Calendar of Events

Current Florida Keys Arts & Culture Events

• Jun 3, 2019 - Sep 2, 2019 Location: Islamorada Category: Arts & Culture
• History of Diving Museum Salutes Military with FREE Admission
• Website
• History of Diving Museum is once again participating as a Blue Star Museum. Since the programs’ inception in 2010 HDM has collaborated with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense, along with more than 2,000 museums across America. This unique platform offers free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and up to five family members, from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day. Over 1,500 individuals have benefited by visiting the History of Diving Museum alone.

• Jun 3, 2019 - Dec 31, 2019 Location: Islamorada Category: Arts & Culture
• Diving With a Purpose, 15 Year Odyssey: Restoring Our Oceans, Preserving Our Heritage
• Website
• Multiple groups such as Diving With a Purpose, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Park, and more have spent 15 years working together to showcase cultural and natural resources throughout the country. They focus in the protection, documentation, and interpretation of African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African-Americans. This new exhibit at the History of Diving Museum, mile marker 82.9, highlights several shipwrecks and aircraft and the archaeological processes used to study them.

• Jun 17, 2019 Location: The Florida Keys Category: Arts & Culture
• Matecumbe Historical Trust presents: A History of the Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea
• Barbara at 305-393-0940
• Distinguished guest speaker Bob Bernreuter will offer stories and imagery on the only Catholic Church in Key West and its famed Grotto built by Sister Louis Gabriel containing the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette which was dedicated on May 25, 1922. Seeds of faith by 16th century missionaries in a new world were nurtured into a parish that survived the storms of nature and war, and ultimately would earn the attention of Rome. Though the original Saint Mary Star of the Sea on Duval Street was destroyed by fire in 1901, the new church on Windsor Street was completed within four years. The church’s construction embraced the island’s natural elements using stone blocks made from the oolitic limestone dug from the church grounds. Starts at 6:30 p.m. at Island Community Church, 83250 Overseas Highway.

• Jun 19, 2019 Location: Islamorada Category: Arts & Culture
• Immerse Yourself presentation: Is Diving for Dollars Worth the Risks Involved?
• Website
• Dive back in time to the 1980's when the recovery of 95 gold bars, worth more than $80 million dollars, was brought back from the WWII ship, HMS Edinburgh. Capt. Dick Magaldi takes guests through the most daring underwater recovery of treasure at depths exceeding 850 ft! Some of these brave men sustained injuries that would remain with them the rest of their lives. Presented by Capt. Dick Magaldi, Maritime Historian. Immerse Yourself Lectures are free to attend, and held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Exhibits and museum store open until 6:45 p.m., exhibit tickets sold until 6:15 p.m.

• Jun 20, 2019 Location: Key West Category: Arts & Culture
• Key West Theater presents: Brian Imbus, Mentalist
• Website
• Brian Imbus is an internationally recognized Mentalist that has performed for thousands of audiences for over 20 years. Brian has performed at over 3,000 professional engagements, has Hypnotized over 100,000 people. ‘Miracles of the Mind’ includes a unique blend of humor, psychological illusion, and hypnosis. Predic-tions will be made, minds will be read and one impossible finale will add an exclamation point to this award winning performance! Doors open 7 p.m., show starts 8 p.m.

• Jun 21, 2019 - Jun 23, 2019 Location: Key West Category: Arts & Culture
• Key West International Guitar Festival: Bridges to Paradise
• Mateo 305-304-1437 Email Website
• The festival features a fusion of master guitarists performing classical, jazz, Latin, blues, folk & contemporary music in historic venues throughout the island, in a series of world-class concerts. Food and wine events are to be paired with music throughout the island offering a culinary and cultural experience highlighted by a special event, “Virtuoso Chefs of Key West.” Featured artists include Mateo, Belle, Rolando Rojas and Larry Baeder. Tickets on sale April 6, online.

• Jun 22, 2019 Location: Key Largo Category: Arts & Culture
• REEF's Citizen Science Saturday: Seagrass Monitoring Workshop
• Website
• Seagrass meadows cover much of the seafloor in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and are a vital habitat in the Keys' coral reef ecosystem. They act as a nursery and feeding grounds for animals including manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, and a variety of reef fish and invertebrates. After a classroom lesson participants head straight to MarineLab for a short land-based survey practice and swim test, followed by a boat trip to conduct seagrass monitoring surveys while snorkeling. Afterwards, participants may join a seagrass data analysis workshop with MarineLab staff. From 9AM to 12:45, register online.

• Jun 27, 2019 Location: Key Largo Category: Arts & Culture
• Free Fish ID Class
• Website
• On the last Thursday of each month, underwater photographers and local naturalists Carlos and Allison Estape present a different informative and educational lesson about how to identify fish species found in the Florida Keys and throughout the Caribbean. Marine life enthusiasts of all levels are invited to attend. Class is free and open to the public. Starts at 7PM, REEF Interpretive Center, 98300 Overseas Hwy., mile marker 98.3 in the median.

• Jun 28, 2019 - Jun 30, 2019 Location: Key West Category: Arts & Culture
• Mystery Fest Key West
• Website
• Renowned mystery writers, aspiring authors, true crime experts and fans meet in America’s southernmost city. The Fest features a who’s-who of award-winning and bestselling mystery/suspense authors and true crime experts, Mystery Fest Key West is a fun and fascinating meet-and-greet where writers can catch up with old friends and readers can meet leading authors, collect signed books and participate in workshops, panels, and presentations where the most devious of minds explain why—and how—they do it.