The first full moon paddle of the season leaves Old Wooden Bridge Marina on Bogie Road at 5:15 this Saturday. Kayaks head across the water toward No Name Key and north. That same day, Key Deer Research and Response staff set up a pop-up station in Eden Pines. After that, the season's dates mostly land on weekdays.
From this week through the end of December, Big Pine Key's calendar has eleven dated events. Four fall on a Saturday or Sunday. The other seven are on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. Weekend-only planning will catch the flea market and miss most of the rest. The reason is simple. On Big Pine, the Florida Keys Wildlife Society and the National Key Deer Refuge set much of the calendar, and those groups schedule around the lunar cycle, the Nature Center and volunteer evenings.
The one fixed weekend thing opens Nov. 14
The Big Pine Key Flea Market at 30250 Overseas Highway opens its 2026–27 season on Saturday, Nov. 14. You'll see a few changes this year. The market says it fully renovated its bathrooms, gave every seasonal vendor a new tent or canopy, and improved the grounds.
Seasonal vendors can book from Nov. 14, 2026, through April 25, 2027. That makes the season about five and a half months long. Daily vendors pay $50 for an open-air space or $70 for a tented one. Either way it's a 20-by-20-foot spot for the full weekend, so drop-in sellers can try a single weekend without committing to the season.
The market's food page lists these vendors:
- Big Pine Key Famous Fish Fry
- Johnny Coconuts
- Mini donuts
- Homemade French pastries
- Fresh produce
- Amy's Ice Cream
On the shopping side, you'll find fishing equipment, plants, patio furniture, wood carvings, art and antiques, home décor, and the usual hats, sunglasses and jewelry. The site doesn't list weekly hours yet, so check it before your first Saturday run.
The market is the steady weekend anchor from mid-November to late April. Most other events this season move, because they follow the moon.
The moon picks the paddling dates
The Florida Keys Wildlife Society runs its Full Moon Kayak Excursions with Captain Bill Keogh of Big Pine Kayak Adventures as sponsor. Every trip launches from Old Wooden Bridge Marina, 1791 Bogie Road. A trip costs a $30 donation, which covers the kayak, gear and experienced guides. You reserve by calling or texting 305-872-7474. The society asks paddlers to arrive about 30 minutes early with water and a flashlight. No experience is needed.
Each date is tied to a full moon, so the day of the week changes every month:
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 24, 2026 | Saturday | 5:15–7:15 p.m. |
| Nov. 22, 2026 | Sunday | 4:00–6:00 p.m. |
| Dec. 22, 2026 | Tuesday | 4:00–6:00 p.m. |
| Jan. 20, 2027 | Wednesday | 4:15–6:15 p.m. |
| Feb. 21, 2027 | Sunday | 4:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | Saturday | 6:00–8:00 p.m. |
| Apr. 19, 2027 | Monday | 6:15–8:15 p.m. |
Three of the seven trips fall on weeknights. The start time moves too. It's 4:00 p.m. in November and December and 6:15 p.m. by April, so the trip lines up with the same evening light all season. In winter you can paddle and still be home for dinner. The spring trips run later. The society says it won't refund a reservation unless it cancels the excursion itself, so check your calendar before you send the donation.
Thursday nights belong to the Nature Center
The lecture series also skips the weekend. Talks run on Thursdays, 7 to 8 p.m., at the Nature Center at 30587 Overseas Highway. Doors open at 6:30.
- Nov. 12, 2026: Dr. Jason Downing, Fairchild Botanical Garden, Miami
- Dec. 10, 2026: Chris Rothwell, NOAA/National Weather Service Key West
- Jan. 14, 2027: Dr. Steffanie Munguia, Zoo Miami
- Feb. 11, 2027: Dr. Doug Mader, Florida Keys and National Wildlife Refuges veterinarian
- Feb. 25, 2027: Dr. Jerry Lorenz, Florida Audubon Society
- March 11 and April 8, 2027: speakers to be announced
The Nature Center is the same building that houses daytime visitor services for the National Key Deer Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists it as open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On lecture nights it opens well after those hours.
The lectures aren't the only Thursday-night event there. The Florida Keys Wildlife Society Photo Club meets at the Nature Center on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Its next listed meeting is Nov. 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Membership is free and all skill levels are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring a thumb drive with three to five photos to share.
Key deer research is in its second fall, and it wants volunteers
The newest group on the calendar is the Key Deer Research and Response Program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched it in September 2025, according to Keys Weekly. The program trains volunteers to help with field observations, data collection, public outreach and response to injured or entangled deer. Kevin Kalasz is the USFWS coordinator for the joint program.
This fall it's holding two events back to back:
- Saturday, Oct. 24, Eden Pines. A community herd-health pop-up. KDRR staff and volunteers will explain herd-health monitoring and responsible wildlife interactions, show safe ways to observe deer, answer questions, and invite residents to join a community-science scat-collection project.
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. A volunteer recruitment overview covering duties, training and upcoming opportunities.
The pop-up listing gives no start time, and neither listing gives a street address. Check the society's events calendar for details before you head out. Families have one more refuge-related option that week. "Bones!" at the Big Pine Key Branch Library, 213 Key Deer Blvd., runs Friday, Oct. 30, 2 to 3 p.m. Kids can examine skeletal specimens and learn what bones show about wildlife behavior and adaptation.
The society kicks off its 30th year on a Tuesday
These programs come together on Tuesday, Nov. 17. That evening the Florida Keys Wildlife Society starts both its new season and its 30th year with Together for Wildlife, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, 31020 Overseas Highway at MM 31. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and you need to RSVP. The evening includes live music, presentations, drinks and appetizers. The society invites members, volunteers, other nonprofits and anyone curious about Keys wildlife or about joining its activities.
The society describes its work as supporting the National Wildlife Refuges of the Florida Keys through education, volunteering, fundraising and non-adversarial advocacy.
Big Pine Key dates through December
Here's every dated event in one list, in order:
- Sat., Oct. 24: KDRR herd-health pop-up, Eden Pines; Full Moon Kayak, 5:15 p.m., Old Wooden Bridge Marina
- Tue., Oct. 27: KDRR volunteer recruitment, 6 p.m.
- Fri., Oct. 30: "Bones!" at Big Pine Key Branch Library, 2 p.m.
- Thu., Nov. 5: Photo Club meeting, Nature Center, 6:30 p.m.
- Thu., Nov. 12: Lecture with Dr. Jason Downing, Nature Center, 7 p.m.
- Sat., Nov. 14: Big Pine Key Flea Market opening day
- Tue., Nov. 17: Together for Wildlife, Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, 5 p.m.
- Sun., Nov. 22: Full Moon Kayak, 4 p.m.
- Thu., Dec. 10: Lecture with Chris Rothwell, Nature Center, 7 p.m.
- Tue., Dec. 22: Full Moon Kayak, 4 p.m.
Organizers can change dates, so confirm each one with the host before you go.
I live and work in the Lower Keys, and the Big Pine calendar is one of the ways I keep track of the season, from flea market Saturdays to full moon paddles that start at a different time each month. If you're thinking about a home on Big Pine Key, whether it's close to Bogie Road, the Nature Center or Eden Pines, I'm happy to talk through how the island actually runs day to day. Dan Serban can help. Contact Dan.
