The Southernmost Elves have been hard at work, cooking up a festive holiday season to banish the ghosts of all Christmases Past!
Never before has there been such a cornucopia of things to see and do, from Thanksgiving Eve through New Years Night, in the Southernmost City! Here are some highlights (there’s actually much more; these are just some of our favorites) to get you into the holiday spirit, island style. And don’t forget the shopping opportunities! Our local merchants are offering great bargains on treasures to be found no where else but Key West!
Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25
If you were lucky enough to be spending the Thanksgiving holidays in Key West, you perhaps joined the festivities to kick off the 2009 holiday season with the lighting of the Key West “Harbor Walk of Lights” at what we locals call “The Bight” and may appear on your map as “Historic Seaport”. The switch was flipped on thousands of holiday lights lining the Historic Seaport Harbor Walk, which runs for four blocks along the waterfront where Green, William, Margaret, and Grinnell Streets meet the Gulf of Mexico. The lights will sparkle on the water every night through New Years night.
Thursday, December 3: Lighting of the Southernmost Christmas Trees
Harbor Walk of Lights
Shortly after sunset, the Harbor Walk of Lights will become complete with the lighting of four Southernmost Christmas Trees, one located at each plaza along the Harbor Walk and one in the Key West Ferry Terminal. The smell of natural pines mingling with the tang of salty sea breeze is unique to a Caribbean Christmas.
Saturday, December 5: Annual Christmas parade, beginning at 7 PM
Originating at Bayview Park, traveling to Duval Street via Truman Ave., then Duval Street to the Gulf.
If you’re “of a certain age”, you probably grumble about how much more meaningful Christmas used to be. You know, before TV commercials and internet ads moved the gifting frenzy to late summer. Back when everyone in town turned out to see the local high school band march down Main Street in the annual Christmas parade.
Here’s your chance to catch a Memory Lane glimpse into a best-kept secret that, thriving quietly in the shadow of Key West’s presence as a world class travel destination, is its lesser-known persona as Smalltown USA, where hardworking folk raise their families and rally behind community causes.
A true, old-fashioned, community event as only Key West could do it, the Holiday Parade is an incongruous conglomoration of the playful, provocative, religious, and mythical – what more delightful mix for the child in all of us?
Local dignitaries (if one can use that word in Key West) ride the route in convertibles. Floats fashioned from light-strewn boats on trailers and pickup trucks sporting banners representing various local organizations alternate with bands exuberantly playing Christmas carols. Fire trucks, drag queens, schools, civic clubs, and churches peacefully merge, exuding the spirit of the season, while everywhere, candy flies through the air and excited children scramble from their curbside viewing spots to retrieve it.
Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Claus – gender assignation unimportant, in a nod to Key West’s official motto, “One Human Family” – is always a highlight!
Sunday, December 6: Schooner Wharf Tree Trimming Party 5 PM
Schooner Wharf Bar & Galley on the Harbor Walk of Lights at The Bight
Bring a nautical ornament to hang on the Schooner Wharf Christmas tree, and enjoy a free cup of holiday cheer —- eggnog with rum, Swedish glogg or hot applejack. Prizes will be awarded for the most original, most nautical and most popular ornaments. Donate an unwrapped gift for the Toys for Tots toy drive and get – what else? — a free cocktail!
Friday & Saturday, December 11 & 12: Holiday Historic Inn Tour
5:50 – 8PM, various locations in Old Town (www.keywestinntour.com for schedule)
The holiday season is one of the most enchanting and beautiful times to visit Key West, and the annual Historic Lighted Inn Tour captures the essence of our tropical island. Sample refreshments provided by the finest Key West restaurants as you stroll from inn to inn, taking in each one’s individual personality.
The Tropical Inn is offering free tour tickets with a 3-night stay, both weekends of the tour. Check availability and book your room today!
Friday & Saturday, December 11 & 12: Reef Relief Holiday Cayo Carnival
Conch Republic Seafood at the Bight (Historic Key West Seaport) 5:00 – 11:00pm Friday & 11:00am – 11:00pm Saturday
The Holiday Cayo Carnival is back, under the big top tent outside the Conch Republic Seafood Company. Great food, drinks, music and entertainment to benefit one of the Keys’ most worthy causes, Reef Relief!
Saturday, December 12: Annual Lighted Boat Parade
6-8 PM at The Bight (Historic Key West Harbor)
This magical display of holiday lights and nautical creativity on the waters of the Bight is an annual Key West tradition. Boat owners vie for $20,500 in cash prizes.
Friday, December 18: Fourth Annual Free Christmas Concert and Bite of the Bight Holiday Food Tasting
Foot of Margaret Street the Harbor Walk of Lights, 5-9 PM
Another classic Key West community holiday event, this year’s celebration features music from perennial holiday favorite, the Gerald Adams Elementary School’s Steal Your Heart Steel Drum Band. You’ll also be treated to a diversity of special holiday performances, including a Reggae Christmas by Toko Irie and Family, a Country Christmas by C.W. Colt, “A Sailors Christmas” by Geoff Kaufman, and returning for their second year at the Bight Before Christmas Concert: the ever-popular traveling family band, The Doerfels.
Also that night, the best restaurants in the Harbor Walk area will be serving up their signature dishes at the “Bite of the Bight” Holiday Food Tasting. Bring a hearty appetite and leave jolly, full of holiday cheer!
Friday & Saturday, December 18 & 19: Holiday Historic Inn Tour 5:30 to 8PM
5:30 – 8PM, various locations in Old Town (www.keywestinntour.com for schedule)
Key West is known for its historic inns, and the Historic Lighted Inn Tour is the perfect way to view these magnificent properties decorated for the season, featuring art, fine food, and refreshments.
Free tour tickets when you stay 3 nights at The Tropical Inn! Check availability and book your room today!
Christmas Day, December 25: Festive holiday brunches, lunches, and dinners at Key West restaurants
Our world-class restaurants show off their best, vying with each other for the most creative gastronomical feats in honor of the day. Over-indulge in an elaborate hotel buffet, order ala carte from the special holiday menu at your favorite intimate eatery, or pack a gourmet picnic (don’t forget the champagne!), bike to the beach, dig your toes into the sand and toast envious friends back home in colder climes via cellphone! Now, that’s a Caribbean Christmas!
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 29 & 30: Old Island Restoration Foundation’s 50th Annual House Tours
Various locations (http://www.oirf.org/housetour.htm for schedule)
As part of the Old Island Days Celebration, there will be tours of spectacular historic homes decorated for the holidays. Walk from house to house or take a free ride on a Conch Tour train. If you love historic architecture and creative interior design, this is a “must do” – just like the Innkeeper’s Historic Holiday Inn Tours — so mark your calendar!
New Years Eve, Thursday, December 31
At the stroke of midnight, take your pick: the countdown lowering of the Giant Conch Shell at Sloppy Joe’s, the drop of the Pirate Wench from a 110-foot sailboat mast at Schooner Wharf, or the descent of local drag queen, Sushi, in the Red High Heel, in the 700 block of Duval Street. No matter the venue, don’t be surprised to see CNN cameras hovering! Key West has in recent years become a media darling, vying with New york’s Times Square, as Old Year meets New in the Conch Republic.
Balmy breezes and flip-flops will be the order of the evening for the celebration, when the Shell, the Wench, and Sushi-in-the-Shoe touch down at midnight. Champagne corks will pop, the confetti will fly, fireworks will fill the sky, and merriment will be at frenzy level in the streets of old Key West!
The Tropical Inn (only a block from Sushi’s performance – and a short walk to the others) is almost sold out for the Christmas/New Year holidays. Call today to secure your reservation!
