Key West’s renowned Fantasy Fest, scheduled Oct. 20-29, is more meaningful than ever this year. Why? Because it demonstrates Florida Keys residents’ spirit, resilience and determination to celebrate life and creativity -- even after Hurricane Irma’s unwelcome visit in early September.
The Key West Headdress Ball, the premier LGBT event of the annual Fantasy Fest extravaganza, is celebrating its 35th year of dazzling audiences. The glamorous gala takes place Thursday, Oct. 26, and will feature about 25 contestants showcasing outrageous original headdresses — including some far taller their wearers.
Each September, thousands of women converge on Key West for Womenfest, one of the largest gatherings of lesbians and their friends in North America. Set for Sept. 6-10 this year, it features dance parties, sports events, pool parties, and top-notch entertainment -- including two comedy shows by the incomparable Tig Notaro.
There’s a new “Papa” Hemingway in the island city where legendary author Ernest Hemingway lived during the 1930s. White-bearded Texan Richard Filip won the 2017 Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, the undisputed highlight of Key West's annual Hemingway Days celebration.
Key West frequently celebrates its historic Cuban connection with events that showcase our cultural ties to the nearby island nation. One such event will be the inaugural LGBT Art & Culture REvolution, set for Sept. 7-13. Key West attendees can enjoy everything from cigar, rum distillery and art gallery tours to Cuban music events and a special Cuba Libre brunch.
As the first widely-renowned author to make Key West his home, Ernest Hemingway inspired generations of writers and readers to follow in his footsteps and explore the island’s innate creativity. His legacy and love for Key West are celebrated each July during Hemingway Days.
For more than three decades, the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival has spotlighted coral reef protection and environmentally responsible diving. The unique “submerged songfest” takes place in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary at beautiful Looe Key Reef (about six miles south of Big Pine Key).
Florida Keys diners feast on local fish, shrimp, lobster and stone crab — often flavored with tropical fruits and spiced with influences from the island chain's rich melting-pot history. As well as fueling many local eateries’ success, this simply delicious cuisine has inspired culinary experiences from festivals to classes.
The finale of the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, called North America’s largest annual LGBT bartender competition, features 17 regional bartending champions from the U.S. and Canada plus a rocking lineup of celebrity judges — and it all takes place June 7-11 in Key West.
Key West Pride events, set for June 7-11, are not just about parties and parades, although there is certainly no lack of them. The celebration also offers visitors a chance to experience Key West’s “One Human Family” atmosphere of enthusiastic inclusion and recognition that all people are created equal.