Keys Weekly Newspapers

A guide to the holiday season the Keys 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 follow - written by locals, for locals. 🎄 Our tropical holidays may not look like the winter scenes on cards and commercials, but when have the Keys ever worried about “fitting in” with someone else’s image?! Our Holidays in the Keys guide brings you the real season: boat parades, craft fairs, pet photos with Santa, and the traditions locals actually celebrate. Inside, you’ll find: ➡️ Events worth going to across the islands ➡️ Local gift ideas you won’t find in the big box stores ➡️ Unique stories and traditions - #KeysStyle Grab the guide and experience the Keys’ holidays like someone who knows them best. We'll see you at the boat, bike, and hometown parade! #HolidaysInTheKeys #FloridaKeys #LocalGuide #InsiderTips #Keysmas #LocalMediaMatters

From our family to yours: wishing you a happy, healthy, and joy-filled Thanksgiving. 🦃 We couldn’t be more grateful for this incredible island community! 🙌 Not pictured: our amazing Paid Campaign Manager, Designers, and Accounting team - the backbone (or should we say turkey leg? 🍗) of @keysweekly and @overseasmediagroup !

And just like that, another @keysweekly ‘Best Of’ season comes to an end. ✨ Friday’s awards show was an unforgettable night filled with big laughs, familiar faces, and a room absolutely FULL of our Keys family. A huge thank you to everyone who made this evening possible: • To all of you who took the time to vote • To the businesses who work tirelessly year-round and earned a spot among the top three nominees • To the winners who continue to raise the bar for excellence in our Keys community • To our generous sponsors who make this event possible • To our beneficiary, @keysshelter , for the incredible work they continue to do for children in the Florida Keys • To @playalargo for hosting us, and to their staff who helped the night run seamlessly • To our photographers, Doug & Jackson, for capturing the night behind the lens • To @hollymerrillraschein and @karafranker for teaming up with our Keys Weekly and Overseas Media Group leaders to help present the awards • And to every single person who played a role in making this year’s event truly one to remember From the bottom of our hearts - thank you. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year! 🌟

The #BestOfUpperKeys winners have been chosen - and we’ll announce them THIS FRIDAY at the beautiful Playa Largo Resort & Spa! 🎉 You can continue to support this year’s beneficiary, @keysshelter , either at the Awards Ceremony or from home via silent auction (visit our Facebook page for the link!) Incredible prizes include: • Once-in-a-lifetime fishing experience on the "Miss Penny" • 1-night Luxury Stay at Playa Largo Resort & Spa • ‘Pawsitive’ Experience with foxes at @pawsitive_beginnings_inc • Private Pizza Party for Two Couples at Lynda & Richard Weinstein’s Key Largo home - homemade Neapolitan-style pizza, Italian appetizers, and sides • 4 tickets to any 9pm Mainstage Comedy show at @justthefunny • 7-week Level One Improv class at @justthefunny • A Cabernet Experience featuring 3 Cabernet Sauvignons and 4 Italian crystal wine glasses and decanter A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors helping us reach our $30,000 goal: @PlayaLargo | @HNOProductions | @BaptistHealthsf | @OceanSothebysrealty | @GoingAire_airconditioning | @firsthorizonbank | H&R Block Key Largo | @overseasmediagroup Stay tuned - we’ll share behind-the-scenes this weekend, the winner announcement digitally next Wednesday, and in print next Thursday. Let’s gooooo, UPPER KEYS! 🏆

It’s the final countdown! You’ve got just ✌️ days left to vote for the #BestofUpperKeys! VOTE 👉 keysweekly.com/buk25 On Friday, November 14th, we'll reveal the winners and celebrate our incredible community. A huge shoutout to our incredible sponsors - this event wouldn’t be possible without you! ⤵️ • @playlargo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection • @baptisthealthsf • @oceansothebysrealty • @goingaire_airconditioning • @firsthorizonbank • @hrblock • @hnoproductions • @OverseasMediaGroup 🗳️ Don’t forget: You must complete at least 75% of your ballot for your vote to count!

Only THREE days left to get your votes in for Best of the Upper Keys! 😱 Where’s your go-to gym? Favorite boutique? Fishing guide you trust with your secret spots? The happy hour that never disappoints? We want to know - no, scratch that - we need to know. Head to keysweekly.com/buk25/ every day until midnight on Nov. 2 to vote for your favorites! We’ll count ‘em up next week and celebrate at the Awards Ceremony on Nov. 14 at the amazing@playalargo . Ready? Set? VOTE! 🕺

Join us in wishing one of our fearless (and feeble?! 😂) leaders, Jason Koler, a VERY happy 50TH birthday!! 🎂 @keysweekly , the Best Ofs, and the Keys in general just wouldn’t be the same without him. His heart of gold and dedication to supporting both his team and our community are truly one of a kind. Happy birthday Jason, here's to MANY more! 🍻

Fun fact: there’s a reason the Florida Keys keep showing up in travel magazines as one of the top U.S. vacation destinations... Spoiler alert: it’s YOU (and you, and you...)! 🫵 Because as locals, we already know that it's the local spots, musicians, and businesses that make the Keys so special. So how about we give them a plaque to show for it?! Show some love to your favorites in the Best of Upper Keys 2025, now through November 2. Vote daily, vote often ➡️ keysweekly.com/buk25 #KeysLife #UpperKeysFavorites #SupportLocal

🚨 THE TIME HAS COME…for the last, but certainly not least, BIGGEST (and most official) POPULARITY CONTEST IN THE UPPER KEYS! 🎉 We’re thrilled to share the top 3 nominees in each category - a huge congratulations to everyone that made it to this round, welcome to the elite club of Upper Keys businesses that SLAYED in 2025! Check out all the nominees here 👉 keysweekly.com/buk25/ …and cast your vote to crown the Best of the Upper Keys 2025! Let’s be honest - everyone’s got opinions in the Keys. Talk is cheap. Now it’s time to make it official. 🗳️ Voting is THE BEST is OPEN! Nominate your favorites through November 2nd. Vote daily. Vote often. And don’t forget - at least 75% of your ballot needs to be filled for your vote to count. READY? SET? VOTE! 🔥

Let the 10 days of BEDTIME STORIES & MAGICAL begin!! 🎉 💭 👹 The Official Fantasy Fest Program is HERE ⤵️ /fantasy-fest-guide-2025/ This 2025 digital magazine is your ultimate guide to all things @officialfantasyfest . Inside, you’ll find the full event schedule, parade details, street closures, merch, maps, and insider tips from the locals who make it happen. Tell us which events you're attending (or watching via webcam!) in the comments! 👇

@hollymerrillraschein , the 2024 Best Elected Official of the #BestOfUpperKeys, is here with a VERY important message… LETS HEAR IT FOR THE BEST OF UPPER KEYS SPONSORS! 🎉🙌 She’s traveling high, low, and apparently even underwater, across the Florida Keys to shine a spotlight on EIGHT amazing sponsors making the 2025 #BestOfUpperKeys awards possible: • @playlargo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection (our fabulous venue host!) • @baptisthealthsf • @oceansothebysrealty • @goingaire_airconditioning • @firsthorizonbank • @hrblock • @hnoproductions • @OverseasMediaGroup Thanks to these sponsors, we get to celebrate the BEST businesses and organizations in the Upper Keys! 🗳️ Voting for your top 3 favorites opens Oct. 16 at noon - save the date and get ready to VOTE!

Love a business in the Upper Keys? 𝗪𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪! 🙌 Heading into our 4th year, the #BestofUpperKeys awards have already highlighted hundreds of incredible restaurants, organizations, and community members. Here’s the thing: 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘! This shows the businesses and community your support while putting them in the elite top tier of the Upper Keys community. Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or a business competing for a plaque, we already know you LOVE sharing your opinion on the the best of the best. Now it's time to put your 'Best Of 'nominations where your mouth is. 😉 Today is your 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 to nominate your favorites. On 10/16, the top 3 nominees will be revealed, and voting for the winners opens! Nominate your favorites before midnight at keysweekly.com/buk25 (don't forget to fill out at least 75% of your ballot for your vote to count) and show the #UpperKeys some love!