Florida Keys & Key West Jan – March 2012 Event Highlights

FLORIDA KEYS — There’s always something happening in the Florida Keys & Key West, from festivals focusing on the area’s colorful history, artistic culture and quirky ambiance to events that celebrate the Keys’ underwater paradise. While this calendar lists selected highlights for 2012, a comprehensive schedule of events throughout the Keys can be found at
www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents/.

Jan. 3: Orange Bowl Swimming Classic. Key Largo. Some of the best college swimmers in the country, and perhaps future Olympians, compete each year at Jacobs Aquatic Center, mile marker (MM) 99.6 oceanside, in a free-to-attend event that is part of the celebration surrounding the annual Orange Bowl college football game in Miami. Call 305-453-7946.

Jan. 5-8 (workshops Jan. 8-12): 30th Annual Key West Literary Seminar. Key West. The seminar’s 2012 topic is “Yet Another World: Literature of the Future,” offering workshops, panel discussions and receptions that feature some of today’s most innovative writers. Visit www.kwls.org or call 1-888-293-9291.

Jan. 6-7: Ragnar Relay Florida Keys Race. This 199-mile race takes runners throughout the Florida Keys to the southernmost island in the continental U.S. on a route beginning in Miami and ending in Key West. Visit www.ragnarrelay.com/race/floridakeys.

Jan. TBA: Fight Night in the Keys. Key West. The Key West boxing tradition, whose fans included legendary author Ernest Hemingway, is celebrated with action-packed, world-class professional boxing scheduled at Mallory Square overlooking Key West Harbor. Call 305-292-0486.

Jan. 13-15: NAMSA North American Championship & Tradewinds Midwinter OpenCat Nationals. Islamorada. Daily catamaran races featuring vessels in several classes kick off the annual Harken Buoy Series. Visit www.catsailor.com or call 305-451-3287.

Jan. 14: Art Under the Oaks. Islamorada. This art show at the San Pedro Church features arts and crafts in many mediums, as well as food vendors and live music. Visit www.artundertheoaks.com/ or call 305-664-5574.

Jan. 14: Florida Keys Seafood Festival. Key West. This family-oriented feast with fresh local Keys seafood, drinks, marine-related crafts, youth activities and live music is held at Bayview Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/environment/env_seafood_fest.shtml or call 305-872-9026.

Jan. 14: No Name Race. Big Pine & the Lower Keys. Join a 5k Walk & Run that benefits the Monroe County Domestic Abuse Shelter. The race begins at 8 a.m., covers 3.1 miles and is based at the Old Wooden Bridge Guest Cottages & Marina on Big Pine Key. Registration is $25 in advance, $30 on race day and $10 for children under age 15. Visit www.domesticabuseshelter.org or call 305-743-5452.

Jan. 14-23: Flagler Centennial Celebration. Throughout the Florida Keys. Events cap a yearlong celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the completion of Henry Flagler’s Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad and the inaugural train’s journey through the Keys to Key West Jan. 22, 1912. Highlights include a 1900s-era costume ball, one-man performance by a Flagler re-enactor, themed parade in Key West, re-enactment at the Lower Keys’ Bahia Honda State Park, an immersion into railroad-era activities and family fun at Marathon’s historic Pigeon Key and more. Visit www.flaglerkeys100.com for information and a complete schedule.

Jan. 15-20: Quantum Key West 2012. Key West. Nearly 300 racing yachts compete for class championships in this international midwinter sailboat regatta celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012. Visit www.premiere-racing.com or call 781-639-9545.

Jan. 20-21: 52nd Annual Historic House Tours. Key West. Presented by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, the house and garden tours offer a rare opportunity to see inside some of Key West’s magnificent, charming and tropical residences. Additional tours are scheduled Feb.17-18 and March 16-17. Visit www.oirf.org or call 305-294-9501.

Jan. 21-22: Big Pine Key Nautical Flea Market. Big Pine & the Lower Keys. All things nautical are to be displayed and sold at the eighth annual event. Other attractions include live music, food and beverages. The seafaring sale takes place on the grounds of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, MM 31 oceanside. Visit www.lowerkeyschamber.com or call 305-872-2411.

Jan. 22: Key West Half Marathon. Key West. Recognized by Runners World magazine as one of the 10 great half-marathons of the winter season, the run follows a 13.1-mile course through Old Town Key West past historic landmarks and the island’s scenic waterfront. Call 305-296-7182 or visit www.halfmarathons.net.

Jan. 26-29: Key West Food and Wine Festival. Key West. Top chefs and restaurateurs showcase their culinary creativity and the Keys’ indigenous cuisine in a tasty schedule of events for food lovers. Attendees also can participate in food-related adventures during the savory celebration. Visit www.keywestfoodandwinefestival.com or call 800-474-4319.

Jan. 26-29: Third Annual Key West Dulcimer Festival. Key West. Attendees can take workshops in hammered and mountain dulcimer, guitar, steel drums, pennywhistle, banjo, autoharp and other instruments from a stellar performing and instructing staff. The four-day festival is to be held at Hurricane Hole Marina, MM 4.5 oceanside. Visit www.keywestdulcimerfest.com.

Jan. 28-29: 27th Annual Key West Craft Show. Key West. Juried artisans and crafters display their talents at a popular show on lower Whitehead Street in historic Old Town Key West. Visit www.keywestartcenter.com/craft.html or call 305-294-1241.

Jan. 28-29: 3rd Annual Key Largo Stone Crab & Seafood Festival. Key Largo. Full of fresh conch, local stone crabs and seafood, entertainment and fun for the entire family, the festival includes cooking demonstrations, food eating and costume contests, kids’ play area, magic, music, arts and crafts vendors and of course, key lime pie. Visit www.keylargoseafoodfestival.com or call 305-451-4502.

Jan. 29: Key West Master Chefs Classic. Key West. Local restaurants vie for top honors in three categories: appetizers, entrees and desserts. Attendees sample the culinary treats while judges pick the winners. Call 305-294-9526, ext. 25, or visit www.masterchefsclassic.com/.

Feb. 10-12: 18th Annual Pigeon Key Art Festival. Marathon. Artists and craftspeople are to exhibit their work at Marathon Community Park, MM 49 oceanside. The event also includes live music and delicious food, and ticket holders can use their admission stubs toward a tour of historic Pigeon Key, a tiny island where Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad workers lived in the early 1900s. Visit www.pigeonkey.net or call 305-509-0345.

Feb. 10-12: Civil War Heritage Days. Key West. Colorful Civil War re-enactments and tours of Key West’s historic Civil War–era Fort Zachary Taylor highlight the journey into the island’s past. Call 305-292-6850 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/forttaylor/.

Feb. 11: Islamorada Fishing Film Festival. Islamorada. This event aims to unite anglers, sport enthusiasts, water lovers and conservationists through an entertaining and amusing view of the fishing world. Its goal is to further the sport of fishing through education, awareness and conservation in Islamorada, The Sport Fishing Capital of the World. Proceeds benefit the United Way of the Florida Keys. Contact Margie Smith at 305-735-1929.

Feb. 18-19: Gardenfest Key West. Key West. South Florida’s top nurseries are to show bromeliads, orchids, fruit trees, palms, tropical flowers and natives at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden’s annual plant sale. Other attractions include landscaping workshops, garden supplies booths, arts and crafts and docent tours. Visit www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org or call 305-296-1504.

Feb. 20-26: 28th Annual Winter Star Party. Big Pine & the Lower Keys. Approximately 600 astronomers from around the world gather to view southern constellations, comets and stars in the Lower Keys’ clear night skies — virtually the only place in the continental U.S. where they can be viewed. Lectures, programs and workshops round out the event. Visit www.scas.org/wsp.html for more information.

Feb. 25-26: Upper Keys Gigantic Nautical Flea Market. Islamorada. Hundreds of marine- and water sports–related vendors offer wares to thousands of buyers seeking deals on new and used boats, marine equipment, electronics, fishing tackle, nautical arts and crafts, dive gear and more. The event is held at Founders Park, MM 87. Visit www.giganticnauticalfleamarket.org or call 305-394-3382.

Feb. 25-26: Old Island Days Art Festival. Key West. The 47th annual juried fine art show is set on lower Whitehead Street in historic Old Town. The highly acclaimed show features oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture, photography and other offerings by artists from around the United States. Visit www.keywestartcenter.com/festival.html or call 305-294-1241.

March 2-3: 6th Annual Sombrero Beach Run. Marathon. Come for the run and stay for the sun. A comprehensive race format includes a 15k Challenge, 10k Run and 5k Walk/Run, all set for 8 a.m. at Sombrero Beach. Runners from around the Keys, country and world participate in the weekend-long event organized by the Southernmost Runners Club. Other attractions include music, awards, raffles, prizes, food and entertainment. Visit www.sombrerobeachrun.com.

March 3: 50th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest. Key West. An island tradition that celebrates the historic importance of conch in the Keys, this unique contest features contestants in several age categories attempting to make “music” with fluted conch shells. Visit www.oirf.org or call 305-294-9501.

March 3: 36th Annual Marathon House & Garden Tour. Marathon. Tour beautiful homes and extraordinary gardens in the Marathon area, all selected for their uniqueness and reflection of Keys living. Each home is to be adorned with floral arrangements created by members of the Marathon Garden Club. Visit www.marathongardenclub.org or call 305-743-4971.

March 10: Woofstock Music Fair. Islamorada. A day of peace, paws and music comes alive as MarrVelous Pet Rescues and Adoptions hosts a family fun event at Islamorada’s Founders Park, MM 87. Join the “fur out” festival featuring local rescue groups, food, drinks, vendors, contests, demonstrations and more. Admission is free and leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Visit www.keyswoofstock.com.

March 10-11: The Original Marathon Seafood Festival. Marathon. Gourmet delicacies from the waters of the Florida Keys, live music, a kids’ play area and an array of vendors highlight this annual weekend event that generally attracts more than 15,000 seafood lovers and families to Marathon Community Park, MM 49 oceanside. Visit www.marathonseafoodfestival.com/.

March 24-25: Cuban Cultural Exposition & Hot Havana Nights. Key West. The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden presents Cuban-themed events including exhibits of art, crafts and artifacts, lectures, dominos and dancing lessons. Events culminate in a Hot Havana Nights gala with dining, dancing and more. Visit www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org or call 305-296-1504.

March 31 – April 1: 21st Annual Florida Keys Island Fest. Islamorada. The annual event features music, art, food and fun. Island Fest hosts a world-class art show with 100 artists and crafters from around the state, great live music and a “Taste of the Islands” competition where the best Upper Keys restaurants compete for coveted awards. Visit www.islamoradachamber.com or call 305-664-4503.