Beachin’ Fest in Key Largo November 8 - 10
October 31st, 2007
Key Largo, Florida Keys - Fans of exceptional food, lively libations and seafaring shenanigans on boats made of cardboard can enjoy all three during Key Largo’s Beachin’ Fest, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 8-10.
The 26th annual Key Largo Cook-off is set for 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Holiday Inn Key Largo Resort & Marina, mile marker (MM) 100 oceanside. The popular annual event draws local amateur and professional chefs to tempt and tease party-goers’ taste buds, who pay $15 per person to sample Key Largo’s best culinary creations in five categories: soups and chowders, appetizers, sides and salads, entrees and desserts.
Presented by the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, the fun-filled fest is to include competitions for cooking, margarita mixing, and racing cardboard craft. The grand finale is to showcase a sport Keys visitors have likely never seen — freestyle canoeing, which is described as ballet on the water.
The competitive frenzy focuses on libations Friday, Nov. 9, during the “Mixing Madness.” Set for 7 p.m. at Bay Harbor Resort, MM 97.7 bayside, the event is to draw professional and backyard drink mixers to compete for prizes for mixing the best margarita, mojito and martini.
Food and calypso-style music are planned to round out the evening’s action. Cost to attend is $50 per person, and suggested attire is beach formal. A contest is planned to determine the best “Beachin’” costume in men’s and women’s divisions.
Beachin’ Fest activities are to culminate Saturday, Nov. 10, with a casual day of free activities at the Caribbean Club, MM 104 bayside, starting at 11 a.m.
Highlights are to include the Taste of Key Largo, where attendees can sample local restaurants’ signature dishes at colorful on-site booths.
The third annual Cardboard Boat Race is set for 2 p.m. Previous cardboard sailors have come dressed as pirates, but the primary goal for contestants is to launch and try to stay upright. Trophies await the team whose boat stays afloat for the longest time.
Other activities include music and children’s beach games.
The fest is to culminate in a freestyle canoe dancing demonstration at sunset, performed by the reigning national freestyle canoeing champion, Karen Knight, and her partner Bob Foote. Performed to music, freestyle canoeing is most often done at night — and it has been described as being much like gymnastics or ballet performed with a canoe.
For festival details and information on area accommodations, call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at (800) 822-1088 or (305) 451-4747, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.
