Key West’s annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration honors our eccentric community’s “secession” from the United States. This raucous celebration, which kicks off on Friday, April 15, and runs through Sunday, April 24, includes a hilarious roster of zany and wacky events that could only happen in the Florida Keys.
So how did this all come about? Well, here’s the back story:
Like many nations, the Conch Republic was born from trouble. In March of 1982, the US Government placed a Roadblock in Florida City. A seventeen-mile backup quickly ensued as the Border Patrol searched every car leaving or entering the Keys. The reason? Illegal drugs and aliens might be hidden under the front seats, in glove compartments, and in trunks — oh my!
Reports of the Border Patrol’s unprecedented action and the traffic jams circumvented the world. Visitors began canceling their reservations, and community leaders soon realized that the Keys’ budding tourism industry was at stake. 
Key West filed an injunction against the government’s action in Federal Court, but the Court refused to stop the Border Patrol from treating the Keys like a foreign country. As the Key West delegation left the courthouse, they were met by a gaggle of the world press asking, “What are you going to do, Mr. Mayor?” Mayor Wardlow replied, “We are going to secede.” And just like that, the Conch Republic was born.
On April 23, a new Conch Republic flag was raised over Key West City Hall and also flown on the mast of the Schooner Western Union. The Western Union then proceeded to sail into the harbor and attack the US Coast Guard Cutter DILIGENCE. The Coast Guard’s fire hoses wiped out the Western Union’s arsenal of water balloons, Conch fritters and stale Cuban bread. Thus commenced the Great Battle of the Conch Republic.
Now the “Prime Minister” of the Conch Republic, Wardlow immediately surrendered and demanded foreign aid from the United States (which we are still waiting for).
Today, the Conch Republic exists as a sovereign state of mind and signifies our vision of an America we are proud to be part of.
For more info on this year’s festival and a complete list of events, go to conchrepublic.com.
Long Live the Conch Republic!
