Key West Mermaid Festival

July 1 – 5, 2023

The Key West Crew and Mermaid Pod are over the waves excited to bring you this 5^th Annual five-day festival, packed with so many fun and “mervelous” events. From “Mermaid Meet & Greets” and our “Sunday Funday with Mermaids”, to mermaid vendors with a splash of entertainment and heaps of ocean awareness, dancing under the sea, and much, much more! 

With activities for the little mermaids and adult mermaids young at heart, the Key West Mermaid Festival is family-friendly and welcomes everyone from across all of our oceans!

Please join us in 2023 for this five-day festival that will educate, entertain, and leave you feeling part of our world.

The Calendar of Events Coming Soon!

The Key Lime Festival

July 4 – July 7

The Key Lime Festival is a four-day event of all things lime. The 8th Annual Key Lime Pie Festival features a pie-eating contest, a scavenger hunt, a martini and margarita competition, a guided tour, and more. Learn about the history of key limes and have your hand at judging Key West’s best creations. There are also private culinary events taking place throughout the weekend. Buy your tickets soon, as they are expected to sell out. 

2022 Schedule

Thursday, June 30th 

Key Lime Kick Off!  

Cookbook Signing & Champagne Reception 6:30 – 8 PM

Curry Mansion, 511 Caroline St.

Sip Champagne on the veranda of the 1869 mansion where Key Lime Pie was first created and meet Key Lime Festival co-founder and Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook author, David L. Sloan.

Autographed Cookbook and Champagne Reception : $25  Champagne Reception Only: $10

Living The Key Lime Life Dinner 

8PM $75 / per person + tax

Kaya Island Eats cordially invites you to a celebration of the Key lime life!  A beautiful 4 course meal prepared by Chef Scott Taylor and the Kaya culinary team.  After dinner join us for live Reggae music in the backyard bar.  Text or Call to book your reservation (305) 395-0213

Friday, July 1st

Mini Key Lime Pie Class 

10 AM & Noon

Key West Key Lime Pie Co., 511 Greene St.

Learn the secret recipe, get in the kitchen and create your very own mini key lime pie!

Call to reserve your spot 305-517-5980

Key Lime Rum Tasting 

Noon – 5 PM

Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, 105 Simonton St.  FREE

Atmosphere TV’s Cooldown Lounge 

Noon – 6PM

Beat the heat at Mary Ellen’s Bar. Soak up the AC and enjoy a cold beverage while watching Atmosphere TV. Guaranteed feel good vibes! FREE

Wheeling & Dealing Hot Wheels Race 

3 – 5PM

Mary Ellen’s Bar, 420 Applerouth Ln

Epic thrills and revving creativity. Do you have what it takes to win the race?!? FREE

Key Lime Tree Master Class 

4- 5PM

MARC Plant Store, 1401 Seminary St.

Learn how to care for and grow your very own key lime tree. A Key West souvenir unlike any other! $50.00

Fun Rum and Sun

Presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum 

5PM

Rick’s, 202 Duval St

Learn about Blue Chair Bay Rum. Try our three most popular Key Lime Cocktails and get a chance to win a Kenny Chesney Signed guitar. * You must be present to win! * FREE

Key Lime…Not Just For Pie!

A Tasting Experience 

6:30 – 7:30 PM

Chef’s Presentation – Showcasing Alternative Uses for Key Lime

Hyatt Centric, 601 Front St.

Sample an assortment of Key Lime Hors D’ouevres presented by Executive Chef, Pietro Consorti.  Complimentary Welcome Drink Included.  $50 + tax / person

If you stay for dinner at SHOR, enjoy a 20% discount on your meal.

Saturday, July 2nd

Key Lime Vendor Village

10 AM – 2 PM

Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead St.  FREE

Key Lime Pie Drop

Presented by Atmosphere TV 

11 AM – 2 PM

Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead St.

Come out to see Key West’s most creative minds attempt to outsmart gravity by finding a way to drop a Key Lime Pie from the top of the lighthouse to the ground… without damaging the pie. Try dropping your own pie, or just enjoy the spectacle from the ground.

FREE to Watch or to Enter the competition.  Winner will take home CASH MONEY $$$

Atmosphere TV’s Cooldown Lounge 

Noon – 6PM

Beat the heat at Mary Ellen’s Bar. Soak up the AC and enjoy a cold beverage while watching Atmosphere TV. Guaranteed feel good vibes! FREE

Key Lime Sip & Stroll 

3 – 6PM

If you like to drink & judge, this is the event for you! Decide who makes the best Key Lime cocktail on the island as multiple bars compete for your vote with the finest key lime margaritas and key lime ‘open’ cocktail in Key West.

Check-in at our Key Lime Festival Hub: First Flight Restaurant, 301 Whitehead St. $55.00

Sunday, July 3rd

Key Lime Pie Hop! 

Tours start on the half hour beginning at 11AM. 

Last tour starts at 1:30PM

Check-in 20 minutes prior to tour time @ Conch Republic Seafood Company, 631 Greene St.

$55.00

Chive Beats & Brunch

Hosted at First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery 

11AM – 2pm

Join First Flight and The CHIVE for our First Annual CHIVE Beats & Brunch Celebration! The lush garden provides the perfect setting to mingle and enjoy House Brews, Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and a variety of BRUNCH stations complete with a Key Lime Pie Display!  First Flight and The Chive are proud to be representing the Key Lime Pie Festival! Enjoy “yard games” and 4th of July Flair!  DJ Aaron Moore mixing up the jams with the CHIVE NATION in the house!

$45 per person (Brunch Only) + $25 for 3 Hour Open Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar.  Cash bar available

Atmosphere TV’s Cooldown Lounge 

Noon – 6PM

Beat the heat at Mary Ellen’s Bar. Soak up the AC and enjoy a cold beverage while watching Atmosphere TV.

Guaranteed feel good vibes! FREE

Key Lime Paint ‘N Chug  

1:30PM

Paint ‘N Chug hosted by local artist Lance Berry. This painting comedy hour (or two) remixes the common paint & sip with comedy, games & more.

Doors Open at 1:30PM – Painting Starts at 2PM – $40

Key Lime Scavenger Hunt 

2:30PM Check in, Hunt 3PM – 6PM

Conch Republic Seafood Company, 631 Greene St.

$50 + FREE Key Lime Mojito or Margarita

Key Lime Dewey Deck

Dinner & Wine Pairing

La Mer & Dewey House, 506 South St

Lavish, 5 course, key lime inspired, wine pairing dinner on La Mer & Dewey Deck at the Southernmost Beach Resort’s guesthouses.  $110 / person + tax.  Reservations Required

Monday, July 4th

4th of July Firecracker 5K 

7:30AM

Race begins and ends at the Edward B. Knight Pier located at 1801 White Street.

World Famous

Key Lime Pie Eating Championship!  

Doors Open 12:30PM, Contest at 1:30PM

Southernmost Beach Café, 1405 Duval St.

FREE to Watch | $25 to enter the Championship.  Come enjoy the Beach and Key Lime family friendly games.

Dante’s 4th of July Pool Party! 

11AM – 6PM

Stars and Stripes rule the day! Grab your star spangled swim suits & head over for a day of drinks, live music and all the fun!

Dante’s Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant, 955 Caroline St. FREE

The Rotary Club of Key West Presents

Patriotic Dinner

Under the Fireworks 

7PM

Bring the whole family to the Patriotic Party by the Ed Knight Pier.  Enjoy food, music, and of course, fireworks!

Indigenous Park, 1801 White St.

Dinner by Catered Affairs – Cash Bar Available

Seating Starts @ 7 PM $100/Person

Fireworks Viewing Cruise

Jump aboard a Fury Catamaran for a fireworks display on July 4th. This special holiday trip includes drinks and snacks while watching the fireworks over the water. Tickets are expected to sell out for Fury’s 4th of July Celebration, so grab your tickets soon. There are four specific events to chose from, including a sunset sail and glass bottom boat excursion.

Departure time ranges from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  888-976-0899

Best Spots to Watch Fireworks in Key West

Let’s face it, the 4th of July is all about the fireworks. If you’re seeking the perfect spot to catch the fireworks show, you have a few choices. Fireworks go off at White Street Pier just after the sun goes down. Smathers Beach and Higgs Beach are two favorite spots to view the show. If you aren’t staying in one of beach condos with a private view, be sure to arrive prepared early as those locations can get crowded quickly.