Florida Keys Spring Festivals – Fun Worth Traveling For

The Florida Keys have some of the most creative and fun festivals in the world.  Spring is a great time to come experience the unique Florida Keys spring festivals and celebrations.

Source: VisitFlorida.com

For the last 100 years, the keys have beckoned fun-loving vacationers to its colorful islands, so it’s no surprise that each island celebrates with its own unique festivals throughout the year.  Stretching for 100 miles and crossing 42 bridges, charming islands of the Florida Keys reveal themselves as you make your way from laid-back Key Largo to jumping Key West.  A vacation in the Florida Keys promises days of play in azure waters, some of the best seafood in America, lively island bars scenes, and young-at-heart entertainment.

It’s time to start booking your favorite Florida Keys waterfront hotel and come for a rollicking good time in the Florida Keys.  Whether you choose to stay at the most popular of all, Key West, at the tip of the Keys, Islamorada the fishing capital that is mid-way, or at the top of the Keys in peaceful Key Largo, all of these areas have great, budget-friendly accommodations that help make these wonderful Spring Festivals well worth the trip!

March Florida Keys Festivals

14th Annual Sombrero Beach Run Weekend, 3/6-8  This event attracts several hundred racing circuit runners to a weekend filled with sunshine and athletic fun. With an abundance of food, drinks, music, and entertainment, the running event begins Saturday at Sombrero Beach at the end of Sombrero Beach Road, mile marker 50. Awards are given to overall finishers in the 10k run, 5k run and 5k walk.

Buckles and Boots, Annual Cocktail Party for Habitat For Humanity Upper Keys, 3/6  This is a very special cocktail party event to benefit the charity Habitat For Humanity takes place from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Islander Resort Conference Center, Islamorada, mile marker 82.   This year, Grammy-winning artist, Huey Lewis well be the guest speaker and he has donated a two-night stay at his Montana ranch, including a day of fishing for two with him aboard his boat. All tickets may be purchased online.

58th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, 3/7  The beloved Conch has a deep tradition in the Florida Keys in terms of cuisine, decoration and music.  This unique contest is a celebration of the beautiful conch shell and features contestants in several age categories attempting to make “music” with fluted conch shells. Contest located in the garden of the Oldest House, 322 Duval Street, free and open to all ages. Registration begins at 10 a.m., contest starts at noon.

60th Annual Key West Home Tours, 3/13-14  Much of the charm of visiting Key West is strolling through the narrow streets and marveling at the picturesque island architecture.  Indeed many tropical destinations seek to replicate the “Key West Style”.  Every year visitors have the opportunity to tour a series of elegant and unique private homes of Key West.  Tours are offered 10 am to 4 pm each day. This is a walking or biking tour. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 on tour days. Proceeds benefit the foundation’s Oldest House Museum, grant and scholarship programs.

Marathon Island Seafood Festival, 3/14-15  Located in the Middle Keys, this family-friendly event celebrates all the seafood delicacies that make the Florida Keys such a foodie destination.  The annual munch-fest takes place at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 oceanside. There is live music, vendor booths, sweets, treats and beverages available.

Source: VisitFlorida.com

29th Annual Florida Keys Festival, 3/28-29  Islamorada, ‘sport fishing capital of the world’, is the place to be for this festival of island fun featuring an art show with nearly 100 artists and crafters, live music, and a “Taste of the Islands” foodie competition. Free admission, festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Founder’s Park, mile marker 87 bayside on Plantation Key. On-site parking for a $5 donation. Sponsored by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce.

39th Annual 7 Mile Bridge Run, 3/28  This annual fun run attracts 1,500 runners who participate in the annual foot race across the longest of the 42 bridges that help comprise the Florida Keys Overseas Highway. Sponsored by the Marathon Runners Club. The bridge is to be closed from 6:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.

April Florida Keys Festivals

5th Annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade, 4/3  This parade celebrates the unique artistic works of local Key Largo folk artist Stanley Papio who took the art of creating mobiles and kinetic sculptures from found materials to new heights.  The people-powered parade of mobile sculptures crafted in the spirit of his extraordinary creations features colorful sculptural floats, tricycles with exotically costumed riders, fantastically decorated bicycles and other moving works of art — all powered by human effort alone — and are to follow a route along the length of Key West’s Duval Street.

8th Annual Winter Lionfish Derby, 4/4  The showy Lionfish is a delight to gaze at, but it has become a dangerous invasive species in the Florida Keys as it often kills off native plants and other fish species.  This derby to catch the most and largest Lionfish, is staged at Sharkey’s Pub and Galley Restaurant in Key Largo.

Source: Pixabay.com

Stock Island Seafood Celebration, 4/16-19  Stock Island has a beautiful marina and an abundance of local seafood.  This festival includes the Shrimp Road Seafood & Craft Beer Festival April 18, a dog- and family-friendly fest from 4-7 p.m. that will take place at The Perry Hotel’s new event waterfront event lawn with live music and plenty of free parking. The weekend includes seafood seminars, cooking classes, and more, hosted by The Perry Hotel Key West and Stock Island Marina Village.

38th Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration, 4/17-26  This 10-day festival celebrates the mock secession of the Florida Keys from the Union on April 23, 1982.  It all came about when the border patrol put up a checkpoint at the entrance to the keys and stopped everyone coming and going for inspection.  The dramatic stunt had the desired effect and the short-lived Conch Republic has been celebrated ever since.  Today the festival features daily fun events, parades and all kinds of “Fun-dependence”!

May Florida Keys Festivals

Key West Songwriters Festival, 5/6-10 This annual music event, now in its 24th year, attracts some of the leading singer-songwriters in the world to share their talents and enthusiasm.  Intimate performances are staged in audience-friendly island settings. The festival promises five days and nights of big stars in intimate settings, new emerging talents, and stories behind the songs.

Key Largo Original Music Festival, 5/14-17  This four-day festival has something for all ages.  The festival features “live knee-slapping and foot-tapping performances”.  Original hits are performed by artists from Nashville, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and Florida, all excelling in country, folk, pop, rock and blues.

Inaugural Key West Bourbon, Blues & BBQ Festival, 5/21  What’s better than a brand new festival to salute whiskeys, music and food from around the world. The festival will include Highlights a Flair Bartending Competition, BBQ Competitions, Southernmost Bourbon Cocktail Contest, Beach Party, Top Name Blues Artists and much more.

June Florida Keys Festivals

Key West Pride Celebration, 6/3-7  It’s clear that the Florida Keys celebrate their pride in diversity all year long, but come June, it breaks out its colors for Pride week in a big way.  The 5-day event includes daytime pool and beach parties, late-night drag shows, on-the-water adventures ranging from snorkeling and kayaking to glass-bottom boat tours, a street fair, and pageants to select Mr., Miss and Ms. Key West Pride.

6th Annual Coralpaloozam 6/5-6  In honor of World Oceans Day, this is a dive event where participants will join Coral Restoration Foundation to plant coral and help restore area reefs.  There will be hands-on training on Friday,  followed by a day of  Keys-wide restoration activities on Saturday. Participants must be dive certified to engage in undersea plantings, but there are many activities open to snorkelers and landlubbers as well, for a family-friendly day of land-based activities happening at the Exploration Center.

Key West Mango Festival, 6/25-28  In celebration of the “King of Fruits”, this festival is about all things Mango!  There will be mango daiquiris, mango salsa, mango inspired music, mango-colored decorations and mango cooking competitions of all descriptions.

Mystery Fest Key West, 6/26  What more perfect place to gather Mystery Writers than the hidden coves and storied islands of the Florida Keys.  For more than 100 years writers have been drawn to the Keys to write their masterpiece, and at this festival, renowned mystery writers share their craft with book signings, writing workshops, panel discussions, and presentations.  Whether you are a writer yourself or have dreams to be one, here’s where to meet like-minded writers.

In addition to all these fun Florida Keys events, there are a steady number of fishing tournaments, art shows, boating excursions, fun runs, celebrity performers and First-Friday celebrations to take in as well.  It’s always time for fun in the Florida Keys!