Miami, FL – This Saturday, September 21, marked the third annual Skellyfest at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC), an event that brings together the vibrant world of coral enthusiasts, marine conservationists, and ocean-themed artists for a day of vibrant exhibitions and impactful philanthropy.
The inception of Skellyfest originated from a unique digital art NFT project that portrayed the skeletal structures of fish, designed to raise funds for ocean conservation. The initial response to this digital art project led the organizers to consider expanding the efforts into a physical event, thereby broadening its reach and support for marine conservation. “It made us think bigger, leading to the creation of Skellyfest,” explained Bianca Alberti, the event’s organizer. The festival’s name pays homage to its original concept.
A standout feature of Skellyfest is a one-day format where the vendor area, Coral Cove, is kept completely dark to highlight the stunning colors of the corals on display. This year, they have made it a priority to feature ocean artists, resulting in an impressive collection of stunning photos and paintings as Bianca puts it, “Every year, we try to get as many creative roots as possible to bring that aspect to the project.”
Some of the coral vendors At Skellyfest 2024
She also acknowledged long-standing sponsors and vendors like Reef Nutrition and Two Little Fishies, they have supported the project from the beginning and local companies like Nature Aquariums, TRSC Aquatics from North Carolina and newcomers such as Dr. Trim Aquatics, Oase, Milwaukee Instruments and Rogger’s Reef Food were also recognized. Bianca expressed her appreciation with enthusiasm, saying, “I am so thankful for all our sponsors. We couldn’t have done this without them.”
Top-left: Ana López with Event Organizer Bianca Alberti. Top-right: Underwater Photographer Erica Allen (Wavecrest Photo & Video). Bottom-left: Julian Sprung (Two Little Fishies). Bottom-right: Nature Aquariums.
This year, each admission ticket sold contributed one dollar to The Reef Institute, a Florida-based non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation. Attendees also had the option to make personal donations through the event’s website. “Each year we aim to support different ocean charities. The Reef Institute was chosen for their outstanding work and commitment to marine education and conservation,” said Bianca.
The Reef Institute Booth
Looking ahead, while the future of Skellyfest remains open-ended, Bianca’s philosophy is to take it “one year at a time—we will see what the future holds.”
Skellyfest continues to be an essential gathering for reefing enthusiasts, offering a chance to promote conservation efforts within a setting that highlights the stunning variety of marine life.
