Key Lime Aran McKinnaBirthplace of the original Key Lime Pie, Key West is bracing itself for the Annual Key Lime Festival, which runs from Thursday, June 30 through Monday, July 4. 

Citrus, eccentrics, people, and pie take center stage during this wacky five-day celebration packed with culinary events for every taste. 

Favorite happenings like the Key Lime Cocktail Sip & Stroll, Key Lime Pie Hop, and Key Lime Scavenger Hunt are all back on the roster, as well as the gravity-defying Key Lime Pie Drop – a family-friendly event where a Key Lime Pie is dropped from the top of the Key West lighthouse.

KW Key Lime Festival PieOf course, there are all kinds of other fun culinary happenings, too, but the Festival’s undisputed “limelight” is the World Key Lime Pie Eating Championship. Brave contestants must attempt to devour an entire pie, topped with mounds of whipped cream, without using their hands — all while trying to outpace their rivals and beat the pie-eating record of 52 seconds. Admission is free, but if you’re up to the task, the entry fee is just $25, including notoriety, a Key Lime Pie, and a chance to be the world champion.

To register and see a full schedule of events and register for your favorites, go to keylimefestival.com.

After all, what’s more American than Key Lime Pie?