Key West Celebrates the 32nd Annual Hemingway Days

Hemingway Days is here again! And I know this for sure because when out and about Key West this week I feel like I have just stepped into a movie like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. Have you seen it? Well, if you haven’t I won’t ruin it for you. But everywhere you go this week you will see Hemingway lookalikes. For the last 32 years Key West has celebrated it most famed resident’s birthday with several events, the most famous being the Hemingway lookalike contest and the Drambuie Marlin Tournament. Here is a complete list of celebratory events:

DAILY

• Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum guided tours. Visit the home where Hemingway lived throughout the 1930s and wrote some of his most enduring classics. 907 Whitehead St. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 17

• 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Hemingway in Key West” museum exhibition. Explore Ernest Hemingway’s life in Key West, fishing adventures, Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad and the hurricane of 1935. View rarely exhibited Hemingway photographs and memorabilia, including previously unseen items from the Bruce Family Archive. Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front St. Exhibition continues throughout Hemingway Days and beyond.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

• 4-6 p.m. Registration for the Key West Marlin Tournament. Anglers compete for $50,000 in guaranteed cash prizes for targeting marlin, spearfish, dolphin, tuna and wahoo. Conch Republic Seafood Co., 631 Greene St. 
• 5:30 p.m. Meet the “Papas.” Get to know the contestants and previous winners of the “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Attractions include a cash bar and Hemingway-esque hors d’oeuvres. Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
• 6-8 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament captains meeting, auction and raffle. Conch Republic Seafood Co.
• 8-10 p.m. “Voices, Places, Inspirations.” This evening of readings and presentations features mystery novelist Michael Haskins, “Key West Bucket List” author David Sloan, writer/editor Wendy Tucker and author/editor/poet George Murphy. Wyland Galleries of Key West, 623 Duval St. Free admission. 

THURSDAY, JULY 19

• 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament first day of fishing.
• 9-10:30 a.m. “Coffee and Donuts with the Papas.” Join past Look-Alike Contest winners and current competitors for a lighthearted “coffee break” at Cypress House, a historic inn at 601 Caroline St.
• 4-6 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Conch Republic Seafood Co. docks.
• 6 p.m. Hemingway Look-Alike Society scholarship presentations. The society is to announce the winners of its annual scholarships for Florida Keys students. Sloppy Joe’s Bar.
• 6:30 p.m. Sloppy Joe’s 32nd annual “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, first preliminary round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe’s Bar. $35 entry fee. Free to watch.
• 6:30 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament cocktail party. Festivities for anglers include a Key West-style pig roast. Doubletree Grand Key Resort. Free to tournament participants.
• 8 p.m. “Hemingway On Stage: In Deadly Ernest.” The final segment of actor Brian Gordon Sinclair’s six-part one-man dramatic presentation on Hemingway’s life focuses on his later years and final days. Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St. All proceeds benefit the Key West Art & Historical Society. $10 per ticket. For advance tickets call 305-295-6616, ext. 106, or purchase tickets one hour before the performance at the door at Tropic Cinema.
• 9:45 p.m. Canada’s “Hemingway On Stage” Award Presentation. Brian Gordon Sinclair is to present the $1,000 “Hemingway On Stage” award for extraordinary dedication to the festival. Tropic Cinema. Cost included in admission to play.

FRIDAY, JULY 20

• 8:30 a.m.- Key West Marlin Tournament’s second day of fishing.
• 11:30 a.m. Jean Klausing Memorial Performance of “Hemingway On Stage: In Deadly Ernest.” Honoring Sloppy Joe’s late manager emeritus Jean Klausing, Brian Gordon Sinclair reprises his one-man dramatic presentation. Tropic Cinema. All proceeds benefit the Hemingway Look-Alike Society Scholarship Fund. $10 per ticket. For advance tickets call 305-295-6616, ext. 106, or purchase tickets one hour before the performance at the door at Tropic Cinema.
• 1:30 p.m. “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Fish-Off. Cheer your favorites as the “Papas” compete in this dockside catch-and-release challenge using traditional “Cuban yo-yos.” Conch Republic Seafood Co. docks. Free to watch.
• 4-6 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Conch Republic Seafood Co. docks.
• 6:30-8 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament dockside cocktail party and fish fry. Conch Republic Seafood Co. Free to tournament participants.
• 6:30 p.m. Sloppy Joe’s 32nd annual “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, second preliminary round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe’s Bar. $35 entry fee. Free to watch.
• 8 p.m. Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition winners announcement and reception. This literary highlight takes place at Hemingway’s first Key West residence, Casa Antigua. Events include a presentation on Casa Antigua’s history by owner Tom Oosterhoudt and a reading of the winning short story. 314 Simonton St. Free admission.
• 8:30-11 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament Party Key West-style. Enjoy an exuberant island-style gathering for tournament participants at Key West’s popular Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, 4 Charles St.

SATURDAY, JULY 21

• 8:30 a.m.- Key West Marlin Tournament’s third day of fishing.
• 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Caribbean Street Fair presented by HELPLINE. Much of Duval Street is closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into an open-air island market with arts, crafts, jewelry, tropical clothing and food. Plus view the former side gate from Hemingway’s Key West home, to be auctioned during the festival to benefit HELPLINE. For info, call 305-292-8445.
• Noon Photos with “Papas.” “Papa” Hemingway look-alikes provide a photo opportunity for fans. Greene Street outside Sloppy Joe’s.
• 1 p.m. Running of the Bulls. This wacky event is sponsored by Sloppy Joe’s Bar and features past “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest winners dressed in their Pamplona best — and a breed of “bull” found only in Key West. The fun takes place outside Sloppy Joe’s.
• 1-4 p.m. Hemingway 5k Sunset Run/Walk Signup at Caribbean Street Fair. Sign up at the booth at Fleming and Duval streets for the popular run/walk that begins at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States. (Entrants must still pick up race number and timing chip at Southernmost Hotel between 5 and 7:15 p.m.) $35 entry fee. For info and registration, call 305-240-0727.
• 1:30 p.m. Hemingway’s Birthday Cake. Proud “Papas” are to celebrate the 113th anniversary of Ernest’s July 21 birth with birthday cake at Sloppy Joe’s following the Running of the Bulls.
• 3-5 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Conch Republic Seafood Co. docks.
• 5-7:15 p.m. Hemingway 5k Sunset Run/Walk registration. Register and pick up race packets for the popular run/walk that begins at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States. Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St. $35 entry fee. For info, call 305-240-0727.
• 6:30 p.m. Key West Marlin Tournament awards banquet and silent auction. Cocktails and silent auction are set for 6:30, with the dinner and awards presentations to follow at 7:30. Open to tournament participants and their guests only. Westin Key West Resort, 245 Front St.
• 6:30 p.m. Sloppy Joe’s 32nd annual “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, final round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Free to watch.
• 7:30 p.m. Hemingway 5k Sunset Run/Walk through Old Town Key West. Racers start at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States, Whitehead and South streets, and proceed through Old Town Key West and along the scenic waterfront. An awards ceremony is scheduled after the race at the Southernmost Hotel. For info and registration, call 305-240-0727.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

• 11 a.m. Sloppy Joe’s Arm Wrestling Championship. Registration is set for 11 a.m. to noon and contest begins at noon. Prizes await winners in multiple weight categories. Sloppy Joe’s. $5 entry fee; free to watch.
• 7 p.m. “To Have and Have Not” Film Showcase at Tropic Cinema. View the classic film version of Ernest Hemingway’s novel set in Key West. Film begins at 8 p.m.; the event also includes a reception and silent auction benefiting HELPLINE. Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St. For info and ticketing, call 305-292-8445.

For more information about things to do and see in our island city, go to our Key West Web Site. You can also visit our Key West Events Calendar to see more details on upcoming special events.