Key West

Boats made of thin plywood and duct tape don’t sound very seaworthy, but they’re the only vessels allowed in the 28th annual Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta, expected to provide maximum merriment for spectators Sunday, May 26.

The second six months of each year in the Florida Keys & Key West are always festive, with lively and offbeat events throughout the 125-mile-long island chain. There are always only-in-the Keys activities for visitors eager to enjoy marine life and the unique environment, fresh dock-to-dish seafood and luscious cuisine and the engagingly laid-back atmosphere of the Keys.

Watersports enthusiasts on paddleboards and other self-propelled watercraft can race around the continental United States’ southernmost island during the annual Key West Paddle Classic. The challenge highlights a long weekend of action-oriented events scheduled Thursday through Sunday, May 2-5. 

Behind-the-scenes tours of Florida’s only presidential museum, discussions of former President Harry S. Truman’s efforts to promote fire safety and historic preservation, and presentations by experts await attendees at the 17th annual Truman Legacy Symposium in Key West. 

The writers behind some of America’s hottest contemporary tunes are to perform for Key West audiences in listener-friendly settings during the 24th Key West Songwriters Festival. An annual tradition that brings together music lovers and over 150 music makers, the festival is scheduled Wednesday through Sunday, May 8-12.

Female impersonators are to transform the 700 block of Key West’s Duval Street into an improvised speedway Saturday, April 20, entertaining crowds of spectators during the wacky Great Conch Republic Drag Race. 

The Florida Keys & Key West continue to unveil new and fully renovated resorts throughout the 125-mile-long island chain.

Aspiring and current Conch Republic citizens can celebrate the offbeat “nation’s” birthday April 19-28 with activities including a lighthearted sea battle for tall ships and a drag race for men dressed as women.

Audiences can celebrate world music with an emphasis on Cuban rhythms during the annual Afro Roots Fest showcase in Key West. Music and film events are planned Thursday through Saturday, April 18-20, in multiple venues around the Florida Keys island that lies just 90 miles from Havana.

With the global “Protect Our Species” theme for Earth Day 2019, it’s easy to participate in a variety of meaningful, memorable activities to “Connect & Protect” in the rich natural environment of the Florida Keys & Key West.