Lying just across Cow Key Channel from Key West, Stock Island is the heart of the Florida Keys’ commercial shrimping industry — alive with vibrant marinas, renegade arts emporiums and inviting waterfront bars and restaurants. And visitors can explore the cheerfully rustic community Friday though Sunday, Nov. 25-27, during the first-ever I Love Stock Island Festival.
Visitors can stroll Stock Island’s marinas, art studios, and working waterfront during the Thanksgiving weekend festival. (Photo by Rob O’Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)
The lighthearted Thanksgiving weekend festival celebrates Stock Island’s culture and heritage — with yummy culinary offerings featuring fresh-off-the-boat seafood, wine and beer tastings, history and art studio tours, watersports, live music, and lots of other elements that showcase the eclectic island and its working waterfront.
The fun was conceived by Bobby Mongelli, who also created the Hogfish Bar & Grill — a funky, quintessentially casual hotspot on the water in Stock Island’s Safe Harbor area.
Notables who have ventured out to Stock Island to savor the fresh fish and seafood at the Hogfish (most sitting on the dock overlooking picturesque houseboats and sailboats) include trop-rock legend Jimmy Buffett and his fellow musicians, congressmen and senators, and other celebrities ranging from Travel Channel food guru Andrew Zimmern to Sam Champion of “Good Morning America.”
But Stock Island’s unique heritage dates back to an era far before the Keys attained their quirky contemporary fame. Local lore says Safe Harbor was a staging area for the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, and a ferry that once connected Key West and Havana departed from a dock across from the Hogfish.
Stock Island remains the heart of the Keys’ commercial shrimping industry. (Photo courtesy of the Hogfish Bar & Grill)
Stock Island’s strong seaport tradition is evidenced by the commercial shrimp boats tied up at its docks, and the sight of shrimpers offloading masses of sweet Key West pink shrimp.
It’s also a haven for independent young artists, such as those who founded the thriving COAST enclave. And its marinas are headquarters to world-class charter fishing captains and frequented by dedicated anglers.
So that’s the authentic, working-class seafaring atmosphere that the I Love Stock Island Festival celebrates — and everyone who wants to experience the community and its easygoing pleasures is invited to join in.
Planned highlights include a delicious Friday night fish fry at Stock Island Marina Village. The picnic-style event will include favorites ranging from grilled shrimp and fried snapper to local Cuban-influenced specialties and dishes with a Caribbean or Jamaican flair. Other attractions include dancing, libations, vendors’ wares and dock tours.
On Saturday, attendees can enjoy all-day “Discover Stock Island” explorations via trolley, bicycle or on foot — plus open houses at local galleries, restaurants and attractions. They can even follow a pirate map and search for “treasure” prizes (honest!) along the way.
COAST founder and artisan Billy Kearins works on a surfboard at his Stock Island arts enclave.
Saturday evening brings the super-flavorful “Taste of Stock Island,” a showcase of local cuisine beginning at 5:30 p.m. Traveling on trolleys, guests stop at six Stock Island restaurants to savor small plates and beverage pairings at each location. For enthusiastic foodies, this is a can’t-miss event.
Sunday’s festival schedule features another “moveable feast” — this one for bicycle riders. Participants can bring their own bikes or rent from Stock Island’s We Cycle to experience the Stock Rock & Roll Bike Brunch Ride. Set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, the palate-pleasing pedal includes brunch items at five (or more!) local emporiums.
As if that’s not mouthwatering enough, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, shrimp aficionados can savor a traditional Florida Keys shrimp boil at Bobby Mongelli’s landmark Hogfish Bar & Grill.
But even that’s not all. Other weekend events include a Stock Island history tour, musical offerings, happy hours and late-night gatherings.
And don’t miss the festival finale — a gala popup dinner dubbed “Woodfired BubbleQ,” at 7 p.m. Sunday at Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria.
