The small community of Madeira Beach had its genesis as a sleepy fishing village on the Gulf of Mexico. Commercial fishing still remains an important industry and a focal point of community festivities. Each October, Madeira Beach hosts the famous John’s Pass Seafood Festival and draws visitors from around the region. The town more than doubles in size during the vacation season in the winter months, welcoming throngs of visitors and vacationers. Most of the housing is single-family residences that harmonize with a limited number of condominium developments.