Vendor Info | Nonprofit Exhibitor Info | Event Information | Contact Us | How You’re Helping

Mote Marine Laboratory’s 2018 Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration

Underwater and outdoor enthusiasts, eco­travelers and families are encouraged to celebrate the marine environment at Mote Marine Laboratory's annual event, Mote’s Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration. Proceeds and donations from the festival support Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral reef restoration and research programs. The family-friendly fun will take place Saturday, Dec. 1,2018 at Founders Park in Islamorada, Village of Islands (87000 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us for a day of fun, crafts, games, music, food, and shopping as we showcase our treasured marine environment while raising money for coral reef research and restoration. Mote’s Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration attendees can explore conservation and environmental exhibits, meet live animals and experience touch tanks, view and purchase wares from local marine artists and vendors, enjoy music, try their skill at active amusements and bid on silent auction items. Meet Mote scientists and researchers, along with other conservation and environmental organizations from around Florida to learn about the work they are doing and how you can help.


Find all of your 2018 event details on vendors and exhibitors in attendance, live music, silent auction items, food & beverage, and a children's fishing clinic!

Vendor Info

Mote's Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration is now recruiting vendors for our December 2018 Islamorada event. Sign up to join others selling food, homemade crafts, art, jewelry and other merchandise. Have a fun children's activity? Please join us as a vendor!

Want to become a vendor?



Nonprofit Exhibitor Info

The two elements that have made Mote a world-renowned entity capable of bringing meaningful change to the oceans are our research and the scientists conducting it every day. We want to partner with likeminded organizations to raise awareness to the public on the work we do, and how we can work together to help further our mission: The advancement of marine and environmental sciences through scientific research, education and public outreach leading to new discoveries, revitalization and sustainability of our oceans and greater public understanding of our marine resources.

Event Information

Please stay tuned for a full list of event details including information on vendors, exhibitors, performers, raffle items and other activities.

Children's Fishing Clinics

Please stay tuned for more information on fishing clinic details and registration.

A special Thank You to Coastal Conservation Association Florida for donating the rods.

Thank you to our 2018 Key West Ocean Fest Sponsors.

Thank you to our 2018 Key West Ocean Fest Partners.

A big thank-you to all of our partners who help to make this event possible.

Contact Us

Do you have questions about Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration? Do you want to know how you can sponsor or partner with Mote for the event? Are you interested in volunteering your time? Please contact us!

Vendors, Exhibitors, Entertainment
Amy Hernden
ahernden@mote.org
941-356-0964

Auction/Raffle Volunteer
Allison Delashmit
allisond@mote.org
305-509-9141

How You're Helping

Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration is an annual outreach event that takes place in the Florida Keys to raise awareness of the work Mote Marine Laboratory is doing for coral reef research & restoration, and its more than a dozen other research programs, along with the work of likeminded partner environmental organizations. The funds raised through Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration go directly to help fund coral reef research & restoration programs.

By attending Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration, you are already taking a step toward understanding the commitment it takes to positively affect the world around us – both on land and sea. We ask that you take the time to share this information with your friends, family, and loved ones so we all may inspire those around us and generations to come.

For each Protect Our Reefs license plate sold, Mote’s Protect Our Reefs program receives a direct $25 donation. This donation funding goes straight to the restoration and research of our coral reefs so the more plates that are sold, the faster we can restore our coral reefs.

If you would like to take the next step in your commitment, please consider further involvement with Mote through any of the following:

If you don’t live in the state of Florida and cannot attend Ocean Fest: A Community Celebration but want to support coral research and restoration, click the orange GIVE NOW button at the top of the page to donate!


See more from Dr. Dave Vaughan in this Documentary by The Atlantic, A Coral Reef Revival http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/423696/a-coral-reef-revival