Celebrate the Florida Keys

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The nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square, Key West

Photo Credit: Bob Krist, Florida News Bureau

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Beautiful sunset in Marathon - part of the fabulous Florida Keys!

Photo Credit: Jim Gunter

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Underwater Music Festival, Islamorada

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Pulling in a dolphin fish off the coast of Islamorada

Photo Credit: Doug Kelly

The calendar holds the keys to what the Florida Keys are all about: the water, the arts, the food and the heritage.

This winter and spring, visitors can celebrate its marvelous attributes every day, but especially during annual festivals, tournaments and other events that focus the spotlight on the best of the Florida Keys. Plan to time your visit around one or more of these red-letter occasions.


Just Add Water

The Keys’ fishbowl-clear waters and trippy-hued reefs are its greatest gift to mankind, so getting out on a boat to fish, snorkel, dive or merely sightsee is required. If you need a better reason, the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament in January pays off a $30,000 winner-takes-all prize in this 30-boat tourney headquartered in the Sportsfishing Capital of the World. April 5-8, island anglers cast for a different sort of fish in flats instead of deep water during the Islamorada All-Tackle Spring Bonefish Tournament.

Mahi-mahi is the catch of the day every day during the Fifth Annual Marathon Offshore Bull and Cow Dolphin Tournament, taking place April 29-May 1.

On Easter Sunday, April 24, the Scuba Bunny will plant decorated eggs in four feet of water at Grecian Rocks reef for Key Largo’s Underwater Easter Egg Hunt. Kids of all ages snorkel or dive for the real eggs, in the ultimate quest for the golden egg and the grand prize.

Keying in on Art

Water attracts artists like fish to bait, so it’s no wonder art communities school in the Keys and celebrate the rampant creativity that seems to be in the air – and in the water. Each year, artists from around the U.S. and abroad descend on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and other venues to construct their oversized abstract and realistic works during Sculpture Key West, which runs through April 15.

International artists at the Annual Pigeon Key Art Festival in February in Marathon must devote half of their work to tropic themes, and many choose Pigeon Key’s rich railroad history heritage.

The Lower Keys, home to July’s annual Underwater Music Festival, surfaces April 2 to present the Lower Keys Music Festival, featuring styles from country to reggae. Key West too celebrates music from April 27-May 1 at its world-famous Key West Songwriters’ Festival, in its 16th year of entertaining.

Sea. Food.

The Keys dish up an extra helping of seafood, cuisine and wine at such festivals as the inaugural Key West Food & Wine Festival, Jan. 26-29. The Key Largo Stone Crab & Seafood Festival, Jan. 30 and 31, pays special homage to its eponymous rock-hard shellfish, while the 36th Annual Original Marathon Seafood Festival revels in the variety and bounty of Keys fin and shell fish March 10 and 11.

Island Heritage

One Keys’ culinary specialty, conch, derives from its Bahamian roots and ties. Islanders celebrate their conch-connection in Key West on March 6 during the 50th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

Key West, which once declared its secession from the Union as the Conch Republic, rejoices in its freedom from mainland, mainstream existence at the 29th Conch Republic Independence Celebration, April 22-May 1.

This article is brought to you by The Florida Keys & Key West Tourist Development Council. For more information on celebrating Keys’ style, visit The Florida Keys & Key West's website at www.fla-keys.com, or call 800-FLA-KEYS.