend for free. Find more information online at http://marathonseafoodfestival.com or by phone at 305-743-5417.

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