The start of every holiday season sees the iconic old Custom House, now the Key West Museum of Art & History, transformed into a bustling annual Holiday Concert & Bazaar with artisans, musicians, and future filmmakers.
The most noticed effect is the work by the Key West High School's Conch 5 Studios, a digital media and video production program that creates short films and animations that are projected on the venue’s distinct brick exterior.
Curator and historian at the Key West Art & Historical Society, Dr. Cori Convertito, credits the involvement of the students with getting the ball rolling on this growing event that mixes holiday shopping, art, and live music just steps off of Duval Street.
The concert’s music programming features crowd favorites including the Bahama Village Music Program, steel pans, saxophone quartets, and even the End of the Road Ukulele Gang.
The event aims to get families involved and showcase what they do through the years, meaning that generational talents are sometimes on hand. Even belly dancers were included at last year's show making for a "weird and wonderful" display that highlights the best of the island.
Meanwhile, the visual displays by Conch 5 Studios are projected every half-hour and accompanied by soundtracks that fit the visual tales that anyone standing in front of the building will see.
As for the shopping, booths start in front of the steps of the Custom House and wind around the side and most of the back, set against beautifully lit palm trees. All a short walk from the pier and ocean views.
The Art & Historical Society team tries to bring in a respectable selection of vendors every year, which has resulted in numerous returnees.
"Our vendors love being here because the community comes out and supports them in big numbers," Convertito explained. "People love to come shopping here, but we try to make sure that the types of vendors are varied, that we don't have all 20 candlemakers or 20 jewelers."
The end of summer typically results in the first set of calls from vendors inquiring about this special event.
The recent revamp of the outdoor Clinton Place, which serves as something of a pocket park right across the Custom House, might further facilitate more participants this year. The redevelopment has resulted in an enlarged space with enhanced seating.
As the island's colorful holiday season gets underway, the Key West Art & Historical Society's Holiday Concert & Bazaar equally attracts visitors and islanders.
"That's a special thing about this event," Convertito explained, "[a] part of it is the projections on the building are done by the high school kids. So, we have incorporated a good part of our community. The vendors are local, so we've folded in that component of our community as well. The shoppers are a mix of locals, snowbirds, tourists that are here from the holidays and the event is outdoors, and it's a beautiful time of year to be here."
Holiday Concert & Bazaar
Dec. 12 | 5-8 p.m.
Key West Museum of Art & History & Clinton Place Park
KWAHS.org
