WorthPoint likes to build community. One way we can do that is to introduce our readers to real people who have built careers out of buying and selling and highlighting real places to explore on thrifting adventures. The end goal: We want our readers to have some real fun in the world of antiques and collectibles.
After Hurricane Helene’s devastation in September 2024, the coastal towns near Tampa Bay struggled to rebuild. Homes and businesses that were leveled are just starting to come back, and the Floridania Fest- The Florida Memorabilia Show, usually held at the Gulfport Casino, came back but in a different venue. Organizers expected the event to be a massive draw for collectors of Old Florida memorabilia and an event that signaled the resilience of collectors and resellers.
This year’s event was held at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, a monument to the charm of Old Florida. Built in the art deco style, the building has recently been refurbished and is ready to welcome collectors and vendors. Last year, attendance was around 1,500, but organizers were hoping to grow that number this year as locals and tourists alike return to the area.
After this year’s event, attendees flooded the Floridania Fest Facebook page to compliment organizers for a well-run event with so many vendors and vintage fans. The next event will be announced in July.
So What Is Old Florida Memorabilia?
In the post-World War II era, automobiles reigned supreme, and family vacations were often road trips to motels and roadside attractions. In Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico coast from around Apalachicola in the northern part of the state through parts of central Florida and south Florida, clusters of small beach towns and attractions drew thousands of families on vacation. The motels, water parks, and roadside zoos were perfect for families getting away from school and work.
Souvenirs and other memorabilia from places like Dinosaur World and Weeki Wachee State Park (where the underwater dancing mermaids still exist) are hot collectibles. The roadside era eventually faded by the mid-1970s, when theme parks like DisneyWorld and Universal Studios opened, but vintage fans still want to remember what the vacation landscape was like in the days of the open road.
As the small coastal communities recover from Helene, the vintage vibe of Old Florida could breathe new life into the seaside towns of the Gulf Coast. Stay tuned for the next Floridania Fest.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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