ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Despite projected air temperatures in the low 70s, snowflakes are scheduled to fall at the annual Florida Keys Holiday Festival set for 4-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at Islamorada’s Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside.

The festival centerpiece is to be a children’s area featuring a 20-ton mountain of artificial snow.

Other event highlights include the Santa Paws Pet Parade, with prizes for best-dressed “party animals” or those that perform the best trick. All domestic animals are welcome to enter for free.

Fur is to give way to a fir as a 35-foot-tall community holiday tree is lighted at 6 p.m. while carolers sing.

Vendors plan to offer arts and crafts in a holiday bazaar and gourmet foods and extraordinary wines in a “Vino Village,” a traditional festival favorite. Nearly 40 artists are expected to donate handcrafted ornaments that will be on display, juried and sold by silent auction.

Themed “Holiday Blessings Under the Sea,” the annual holiday parade is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and typically includes decorated floats and antique cars, with a showstopper Santa.

The event is organized by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce and admission is free, but parking donations are collected to help defray artificial snow expenses.

Festival information: www.islamoradachamber.com or 800-322-5397
Keys Visitor’s Bureau: www.fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS
Social: www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest • twitter.com/thefloridakeys

###