- December 15, 2025
The weekend's seafood festival, at Rockefeller Gardens Park, featured shrimp, fish and, oh yes, even mermaids.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
The briny smell of seafood filled the downtown streets Saturday and Sunday, as the Ormond Beach Riverfest Seafood Festival took over the town.
Sponsored by Ormond Beach MainStreet, the annual festival featured a plethora of seafood options, as well as cooking demonstrations from local restaurants, such as Joe's Crab Shack and Frappes North.
"We're just trying to make the area better and wanted to plan some more activities to get everybody together," said Judy Stien, a member of the board of directors for Ormond Beach Mainstreet. "This year, we got a lot more vendors."
Among them stood Marco Mariette, owner of Freak 'N Chic, a brand of clothing, bags, jewelry and art. Mariette, who's owned the business for a dozen years, says he traded his old job for freedom and traveling.
"I am my own boss," says Mariette. "Except for when I'm working with my wife."
A short walk down from Mariette was the movable art display created by Ormond Beach MainStreet. Participants decorated flip flops with all the things they love about Ormond Beach in the piece. Popular entries included "no snow" and "life's a beach."
According to Jerry Janaro, MainStreet events committee member, the display will be moved to City Hall at the end of the festival.
