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Celebrate the Season in Paradise – Key West Holiday Fest

by | Nov 29, 2022 | Explore, Holidays

Holiday revelers surround a fishing buoy themed Christmas tree as it is illuminated for the first time of the season during Wednesday evening’s official lighting of the Key West Historic Seaport ‘Harbor Walk of Lights.’ The ceremonial Thanksgiving Eve lighting of the Seaport’s many trees, ships, shops, restaurants and watering holes marks the beginning of Key West Holiday Fest, an annual island-wide celebration of the holidays presented in part by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West and the Monroe Country Tourist Development Council that continues through December 31. For an extensive event schedule, visit www.KeyWestHolidayFest.com and click on the Calendar of Events tab. (Carol Tedesco / KeyWestHolidayFest.com)

Holiday Fest Final BoatAs one of America’s top tropical holiday destinations, Key West is a small town that’s big on holiday cheer. And nothing embraces its holiday spirit more than Key West Holiday Fest.

This annual month-long celebration, which spreads good cheer all over our small island, kicked off on Wednesday, November 23 with the Lighting of the Bight: Key West Harbor Walk of Lights. Every night, starting on Thanksgiving Eve, Key West’s historical Harbor Walk hits the switch for a breathtaking display of holiday lights. The entire harbor area, including a Fishing Buoy Tree, fresh pine Nautical Christmas Tree and the original Key West Lobster Trap Tree, shimmer and shine with hundreds of thousands of festive holiday lights. This “Harbor Walk of Lights” stays lit nightly through New Year’s Eve and stretches along the Key West Historic Seaport and Key West Bight Marina.

Holiday Fest toys for totsThroughout the season, you can indulge in all kinds of festive holiday happenings 
including the ReMARCable Table Top Christmas Tree Auction that takes place from 
7 – 10pm on November 29 at the Opal; Resort & Marina; the Eaton Street Holiday Stroll that kicks off at 5pm from The Studios of Key West on December 4, followed by a fun Tree Trimming & Toys for Tots Party at Schooner Wharf Bar at 6pm; the Annual Parade of Paws on December 10 from 10am – 2pm at Higgs Beach; the Schooner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade on December 10; Holiday Makers Markets at The Studios of Key West from 9am – 2pm on December 18; Key West Home Tours from 2 – 4pm on December 28 and 29.

Conch Train Holiday Lights Tour revelers enjoy the prize-winning “North Pole” spectacle at 503 Washington Street Friday night. The tours, which concluded on Friday, are among many island-wide Key West Holiday Fest events that kicked off in November and continue through December 31 with an array of festive choices for ringing in the New Year. For more information on Holiday Fest happenings, contact the Lodging Association at 305-296-4959 or visit keywestholidayfest.com. (Photo Carol Tedesco/KeyWestHolidayFest.com)Throughout the month, there will be a merry range of other events, as well, 
including the Holiday Historic Inn Tours, a hometown holiday parade, festive island lights tours via the Conch Tour Train, Old Town Trolley, seasonal artisan markets, bazaars, and multiple New Year’s Eve “drops” that spoof New York City’s annual Times Square Ball Drop.

Topping it all off is a plethora of live concerts, art openings, theatrical performances, and so much more.

If a balmy tropical get-away adorned with twinkling lights, historic inns decked out in their holiday finest, and fun festivities popping up all over the island is your idea of a fun way to spend the holidays, then Key West is your place in the sun!

For more information on individual events, go to keywestholidayfest.com

Happy holidays!