As 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 Thanksgiving Eve with the Lighting of the Bight: Key West Harbor Walk of Lights. Every night 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.
Throughout the season, you can indulge in all kinds of festive holiday happenings including the 3rd Annual Wesley House Holiday Village & Belighted Bike Ride which takes place from 4 – 8 pm at Truman Waterfront Park on December 1; Key West’s very own Hometown Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 2 at 7pm; a fun Tree Trimming Party & Toy Drive at Schooner Wharf Bar on Sunday, December 3 at 6 pm; the Eaton Street Christmas Stroll on Sunday, December 3 that starts at 3:30 pm at St Paul’s Episcopal Church; the 7th Annual Holiday Concert & Bazaar that takes place on Friday, December 8 from 5 – 9 pm at the historic Custom House; the annual Key West Historic Home Tours on Friday, December 8 from 6 – 8pm; the 10th Annual Parade of Paws on Saturday, December 9 from 10 am – 2 pm at Higgs Beach; the Schooner Wharf Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 9 at 8 pm; and the Annual Dachshund Walk on Sunday, December 31 that begins at noon on the corner of Whitehead and Fleming Streets Throughout the month, there will be a merry range of other events, as well, including a festive island lights tours via the Conch Tour Train and 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, hit up keywestholidayfest.com.
Happy Holidays!
