Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Native Plant Day
2026-01-31 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)

March Delicate Balance Of Nature- Sea Turtles, Manatees, and Whales
2026-01-28 08:00 - 17:00
Join us and our speaker, Tom Frankovich, for a sea turtle lecture as we being nesting season.
Marine megafauna are an evolutionary playground for microalgae. Whales, manatees and sea turtles host rich algal communities that live on their skin and other body parts. The “epizoic” algae consist of single-celled diatoms and turfs of specialized seaweeds. Many of these beautiful organisms are species that only live attached to their host. Being that these organisms are tied to their endangered hosts, they are also threatened by extinction. My presentation will introduce you to new worlds, many of which were only recently discovered, on the bodies of dolphins, sea turtles and Florida manatees.
From Tom:I am a marine biologist and I study marine plants and algae. The algal communities I study are quite diverse and encompass a broad range of size and habitats from microscopic phytoplankton to macroscopic seaweeds and seagrasses and include unique environments such as the skin of manatees, sea turtles and whales. Most of my research is conducted in the estuaries of South Florida but I also collaborate with international scientists to study algal communities across the globe. Current research projects include phytoplankton and water quality monitoring in the St. Lucie estuary, seagrass and macroalgal dynamics in Everglades National Park, and the taxonomy of epizoic diatoms on marine vertebrates. Research Associate Professor – Florida International University
The reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82583264496

January Delicate Balance of Nature with Dr. Erinn Muller
2026-01-26 18:30 - 20:30 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
The pre-lecture reception begins at 6:30 pm followed by the lecture at 7:30 pm. Oceanside. There is no charge to attend the reception or program. Our guest speaker is Dr. Erinn Muller, Associate Vice President for Research, SeniorScientist, and the Coral Health and Disease Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratoryin Sarasota, Florida. Dr. Muller’s topic is “Beyond the Bleaching: Resilience,Restoration, and Banking on Corals Future.” She will share research findings on recentstress events impacting Florida’s coral reef with a focus on threatened coral species. Dr.Muller will also discuss practical applications of this research for coral restoration andthe importance of Mote’s International Coral Gene Bank.For more information or additional accessibility needs, contact Elena Muratori, ParkServices Specialist, at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at 305-676-3786.

First Day Hikes
2026-01-01 09:30 - 15:00

January 2026 Programs
2026-01-01 08:00 - 2026-02-01 17:00
January 2026 Schedule

December Programs
2025-12-01 08:00 - 2025-12-31 17:00

Wednesday Nature Walks with Susan Kolterman- 9:30am
2025-11-05 09:30 - 2025-11-26 09:30

November Programs
2025-11-01 08:00 - 2025-11-30 17:00

Halloween at Pennekamp
2025-10-25 17:30 - 20:30 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
Join us for the fifth annual Halloween at Pennekamp on Saturday, October 25th from 5:30PM to 8:30PM!
This year’s event features:Trunk or Treat at Cannon Beach Parking Lots 5:30PM to 8:00PMA-scare-ium 5:30PM to 8:30PMSpooky Trail (without scare actors) 5:30PM to 6:30PMSpooky Trail (with scare actors) 6:45PM to 8:30PMMermaid Meet & GreetCaptain Coral ShowsNew this year: music and food trucks
This year’s event will be free to enter thanks to a generous donation by our event sponsor, First State Bank of the Florida Keys. We will be accepting donations to benefit Friends of John Pennekamp SP. Get your broomsticks and peg legs ready for this frightfully good time. We can’t wait to see you there!

October Programs
2025-10-02 08:00 - 2025-10-31 17:00

August Events (Click here for details)
2025-08-01 08:00 - 2025-08-31 17:00

July Friends Night Out - Cornhole Tournament
2025-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 | dive bar tavernier, 200 Florida Ave, Tavernier, FL, 33070, United States
The Dive Bar in Tavernier (200 Florida Ave) is hosting the July Friends Night Out on July 17! Come join us for some friendly competition at the corn hole tournament. Or if relaxing is more your style, just grab a pint of one of their local brews on tap and enjoy the live music, sunset, and tasty offerings from Bites on the Bay with your state park Friends. Entry for the corn hole tournament is $10. The first place winners get bragging rights and their bar tab paid for courtesy of the Dive Bar. Second place gets half off their bar tab. Proceeds from the tournament benefit on-going Park fundraising goals, such as our beach renourishment project.

Bring your best game and join us at 5:30. Corn hole tournament starts at 6:00. Hope to see you there!

July Programs
2025-07-01 08:00 - 2025-07-31 18:00

Friends Night Out - June
2025-06-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Islamorada brewery & distillery, 82229 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL, 33036, United States
Join the Friends of Pennekamp SP for Friends Night Out at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery. Meet and mingle with other park enthusiasts and paint an oyster shell with artist MJ. There is a $20 registration fee for painting (half gets donated to the park!). Register for painting using the QR code in event flyer or this link: https://square.link/u/JVT7xtM8?src=sheet”
There is no fee to come enjoy the venue, enjoy free tastings and talk to other Friends! Islamorada Brewery & Distillery has donated a $25 gift card so we’ll be having a drawing by chance.
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June Programs
2025-06-01 - 2025-06-30
Check out of Facebook page for up-to-date info on all our activities!

Friends Night Out - May
2025-05-21 17:30 - 19:30 | The Catch, 102041 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
Join the Friends of Pennekamp SP for Friends Night Out at The Catch, May 21 at 5:30 PM. Meet and mingle with other park enthusiasts and learn how to weave a palm frond basket with Melanie Valle.
Join us at The Catch (MM 102) or Friends Night Out at The Catch, May 21 at 5:30 PM. Meet and mingle with other park enthusiasts and learn how to weave a palm frond hanging basket with Melanie Valle. We will have a drawing for a $50 gift certificate, generously donated to us by The Catch. Advance registration with $20 donation requested. INDICATE THE NUMER OF TICKET YOU NEED TO ACTIVATE THE REGISTRATION BUTTON.

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May Programs at Pennekamp
2025-05-01 08:00 - 2025-05-31 17:00

Friends Night Out - April
2025-04-28 17:30 - 19:30 | Caribbean Club, 104080 Overseas Hwy,, Key Largo
Friends’ Night Out is next Monday, April 28th. Come hang out at the Upper Keys oldest bar, the Caribbean Club, to admire the view, listen to music, and connect with other park enthusiasts. At the end of the evening we’ll be raffling off a $100 gift certificate from Caribbean Club. It’s a great opportunity to make new Friends while supporting our local business partners. We’ll be there from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We can’t wait to see you there!

Ocean Forest Clean-Up
2025-03-08 09:00 - 13:00 | RSVP for Info
Join Coastlove, John Pennekamp State Park, FDEP, FWC and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as we roll up our sleeves and head back to Ocean Forest for another epic cleanup event. Ocean Forest is an undeveloped area in the Upper Florida Keys and home to many important and endangered species. You will not want to miss this exciting day!

Make sure you RSVP to save your spot. Special instructions, site directions and parking information will be emailed to prior to the event.

RSVP here: https://www.coastlove.org/…/ocean-forest-upper-keys…

Be sure to bring your reusable bottle to refill.

A special thanks to all of our partners and Keys Sanitary Services for their continued support!

March Program Schedule
2025-03-01 08:00 - 2025-04-01 17:00

January 2025 Programs
2025-01-01 08:00 - 2025-01-31 17:00
January 2025 Schedule

December daily programs
2024-12-03 09:30 - 2024-12-31 17:00

Halloween at Pennekamp
2024-10-26 17:30 - 20:30 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
Join us for Halloween at Pennekamp on Saturday, October 26th from 5:30PM to 8:30PM!

This year’s event features:
*Trunk or Treat at Cannon Beach Parking Lots 5:30PM to 8:00PM
*A-scare-ium 5:30PM to 8:30PM
*Spooky Trail (without scare actors) 5:30PM to 6:30PM
*Spooky Trail (with scare actors) 6:45PM to 8:30PM
*Mermaid Meet & Greet
*Captain Coral Shows
This year’s event will be free to enter, and we will be accepting donations to benefit Friends of John Pennekamp.
Thank you to all our sponsors and community partners that help make this such a great event!

Trash Bash Shoreline Cleanup
2024-09-28 09:30 - 10:30 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
National Public Lands Day is next Saturday, September 28th! You can show your love for our Florida State Parks by helping out with a mangrove cleanup at Far Beach. The cleanup will be at 9:30 AM and last for about an hour. Let the Ranger Station know you are here for the cleanup when you come in!

Buckets, pickers, and gloves will be provided, but please bring protective footwear that can get wet or muddy, water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

If you enjoyed volunteering, later at noon in the Visitor Center, there will be volunteer training for a cool horseshoe crab citizen science project!

Coral Restoration Presentation with Coral Restoration Foundation™
2024-08-31 13:00 - 16:00 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
Join Coral Restoration Foundation™ for a program to learn more about coral restoration in the Florida Keys!
This program starts at 1 PM in the Visitor Center and Aquarium auditorium and is included in your park admission, Florida State Parks Annual Pass, or monthly Friends of John Pennekamp visit to the park!
