A Calendar of Events
2007
Islamorada, July 4
Independence Day Celebration
Festivities take place at Founders Park, mile marker 87, bayside on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 853-1685
Big Pine & the Lower Keys, July 14
23rd Annual Underwater Music Festival
A quirky concert broadcast underwater for divers and snorkelers. The submerged songfest is held at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Contact: (305) 872-2411
Key West, July 17-22
Hemingway Days Festival
This twenty-seventh annual event celebrates the legendary author's work and lifestyle. The event comprises literary readings, a short story competition, a museum exhibit, a fishing tournament and the Sloppy Joe's Look-Alike Contest.
Contact: (305) 296-2388; (305) 294-0320 (literary)
Key West, Oct. 19-20
Goombay Festival
Held in Key West's historic Bahama Village neighborhood, the lively Goombay is known for its island-style food, handmade African arts and crafts, nonstop live entertainment and dancing in the streets.
Contact: (305) 797-7225
Key West, Oct. 19-28
29th Annual Fantasy Fest
"Gnomes, Toads and White Rabbit Tea Parties" is the theme for this 10-day celebration with a packed schedule of costume competitions, promenades and street fairs, and a grand parade featuring marching groups and lavish floats.
Contact: (305) 296-1817
Key Largo, October TBA
Underwater Pumpkin Carving
Divers turn pumpkins into Halloween masterpieces beneath the sea in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Contact: (305) 451-3595
Marathon, Big Pine & the Lower Keys, October TBA
Florida Keys Birding & Wildlife Festival
This celebration of the natural wonders of Florida wildlife in Marathon and the Lower Keys takes place at the peak of the fall birding season. The event is to include presentations, educational field trips and an environmental fair.
Contact: (305) 872-0774
Key West, Nov. 4-11
Key West World Championship
High-speed powerboats continue Key West's longstanding tradition in a challenge described as the Indianapolis 500 of powerboat racing.
Contact: (305) 296-6166
Key West, Nov. 29-Dec. 2
Pirates in Paradise 2007
Historic Key West and Fort Taylor are transformed into a pirates' stronghold with more than 150 pirate entertainers. Tall ships, sea battles, arts and crafts, pirate sails, a living history encampment and nonstop entertainment celebrate Key West's maritime history.
Contact: (305) 296-9694
Key West, November TBA
Parrot Heads in Key West
Fans of musician Jimmy Buffett flock to the island dubbed Margaritaville for their annual gathering.
Big Pine & the Lower Keys, Dec. 9
WinterFest 2007: Art & Music in a Natural Key
This holiday event features live music by local entertainers, as well as food, exhibits and booths with locally produced arts and crafts.
Contact: (305) 872-2411
Marathon, Dec. 9
Boot Key Harbor Boat Parade
A lighted holiday boat parade with the best viewing along the waterfront of Sombrero Boulevard and the Boot Key Harbor bridge.
Email: info@floridakeyschamber.com
Key Largo, Dec. 31
New Year's Eve Fireworks on Blackwater Sound
The back bay is the setting for the annual New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza hosted by Sundowners, Senior Frijoles, Cactus Jacks, Gus' Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and the Caribbean Club, milemarkers 103-104 on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Key West, Dec. 31
Key West New Year's Eve Celebrations
Festivities include a "conch shell drop" at Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St.; the descent of a six-foot red high heel shoe carrying drag queen Sushi at the Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St.; and the descent of a pirate wench from the mast of the tall ship Liberty Clipper in the island city's Historic Seaport.
Contact: (305) 296-2388; (305) 293-9800; (305) 292-3302
Key Largo, December TBA
Holiday Boat Parade
The waters of Blackwater Sound shimmer as decorated boats parade along the shoreline in celebration of the holiday season. The best viewing and libations are to be found at Sundowners, Senior Frijoles, the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and Caribbean Club, mile marker 103-104 on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Islamorada, December TBA
Florida Keys Holiday Festival
Begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at Founders Park, mile marker 87 on U.S. 1. A holiday parade follows with Santa arriving on an Islamorada Fire Rescue truck and continues with a holiday gift bazaar and a silent auction of ornaments decorated by local artists.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Key West, December TBA
Key West Lighted Boat Parade
Lighted boats cruise through Key West Harbor and the waters of the Historic Seaport. Musical guests are featured. This event is sponsored by Schooner Wharf Bar and Captain Morgan.
Contact: (305) 292-3302
Key West, December TBA
Key West Holiday Parade
Parade through historic Key West.
Contact: (305) 809-3700
2008
Key Largo, April 8
Underwater Easter Egg Hunt
Capt. Spencer Slate's annual underwater egg hunt off Key Largo to benefit Kids in Special Situations, a local charity for needy children.
Contact: (305) 451-3020
Key West, April 11-15
13th Annual Robert Frost Poetry Festival
The festival features poetry and haiku workshops and readings, and a poetry and haiku contest. Events are staged at the Robert Frost Cottage at the Heritage House Museum, where Frost spent many island winters.
Contact: (305) 296-3573
Islamorada, July 4
Independence Day Celebration
Festivities take place at Founders Park, mile marker 87, bayside on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 853-1685
Big Pine & the Lower Keys, July 14
23rd Annual Underwater Music Festival
A quirky concert broadcast underwater for divers and snorkelers. The submerged songfest is held at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Contact: (305) 872-2411
Key West, July 17-22
Hemingway Days Festival
This twenty-seventh annual event celebrates the legendary author's work and lifestyle. The event comprises literary readings, a short story competition, a museum exhibit, a fishing tournament and the Sloppy Joe's Look-Alike Contest.
Contact: (305) 296-2388; (305) 294-0320 (literary)
Key West, Oct. 19-20
Goombay Festival
Held in Key West's historic Bahama Village neighborhood, the lively Goombay is known for its island-style food, handmade African arts and crafts, nonstop live entertainment and dancing in the streets.
Contact: (305) 797-7225
Key West, Oct. 19-28
29th Annual Fantasy Fest
"Gnomes, Toads and White Rabbit Tea Parties" is the theme for this 10-day celebration with a packed schedule of costume competitions, promenades and street fairs, and a grand parade featuring marching groups and lavish floats.
Contact: (305) 296-1817
Key Largo, October TBA
Underwater Pumpkin Carving
Divers turn pumpkins into Halloween masterpieces beneath the sea in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Contact: (305) 451-3595
Marathon, Big Pine & the Lower Keys, October TBA
Florida Keys Birding & Wildlife Festival
This celebration of the natural wonders of Florida wildlife in Marathon and the Lower Keys takes place at the peak of the fall birding season. The event is to include presentations, educational field trips and an environmental fair.
Contact: (305) 872-0774
Key West, Nov. 4-11
Key West World Championship
High-speed powerboats continue Key West's longstanding tradition in a challenge described as the Indianapolis 500 of powerboat racing.
Contact: (305) 296-6166
Key West, Nov. 29-Dec. 2
Pirates in Paradise 2007
Historic Key West and Fort Taylor are transformed into a pirates' stronghold with more than 150 pirate entertainers. Tall ships, sea battles, arts and crafts, pirate sails, a living history encampment and nonstop entertainment celebrate Key West's maritime history.
Contact: (305) 296-9694
Key West, November TBA
Parrot Heads in Key West
Fans of musician Jimmy Buffett flock to the island dubbed Margaritaville for their annual gathering.
Big Pine & the Lower Keys, Dec. 9
WinterFest 2007: Art & Music in a Natural Key
This holiday event features live music by local entertainers, as well as food, exhibits and booths with locally produced arts and crafts.
Contact: (305) 872-2411
Marathon, Dec. 9
Boot Key Harbor Boat Parade
A lighted holiday boat parade with the best viewing along the waterfront of Sombrero Boulevard and the Boot Key Harbor bridge.
Email: info@floridakeyschamber.com
Key Largo, Dec. 31
New Year's Eve Fireworks on Blackwater Sound
The back bay is the setting for the annual New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza hosted by Sundowners, Senior Frijoles, Cactus Jacks, Gus' Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and the Caribbean Club, milemarkers 103-104 on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Key West, Dec. 31
Key West New Year's Eve Celebrations
Festivities include a "conch shell drop" at Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St.; the descent of a six-foot red high heel shoe carrying drag queen Sushi at the Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St.; and the descent of a pirate wench from the mast of the tall ship Liberty Clipper in the island city's Historic Seaport.
Contact: (305) 296-2388; (305) 293-9800; (305) 292-3302
Key Largo, December TBA
Holiday Boat Parade
The waters of Blackwater Sound shimmer as decorated boats parade along the shoreline in celebration of the holiday season. The best viewing and libations are to be found at Sundowners, Senior Frijoles, the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and Caribbean Club, mile marker 103-104 on U.S. 1.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Islamorada, December TBA
Florida Keys Holiday Festival
Begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at Founders Park, mile marker 87 on U.S. 1. A holiday parade follows with Santa arriving on an Islamorada Fire Rescue truck and continues with a holiday gift bazaar and a silent auction of ornaments decorated by local artists.
Contact: (305) 451-4502
Key West, December TBA
Key West Lighted Boat Parade
Lighted boats cruise through Key West Harbor and the waters of the Historic Seaport. Musical guests are featured. This event is sponsored by Schooner Wharf Bar and Captain Morgan.
Contact: (305) 292-3302
Key West, December TBA
Key West Holiday Parade
Parade through historic Key West.
Contact: (305) 809-3700
2008
Key Largo, April 8
Underwater Easter Egg Hunt
Capt. Spencer Slate's annual underwater egg hunt off Key Largo to benefit Kids in Special Situations, a local charity for needy children.
Contact: (305) 451-3020
Key West, April 11-15
13th Annual Robert Frost Poetry Festival
The festival features poetry and haiku workshops and readings, and a poetry and haiku contest. Events are staged at the Robert Frost Cottage at the Heritage House Museum, where Frost spent many island winters.
Contact: (305) 296-3573
