About fifty artists are expected to participate in the ornament competition and the online auction to be held at 17e Annual Islamorada Holiday Festival on Friday December 3. The event, hosted by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. that evening on the beach at Founders Park.
“I love creating an ornament for the festival because it’s a fun way to kick off the season and get into the holiday spirit,” said Amy JoAn, this year’s featured artist, whose ornament, “Snowy Festivities” represents the festival itself created against a starry seabed ready to be admired and sold to the highest bidder. JoAn paints daily in her Amy’s Creations of the Florida Keys gallery at Rain Barrel in Islamorada.
In preparation for the auction, which is part of the festival’s gift bazaar, each artist received an unfinished ceramic piece to use as the basis for their original creation. Beyond that, the only design limit is their imagination.
The finished pieces will be judged and displayed throughout the festival, where they can be purchased by electronic auction at www.32auctions.com/ICC-2021. The auctions began on December 1 and end at 9 p.m. on the night of the festival. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the local arts community.
A true community event, the Islamorada Holiday Fest will feature a parade; visits and photos with Santa Claus; a 30-ton snow-capped mountain; a 35-foot tree blowing magical snow from its branches; the Holiday Bazaar; delicious food and drinks; and live performances on the holiday stage.
For more information call 305-664-4503 or stop by the Islamorada Visitors and Chamber of Commerce Center at the entrance to Founders Park, MM 87, bay side.
BOX OUT: 2021 Festival of trees
Do you dread decorating for Christmas? The Festival of Trees 2021 will see live tree watching during the 17th Annual Holiday Celebration at Founders Park on Friday, December 3 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The trees will be awarded to the highest bidder and delivered to their home (MM 75 to MM 106) the first week of December. The Festival of Trees will donate all proceeds to a Coral Shores Fellowship recipient pursuing a career in healthcare. To bid on trees, visit 32Auctions.com/FestivalofTrees-Keys.