Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market Celebrates Resiliency of our Coastal Communities
Cortez, Fla. (February 26, 2025) – Do you love feeling the salty breeze in your hair and the sun on your face? Are you looking for deals on fishing poles, cast nets, and life preservers? Have a hankering for coastal art and beachy crafts? Then make plans to attend the Cortez Nautical Flea Market on Saturday, March 8th!
This FREE, family-friendly event, held Saturday, March 8th, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is hosted by the Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) with support from the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum. Free parking will be available at the F.I.S.H. Preserve, located on Cortez Road directly east of the FMM, courtesy of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (for driving directions, search “FISH Parking” on Google/Apple Maps).
Hosted on FMM grounds, the Cortez Nautical Flea Market has something for everyone! In addition to bargains on fishing gear and deals on boating accessories, you’ll find the best beachy arts & crafts around. While here, explore fun activity booths with local organizations, where you can try on replica Spanish armor, learn to tie different sailing knots, and even play with old fashioned toys! This free event will feature fun activities for all ages, freebies from local community organizations, and Boy Scout Troop 22 selling drinks and snacks. Visitors can stroll through the Cortez Cultural Center to hear stories about Cortez pioneers and the families that have kept this fishing village alive for generations. Please note that the museum (FMM) is currently closed for structural rehabilitation and will not be accessible during the event.
Events like the Nautical Flea Market would not be possible without sponsorships through the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum! We would like to express our gratitude to the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the AMI Islander for their continued support. For more information about the Cortez Nautical Flea Market, visit https://www.floridamaritimemuseum.org/nautical-flea-market .
The Florida Maritime Museum, located at 4415 119th Street West in the historic fishing village of Cortez, offers a snapshot of old Florida through a collection of informative exhibits, educational programs, community events, and research materials. Visit FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org for more information, or call (941) 708-6120.
The Florida Maritime Museum is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Historical Resources Department, with additional support from the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum. The museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and share traditional knowledge, cultural artifacts, and personal stories specific to Florida’s fishing and maritime heritage. Situated on the Cortez Nature Preserve, FMM grounds were purchased with funds from the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 Program and the Manatee County Board of County Commission. The Cortez Commercial Fishing Village and the 1912 Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse are designated on the National Register of Historic Places.