Danilo Alayon is a fifth-generation “Conch” born and raised in Key West, an avid diver, a self-taught artist and proud grandson of the creator-painter of the island’s famed Southernmost Point buoy.

Danilo has embraced a unique form of artistry: he converts old, nicked and rusty scuba tanks into sustainable and luminously colorful works.

Through his original creations, Danilo draws attention to the Florida Keys’ underwater marine life with brilliant paintings of marlin, whales, dolphins, grouper, sea turtles and coral.

Danilo hails from a large Key West–rooted family that includes a brother and 12 first cousins. As a student in the island city, he was known for winning school art contests.

After high school, Danilo held a variety of jobs that included working at a yacht club kitchen and his family’s plumbing business. Today, he paints during about half of his working time and also tackles landscape design projects.

Now 35 years old, Danilo began painting scuba tanks about five years ago after a client suggested it as a commission. One collector, who doesn’t dive, has purchased five. The artist also paints spearfishing guns, guitars and canvas works.

Inspired by internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland, Danilo has collaborated with Hawaii-based artist Walfrido Garcia on a dive tank project on the Big Island and Maui. Danilo also created a colorful abstract 4-by-7.5-foot painting in the lobby of the Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida.

“I believe art can be taught, but I also believe you are born with (a talent),” he said. “I’m self-taught, but always learning new things.”

Although he recently purchased property in Port Charlotte, Florida, where some of his family members are relocating, Danilo can be found frequently around town and at Art on Duval Key West at 714 Duval St.

He and wife Ashley have three children: Alina, 14; Danilo, 11; and Austin, 7. In the near future, he hopes to open his own gallery.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Keys and why? 

Danilo Alayon: I was born in Key West in 1987. My home has always been Key West.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you? 

DA: The preservation of our coral reefs. Without them, all life would cease to exist. The coral reefs are also what give the Florida Keys their special beauty.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world? 

DA: My inspiration for creating my artwork is highly influenced by the creation all around us. I also have been inspired to create by spending many hours with my grandfather Danny Acosta, who is a sign painter and who has made his mark in Key West for many years. He is the original creator and painter of the Southernmost Point buoy that every tourist stops to take a picture with. 

KV: How does that passion influence your work? 

DA: When I create new pieces of art, it doesn’t feel like a job. I only paint from personal inspiration, without a deadline, so that the work doesn’t feel forced.

KV: What are some ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with or help to protect the local environment and unique lifestyle? 

DA: I hope that people will fall in love with the marine life and seascape pieces I create and see the beauty this world has to offer. It may move them to recycle more or leave less of a carbon footprint. In one way, I am trying to do this personally by painting old scuba tanks instead of them being trashed into a huge landfill. I create works of art that people can enjoy in their homes for many years.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged or focused on your path? 

DA: My family and the natural world of the Keys help to provide inspiration.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish? 

DA: Change, so that our children grow up and are able to experience the beauty of creation.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys? 

DA: Fishing, diving and spending time with family at the beach.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter? 

DA: Awareness that we all can do a little — and if we all do a little, in turn we will accomplish a lot.

Whether you’re pining for a Keys vacation but can’t get away quite yet, or are prepping for an upcoming trip to the island chain, you’ll want to watch “The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise,” slated to debut this spring on Public Broadcasting Service channels across the U.S.

The fascinating 60-minute TV documentary explores the culture and history of the Keys from the early 1800s to the present. It was produced by South Florida PBS for broadcast during the island chain’s bicentennial year — this year — that commemorates the Florida Legislature’s establishment of Monroe County on July 3, 1823.

The program (partially underwritten by the Keys tourism council) takes you on a journey through the region’s dramatic history, seen through the eyes of residents who live and interpret that history every day.

Topics include the Florida Keys’ booms and busts, cultural and artistic expression, sport fishing and community leaders, industries like shipwreck salvage, natural disasters and renewal, environmental conservation and the legacy of Black pioneers.

Comments from Keys historians and others introduce viewers to the human side of the island chain’s two centuries of history — giving the story a deeply personal flavor.

“The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise” is to be distributed nationally by American Public Television beginning March 1, and it’s expected to air on some 249 public television stations around the country. So check your local listings for scheduled airtimes to make sure you don’t miss it.

Meanwhile, three events are slated in Key West that showcase different elements of the Keys’ intriguing two-century cultural heritage.

Presidents in Paradise. Descendants of former president Harry S. Truman and five other U.S. commanders in chief will discuss their famous relatives and American bipartisanship Saturday, Feb. 18, at Key West’s Harry S. Truman Little White House.

The Presidential Family Forum is the centerpiece of Presidents Day weekend activities at the 111 Front St. residence — the place where Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration. Today the property is Florida’s only presidential museum.

In addition, Clifton Truman Daniel (former President Truman’s oldest grandson) will star as his grandfather in the one-man play “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” Sunday and Monday, Feb. 19-20. A seasoned actor and author, Clifton is the first direct descendant to portray a presidential ancestor in a stage production — and this one is absolutely unforgettable.

A Conch-Centric Celebration. Join several dozen other people and attempt to “blow your own horn” in Key West Saturday, March 4, during a celebration of the Florida Keys’ rich history known as the Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

In the 19th century, when Key West’s economy was largely based on salvaging cargoes from sinking ships, seafarers used the conch’s fluted pink-lined shells as signaling devices — blowing piercing blasts to attract attention. Today native-born residents refer to themselves as Conchs and the Florida Keys island chain is often called the Conch Republic.

The “conch honk” challenge is presented each spring by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Key West. In the lush garden of the island’s Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St., entrants vie to see who can coax the most impressive sounds from their “instrument.”

Remembering Tennessee. Internationally renowned playwright Tennessee Williams, who lived in Key West for more than 30 years, once said of his chosen home, “I work everywhere, but I work best here.” Explore his writing and life in the island city during the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration, with events scheduled throughout March.

Expected highlights include guided curator tours of the Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Ave. Birthday month activities also include screenings of films based on Williams’ plays, a walking tour of the playwright’s Key West, a lecture and readings, a theater production and a commemoration of the 112th anniversary of Williams’ March 26 birth.

What else is going on in Key West and the Keys over the next few months? Just check here — and then catch the PBS documentary and begin planning your next visit.

Want to help celebrate the 20th “birthday” of the fabulous Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory? Then be at 1316 Duval St. between midmorning and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, for a kid-centric family fun day and free admission to the renowned attraction.

Twenty years ago, in January 2003, business partners George Fernandez and Sam Trophia debuted the 13,000-square-foot Key West facility — a wonderland devoted to the creatures sometimes called “flowers of the sky.”

The founders’ goal was simple yet profound: to educate and inspire visitors, who typically range from tiny children to seniors, by providing a close-up look at the incredible wonders of the butterfly world. Today, 20 years later, the conservatory still does just that.

In a climate-controlled 5,000-square-foot glass-enclosed habitat, it houses many hundreds of live butterflies from more than 60 species, plus over 20 varieties of exotic birds, in a breathtaking tropical garden that calls to mind a perfect, unspoiled rainforest.

Entering the facility, you’ll first explore educational displays that offer insights into aspects of the butterfly’s life — identification and country of origin, anatomy and physiology, and the awe-inspiring annual migration of the Monarchs.

But you’ll really feel the magic when you step into the butterfly habitat itself. There you can stroll among hundreds of delicate winged creatures, ranging from the glittering Blue Morpho to the vivid Emerald Swallowtail, as they soar and dip and dance between thousands of tropical plants and trees. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re following their mesmerizing flight — and if you’re lucky, one of the colorful “flowers” might flutter to rest briefly on your arm or shoulder.

However, that’s not all. In one corner of the habitat, you can watch butterflies actually being born — getting a rare glimpse of the hatching process through the wide windows of the “miracle of metamorphosis” observatory.

Actually, the “hatching” of the center was as intricate and intriguing as that of a butterfly. George and Sam spent many years planning it, took research trips to 13 butterfly facilities throughout the world, and invested significant amounts of money and creativity into making it as perfect as possible.

In July of 2013, some other unique creatures joined the butterflies at the acclaimed attraction: two pink flamingos.

A male and a female, the breathtaking pink birds were bred in Toronto. Coincidentally, since the species is often associated with love and romance, the pair was born on Valentine’s Day 2012. Ultimately, they were dubbed Rhett and Scarlett.

Visitors can watch the lovely birds in their private pond as they “dance” — gently moving their feet to stir up food in the water — and enjoy their lives in the rainforest-like habitat.

As well as flamingos and butterflies, the conservatory also houses a stunning collection of Sam Trophia’s butterfly art. He has spent more than three decades preserving the beauty of the winged creatures in original artwork.

If you’re in Key West for the Jan. 21 “birthday party,” as well as viewing the conservatory’s inhabitants you can enjoy crafts and activities for kids and families, picnic-style food, games, giveaways and plenty of other fun for all ages.

But if you can’t be there in January, don’t worry — the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is open year-round with offerings that include daily explorations, guided twilight tours and super-popular small-group “flamingle” encounters with Rhett and Scarlett.

So get a VIP preview here, and put the natural wonderland on the must-see list for your next trip to Key West. You’ll be SO glad you did!

Ever since the Florida Keys were settled two centuries ago, the island chain has been known for its residents’ adventurous seafaring spirit. Today, that spirit remains among the Keys’ most appealing attributes. And contemporary visitors can find it in museums and attractions, tales of sunken treasure and dive trips to famed shipwreck sites.

Many early settlers in Islamorada and Key West were wreckers — salvaging goods from ships that sank along the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which runs parallel to the Keys. While the wreckers’ strict code mandated rescuing crews and passengers first, they also profited from salvaged cargo. In the mid-1800s, wrecking made Key West the wealthiest city per capita in the U.S.

Keys visitors can relive that era at the Upper Keys’ Indian Key Historic State Park, a small island that was once a busy port established by wrecker Jacob Housman in the 1800s, or at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, featuring re-enactors and salvaged artifacts.

A century earlier, fleets of Spanish galleons regularly sailed past the Keys carrying goods and treasures from the New World back to Spain. Many sank in the area, including 13 ships from Spain’s 1733 fleet.

Among the galleons was La Capitana, the flagship of the 1733 fleet, which sank off the Upper Keys. In the late 1930s, pioneering diver Art McKee began salvaging the vessel’s remains — recovering cannons, silver and gold coins, weapons, navigational instruments and silver bars.

Dubbed the father of modern treasure diving, McKee also uncovered the sites of the Infante, Herrera, Chaves, San Pedro and San José. His exploits are chronicled in a remarkable exhibit at the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada.

The Keys’ most famous wreck is immortalized at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The museum showcases artifacts and treasures from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost in a 1622 hurricane and discovered off Key West in 1985 by shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher. Items on display include gold chains, cannons, navigational instruments, coins and heavy silver bars.

Today’s adventurers can indulge their own seafaring spirit by diving the Keys’ Shipwreck Heritage Trail. Featuring nine wreck sites stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the trail was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to spotlight the island chain’s rich maritime history.

Its wrecks range from McKee’s San Pedro to modern cargo and military ships and artificial reefs. Among them is the Thunderbolt, intentionally sunk in 1986 some 4 miles south of Marathon in 120 feet of water.

Three other significant vessels also beckon Keys divers. The 510-foot Spiegel Grove, the third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to create a new reef, is positioned about 6 miles off Key Largo in 130 feet of water. It has attracted divers, fish and other marine life since its 2002 sinking.

The 210-foot freighter Adolphus Busch Senior lies in Lower Keys waters approximately 5 miles southwest of Big Pine Key. Divers have been exploring the artificial reef since it was sunk in 1998.

The second-largest vessel ever to be sunk as an artificial reef is the 523-foot General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, scuttled in 2009 about 7 miles off Key West. Its hull rests on sand at depths averaging 145 feet, but its superstructure rises to about 45 feet below the surface.

Only a few ships that sank in Florida Keys waters carried gold or other rich cargoes. But from Spanish galleons to modern-day artificial reefs, they all offer treasured adventures for divers.

To start the New Year off on a tasty note, Keys Voices presents a VIP preview of an upcoming culinary extravaganza written by travel blogger, cookbook author, adventurer and longtime Key West resident Donna Shields.

Donna’s own blog, Open Mind Adventure, is for those seeking the hidden gems of travel. For example, check out her 17 Best Key West Happy Hours for 2023 … but first, tempt your appetite with her insights here on one of Key West’s leading annual events.

If you’ve ever wanted to savor and sip the foods and wines of Argentina, that’s exactly what you can do at the 2023 Key West Food & Wine Festival, set for Jan. 25-29 on the subtropical island at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys.

Now in its 14th year, the festival is sponsored by Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty and has won accolades from around the U.S. Most recently, it was named the  Best Wine Fest of 2022 in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.

With a “Viva Argentina” theme this year, the agenda is jam-packed with events for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike — all taking place at enticing Key West hotspots and landmarks. Event tickets can be purchased individually, but hurry because this much fun won’t be available for long.

Wednesday, Jan. 25: The fun kicks off with a Malbec tasting led by a Master Sommelier, one of only 269 in the world today, and she will be available throughout the entire festival. Once you wet your whistle at the tasting, head over to the Welcome Reception and Carnival de Buenos Aires. The Gaucho Parade culminates with an extravagant party with handpicked wines from Argentina at the outdoor restaurant Viva Argentinian Steakhouse.

Thursday, Jan. 26: Master the art of making empanadas at the Empanada Making, Eating & Wine Lunch at Frita’s Garden. Now that’s a way to spend the afternoon! The evening’s star attraction is the Che Guevara Piattelli Vineyard Wine Dinner at the Banyan Tree Garden, where the theme is “From Argentine Marxism to Cuban Revolution.” A unique feature of this stunning event is that it’s produced totally by females, from the winemaker to the sommelier to the chef to the food historian.

Friday, Jan. 27: Chimichurri, the national sauce of Argentina, gets top billing at the Choripan & Chimichurri Lunch at Viva Argentinian Steakhouse. It’s a fiesta of sparkling wine and the beloved chorizo sausage. The evening event, held at the one-of-a-kind Lost Beach at Island Farm, is a traditional asado (the Argentine version of a BBQ) paying homage to Francis Mallmann, one of Argentina’s celebrity chefs.

Saturday, Jan. 28: Because the Thursday empanada-making event sold out so quickly, it’s been scheduled again for Saturday. And further demonstrating the popularity of these events, the Eva Peron Wine Lunch, held in the garden of the historic Audubon House & Tropical Gardens, is also sold out. Instead, foodies can savor the evening’s SLaM Grand Tasting at the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, where wines from the San Juan, La Rioja and Mendoza regions will be featured alongside a curated selection of traditional foods.

(And FYI, because chimichurri will be served at multiple events throughout the festival, guests can vote on their favorite chef and version of the sauce for a chance to win a prize.)

Sunday, Jan. 29: The flavorful festival is capped by the Last Tango in Cayo Hueso Brunch, complete with tango dancers, at KAYA Island Eats’ Gran Patio Trasero. The featured beverage is at the Yerba Mate Ritual Bar, where you’ll learn how to make your own tea-like infusion from the traditional leaves. And a leisurely afternoon at the food and wine edition of the Key West Artisan Market, held directly across from the oceanfront Higgs Beach, is the perfect way to wind up your visit.

If you can’t make it to Key West this month for the Food & Wine Festival, put it on your calendar for January 2024. And in the meantime, check out the great food and drink to explore throughout the Florida Keys.

Captain Matthew “Matt” Bellinger grew up in Sandy Springs, Georgia, studied marine science at the University of Tampa, traveled as a divemaster after college and clearly remembers the “aha!” moment that prompted his move to the Florida Keys.

“It was during a dive trip visit to the original Mrs. Mac’s over conch fritters, fresh mahi-mahi and iced tea with lime,” Matt recalled. “I said, ‘I’m going to come to the Keys to live.’”

At age 27, Matt bought Ocean Quest Dive Center in Islamorada. He operated it until 1998, when he sold it to staff.

Today his company Bamboo Charters is known for family fishing charters out of World Wide Sportsman in Islamorada. The company specializes in family trips and fun day adventures as well as backcountry, tarpon and shark fishing excursions — and one targeting redfish, snook and trout.

Matt, who describes himself as “240 pounds of mama’s boy,” grew up in an outdoors-loving family of “water people” with four siblings at least 20 years older. He earned his dive certification in high school as a birthday gift from his parents.

He named Bamboo Charters as an “ode to his mother” after the bamboo forests of his home state. In the Keys, though, Matt is known for conducting onboard education about preservation and conservation of Florida Bay, its “sea grass prairies” and the delicate ecosystems of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

His fleet of three 25-foot Contender Bay Boats and a Parker 25 Center Console can comfortably accommodate families of two adults and four children.

The deep-voiced Matt is also known for his daily radio fishing reports on Sun103.1 and Thunder Country 100.3, two Keys FM stations.

He and wife Ana, an American Airlines flight attendant, live in Islamorada.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

Matt Bellinger: I first came to the Keys Thanksgiving weekend 1981. I came to complete my dive certification as an open water diver.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

MB: The wild side of the Florida Keys. The hardwood hammocks, down to mangrove shorelines then continuing out to the reefs, along with the wildlife that inhabit this area because they’re all reliant on each other.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world?

MB: My parents and two high school science teachers fueled my wonder of the outside world. My father always stressed “Harvest only what you will eat that day and minimize any negative impact on the environment around you.”

KV: How does that passion influence your work or profession?

MB: My love and passion for the marine environment motivate me to educate my clients and imbue them, hopefully, with the same desire to protect this environment.

KV: What are some of the ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with and/or help protect the local environment and unique lifestyle?

MB: I take the approach on my boat that part of my job is to educate, inform and inspire my clients to learn and care more about this unique marine environment here in the Keys — as well as hopefully letting others know what a unique and fragile place this really is.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged and focused on your path?

MB: Over the years, I’ve come to know individual dolphins and manatees. When I see “Croptop the Dolphin” or “Big Momma the Manatee,” it reinforces the need I feel to motivate people to become involved with and to care for this environment.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter?

MB: That people should try to minimize their negative impact on the environment around them.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys?

MB: Snorkeling a mangrove shoreline or reef. On land I like to walk the trails at local state parks in Monroe County.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish?

MB: At the end of the day, I hope to motivate my clients to be inspired to learn more and care more about the environment here in the Keys and back home. Clients are seeking experiences together; more and more are also seeking education. We all have stewardship within us.

Attention, watersports enthusiasts: boating, fishing and nautical merchandise galore will be available at the 19th annual Big Pine & Lower Keys Nautical Expo. A popular annual “pop-up” outfitter of supplies for a wide variety of water activities, the open-air market is set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14-15.

Running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, the event features items designed for sailors, boaters, anglers, kayakers and others who enjoy experiencing the Florida Keys’ unique seafaring environment — including, of course, divers and snorkelers immersed in the island chain’s fascinating underwater realm.

More than 100 vendors are expected to display and sell their wares at the event, which will be held on the grounds of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce visitor center (mile marker 31 oceanside on Big Pine Key).

As well as supplies for just about every watersports pursuit imaginable, expo attendees can also find items to enhance a comfortable Florida Keys lifestyle. And that’s not all — talented Keys artisans will be on hand offering colorful clothing, jewelry and other unique temptations.

In addition to the items for sale, the family-friendly event includes live music by local and regional musicians and bands. And attendees can savor vendors’ Keys-style and casual food and beverages too, adding a picnic vibe to the weekend of outdoor fun.

Admission to the Nautical Expo and parking are free, and proceeds from the enticing event benefit the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and its programs.

While the Expo takes place over a single January weekend each year, the Big Pine Key area also offers intriguing spots that can be explored at any time — some found in out-of-the-way places that seem worlds away from high-profile attractions and emporiums.

Lesser known and less visited, they’re wonderful settings for relaxing and discovering the quiet wonders of the Florida Keys environment.

For example, check out the Blue Hole. You’ll find this secluded oasis off Key Deer Boulevard at mile marker 30.5 bayside. An abandoned quarry with a layer of fresh water floating over salt water, the Blue Hole is attractive to a wide variety of wildlife.

Tiny Key deer drink there, and the watering hole’s other denizens include turtles, snakes, birds, fish and even the occasional alligator.

There’s a great view from the observation platform — or venture along the walking trail that leads deeper into the wild. Beyond the Blue Hole lie the hardwoods and subtropical foliage of Watson’s Hammock.

And no visit to the Big Pine area would be complete without a stop at Grimal Grove. The historic 2-acre tropical fruit grove, lying near mile marker 30.5, was first owned by inventor and recluse Adolf Grimal, who amassed hundreds of rare fruit trees and created raised garden beds and waterways for irrigation.

After his 1997 death, the property fell into a shambles. In 2013 Patrick Garvey and Growing Hope Initiative restored it as a tropical fruit park.

Today, under Patrick’s stewardship, Grimal Grove is believed to be the continental United States’ first and only breadfruit grove.

It features more than 30 breadfruit trees of five varieties — which not only can provide quality nourishment, but also are being used in the production of a specialty breadfruit vodka!

Guided excursions of Grimal Grove, showcasing subtropical and tropical fruits, frees and plants, are offered on request for $20 per person.

Want to know more about the one-of-a-kind attractions to be found in Big Pine and the Lower Keys? Just click here.

Sunny, breezy subtropical holidays in the Florida Keys & Key West are filled with warmth and good cheer throughout the 125-mile-long island chain. From Key Largo to Key West, the 2022 holiday season features spirited events such as lighted boat parades, historic inn tours, only-in-the Keys frivolity, sparkling waterfront celebrations and other island festivities.

In the weeks leading up to the holidays, check out the enchanting events listed here.

Now through Dec. 10: Zonta’s Festival of Trees. The Zonta Club of Marathon, a women’s service organization, offers a free-admission display of decorated trees at its 12th Annual Festival of Trees at Marathon Garden Club, 5270 Overseas Highway. Attractions also include “Lunch with the Grinch” Saturday, Dec. 10. The upscale ticketed “Toast to the Season” is scheduled that evening at the garden club with champagne, music, libations and tasty treats. A drawing for all trees and holiday baskets is set for 9 p.m. While admission to the Festival of Trees is free, raffle tickets can be purchased for a chance to win a favorite tree.

Now through Dec. 23: Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tours. The popular green and orange trolleys, festively adorned with holiday lights, showcase Key West’s best-decorated neighborhoods, buildings and homes on fun-filled 60-minute excursions. Tours depart each evening from the island city’s Mallory Square at 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 9: Key West Art & Historical Society Holiday Bazaar. The Key West Art & Historical Society hosts its sixth annual concert and holiday shopping event on the sweeping porch and walkway of the historic Custom House Museum at 281 Front St. The 5-9 p.m. free-admission event features a holiday light show produced by Key West High School’s Conch 5 Studios, unique gifts crafted by local artisans, musicians, choirs, food, libations and photos with Santa.

Dec. 9, 10 and 11: Lighted Boat Parades. Lighted and festively decorated boats, from fishing craft and cruisers to tall ships, are to cruise waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Celebrate the season with the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of Stock Island (Dec. 9); the Key Largo Boat Parade on Blackwater Sound, themed “A Cartoon Christmas”; the Schooner Wharf Bar/Absolut Vodka Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 10) around the Key West Historic Seaport and harbor; or the Key Colony Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Dec. 11).

Dec. 9 and 16: Holiday Historic Inn Tours. Old Town Key West is filled with unique historic inns, and two Friday evenings of 6-8 p.m. tours offer a chance to glimpse lavish decorations and experience holiday cheer, treats at bed-and-breakfast properties and two popular Key West attractions.

Dec. 10: Pops in the Park Concert “Joy to the World.” Islamorada’s family-friendly, free-admission holiday concert, themed “Joy to the World,” offers traditional and pops music by the Florida Keys Community Concert Band. The Burton Bell Ringers are to be special guests. Attendees can bring chairs and blankets to the 4-5 p.m. outdoor concert at Founders Park’s amphitheater, mile marker 87 bayside.

Dec. 11: Christmas on the Sheriff’s Animal Farm. Children and adults love visiting the unique Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, just northeast of Key West at 5501 College Road on Stock Island. The farm, open 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, is educational for visitors and a haven for feathered, furry and fluffy creatures that are nurtured and cared for by jail inmates. Holiday highlights include photos with Santa.

Dec. 15: Third Thursday Art Walk. Showcasing the area’s fine arts, music and culinary nuances, Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts & Cultural District features national and local artisans whose work is showcased in galleries at Morada Way between mile markers 81 and 82, as well as beer tastings and live music. Admission is free to this outdoor pre-holiday celebration. The 6-9 p.m. Art Walk is held the third Thursday of each month.

Dec. 17: Winter Wonderland at Crane Point. At Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Trails, 5550 Overseas Highway in Marathon, families can enjoy an evening winter wonderland. Attractions are to include reindeer ponies and Santa Claus, holiday decorations, a chocolate fountain, other seasonal treats and libations for purchase — plus a forecast of snow!

While this listing outlines a handful of the Florida Keys’ seasonal highlights, there are plenty of other colorful festivities to enjoy as well. A complete roster of holiday activities and special events throughout the Keys can be viewed here.

Maybe it’s because the Florida Keys, the southernmost islands in the continental United States, have never experienced a traditional white Christmas. Or it might be simply because Keys residents love to celebrate special occasions.

But whatever the reason, despite our subtropical climate, we go a little overboard with our holiday decorations (if you’ve ever seen an inflatable 10-foot-tall reindeer perched atop a small houseboat, you’ll know what I mean) and throw ourselves gleefully into extended merrymaking.

In fact, from Key Largo to Key West, the calendar is packed with events designed to spread seasonal cheer — including a traditional Islamorada favorite that features actual snow.

Yes, despite the Keys’ typically balmy winter temperatures, grownups and kids of all ages can delight in snow Friday, Dec. 2, during Islamorada’s annual Florida Keys Holiday Fest.

It takes place on the beach at Founders Park (located at mile marker 87 bayside), and its anticipated highlight is a 30-ton snow mountain that’s perfect for making subtropical snowballs (and taking snow-covered selfies!). The fun is set for 4-10 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to enjoy it.

But that’s not the only snow sighting you can expect at the seasonal celebration. Organizers are also planning a 35-foot-tall tree with “magical” snow blowing from its branches — and its ceremonial lighting is slated for 6 p.m., shortly after sunset.

Plus don’t miss the festive parade, now in its 18th year. The 2022 parade is themed “Celebrating the Holidays Through the Centuries (1823-2023)” in honor of the upcoming 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Keys’ Monroe County.

Scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., the parade will feature decorated floats, marching bands, antique cars and (of course) an appearance by jolly old St. Nick and his reindeer, who will make their grand entrance in a fire truck fully decked out for the holidays.

Musical and dance performances are to enliven the outdoor stage throughout the festival — along with contests to choose “Miss Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Mister Gingerbread Man,” and the top three and “people’s choice” for the elaborate (and delicious) gingerbread house entries.

Well-behaved four-legged companions are welcome to join two-legged “party animals” on the stage as they prance in their own Santa Paws Pet Parade and vie for prizes for best (ahem!) doggone holiday attire.

The on-site bazaar promises gift items, jewelry, crafts, baked goods and gourmet baskets — a great opportunity to find that perfect item for someone special. The highly anticipated ornament silent auction features 50 hand-painted ceramic pieces created and donated by local artists. You can bid on these one-of-a-kind Keys keepsakes until 9 p.m.

As if all that isn’t enough, adults can sample a wide variety of food items, enjoy hot buttered rum and craft beer, or sip fine wines at the always popular Vino Village. And Santa’s Sweet Shoppe will offer tempting coffees, decadent desserts and treats.

Admission to the evening of revelry is free. (FYI, the festival is also plastic-free — so please bring a reusable non-glass drink container if possible.)

Enjoyable as it always is, Holiday Fest is just one of the upcoming island-style celebrations of the season. Between now and the new year, you’ll find events designed to jingle your bells all around the Florida Keys. “Keys Voices” will present highlights in the future posts — but you can get a preview by checking out the calendar here.

A group of 15 young rescued sea turtles (one of them a tiny baby) was recently released in Gulf Stream waters off Key West by a dedicated duo from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital — and they were assisted in this worthy endeavor by members of a powerboat racing team who were on the island to compete in the sport’s world championship.

The released reptiles included a juvenile green sea turtle dubbed “Ian” for Hurricane Ian, whose tropical storm-force winds brushed the Key West area in late September.

The little guy was found buried in about a foot of seaweed by a family cleaning up around a boat ramp after the storm — so 8-year-old Khannan Mellies and his family promptly named their unexpected “guest” Ian and reached out to the Turtle Hospital.

The Turtle Hospital’s manager, Bette Zirkelbach, reported that Ian and three other green sea turtles, three hawksbills and eight loggerheads were all released Nov. 12 into a sargassum weed line about 20 miles off Key West in the Gulf Stream. (Sargassum acts as camouflage for young turtles, so it’s an ideal habitat for their stage of life.)

According to Bette, Ian and most of his cohorts were “washbacks” — a term for turtles washed ashore from the Gulf Stream by a storm’s wind and water action. All were cared for at the Turtle Hospital after being found.

The turtles were carried to the release point by a fleet mate of the 39-foot TS Motorsports MTI powerboat that was competing in the 450R Factory Stock class in Race World Offshore’s 2022 Key West Offshore World Championship.

Helping with the release were Taylor Scism, driver of the boat during the championship series; her father Randy Scism, a veteran powerboat racer; Captain Jack Carlson; and Turtle Hospital founder and director Richie Moretti.

The world’s first veterinary facility of its kind, the Turtle Hospital has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for over 30 years. It’s located in Marathon, at mile marker 48.5 on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, and visiting it provides an inspiring example of environmental passion in action.

Daily educational tours introduce visitors to the resident sea turtles (some are recovering “patients,” and some are permanent inhabitants whose conditions make their release impossible), as well as the hospital’s healing programs for loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley turtles.

In addition to their curative efforts, founders and staff work tirelessly to raise public awareness about sea turtles and their needs, collaborate with state universities on sea turtle research, and work toward environmental legislation that makes the beaches and water safer and cleaner for their charges.

The longstanding relationship between the hospital and Florida Keys powerboat race organizers was built on a mutual desire to safeguard the sea turtles, manatees and dolphins that inhabit Keys waters. Before and during each race in the annual championship series, Richie and Bette scan the racecourse from a helicopter to spot any marine wildlife that might be on or near it.

Race World Offshore’s Key West Offshore World Championship wrapped up Sunday, Nov. 13 — and TS Motorsports, with Taylor Scism driving and legendary racer John Tomlinson as throttleman, won the championship in their class.

But despite that impressive victory, the biggest “winners” during the team’s Key West sojourn were clearly Ian and his fellow turtles — who are beginning a new life in the Gulf Stream, thanks to the good-hearted racers and the dedicated group from the Turtle Hospital.