Key West Kicks off the 36th Annual Hemingway Days Celebration - July 19-24, 2016.

This almost week long event draws a crowd from near and far. The highlight of the happening is the annual Hemingway Look-a-like Contest. The "Running of the Bulls" is another Key West locals favorite. Featuring a troop of Hemingway look-a-likes parading down Duval with a herd of paper and cardboard bulls in chase. For information on other event and for time and location, see the complete schedule listed below.

 

2016 Hemingway Days Event Schedule

DAILY
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum guided tours. Visit the home where Hemingway lived throughout the 1930s and wrote some of his most enduring classics. 907 Whitehead St. For info and ticket prices, visithemingwayhome.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 19

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"Depicting Hemingway" museum exhibition. Discover 59 original pen-and-ink drawings by world-renowned marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey — all providing a visual narrative to Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea." The sketches are paired with rare artifacts from Hemingway's Key West years, as well as a life-sized bronze of the author. Custom House Museum, 281 Front St. Mention Hemingway Days upon entering and receive discounted admission. Exhibition continues throughout Hemingway Days and beyond. For info, visitkwahs.org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit. Learn about playwright Tennessee Williams' longtime residence on the island while exploring his beliefs and legacy. Highlights include personal photographs of Williams at home with his partner and friends, first-edition plays and books, a typewriter he used in Key West and much more. 513 Truman Ave. behind the Key West Business Guild Visitor Center. Free admission; donations accepted. Exhibition continues throughout Hemingway Days and beyond. For info, visit twkw.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

4 p.m.
Final registration for the Key West Marlin Tournament. Anglers compete for $50,000 in guaranteed cash prizes for targeting marlin, spearfish, dolphin fish, tuna and wahoo. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, upstairs, 951 Caroline St. For info, visit keywestmarlin.com.

5:30 p.m.
Meet the "Papas." Get to know the contestants and previous winners of the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Sloppy Joe's, 201 Duval St. For info, visit sloppyjoes.com.

6-8 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament captains meeting, auction and raffle. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, upstairs.

7:30-10 p.m.
"Voices, Places, Inspirations." This evening of readings features authors including Chuck Ball, Steven Hull, Mandy Miles and Terry Schmida — plus a special appearance by noted Irish novelist Denyse Woods, winner of the international Florida Keys Flash Fiction Contest. Presented by Literacy Volunteers of America-Monroe County, the event also includes a "meet the authors" reception. Key West Woman's Club, 319 Duval St. For information, visit hemingwaydays.net.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament's first day of fishing. For info, visit keywestmarlin.com.

9 a.m.
Coffee and Donuts with the "Papas." Join past Look-Alike Contest winners and current competitors for a lighthearted "coffee break" at Cypress House, a historic inn at 601 Caroline St. Visit papalookalikes.com.

4-6 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, stage.

5 p.m.
"People and Places That Influenced Ernest Hemingway" presentation and reception. Join internationally acclaimed Hemingway scholar Nancy Sindelar, Ph.D., to examine the individuals, locales and adventures that helped shape the literary legend's work. The evening also features a reception marking the 117th anniversary of Ernest's July 21 birth. Custom House Museum. For info, visit kwahs.org.

5:30 p.m.
Sloppy Joe's Birthday Party for "Papa." Celebrate Ernest's birthday (complete with cake) alongside former winners and contestants in the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Sloppy Joe's Bar. For look-alike event info, visit sloppyjoes.com.

6 p.m.
Hemingway Look-Alike Society scholarship presentations. The society is to announce the winners of its annual scholarships for Florida Keys students. Onstage at Sloppy Joe's Bar. For info, visit papalookalikes.com.

6:30 p.m.
Sloppy Joe's 36th annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, first preliminary round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe's Bar. $35 entry fee. Free to watch. For look-alike event info, visitsloppyjoes.com.

6:30-8 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament cocktail party and island-style pig roast. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, upstairs. Free to tournament participants.

FRIDAY, JULY 22

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament's second day of fishing.

1:30 p.m.
"Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Fish-Off. Cheer your favorites as the "Papas" compete in this dockside catch-and-release challenge using traditional "Cuban yo-yos." Conch Republic Seafood Co. docks, 631 Greene St. Free to watch. For info, visit papalookalikes.com.

4-6 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, stage.

5 p.m.
"The Poetry of Ernest Hemingway." The Key West Poetry Guild presents a reading of Hemingway's poems and guild members' work — and chronicles the poetry that helped launch Ernest's writing career — at Blue Heaven, a site where he once refereed neighborhood boxing matches. 729 Thomas St. For info, emailnanceboylan@gmail.com.

6:30-8 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament dockside cocktail party and fish fry. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, upstairs. Free to tournament participants.

6:30 p.m.
Sloppy Joe's 36th annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, second preliminary round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe's Bar. $35 entry fee. Free to watch.

8:30-11 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament Party with the Bacardi Oakheart Team. Enjoy an exuberant gathering for tournament participants.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament's third day of fishing.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Caribbean Street Fair presented by Literacy Volunteers of America-Monroe County. Much of Key West's famed Duval Street is closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into an open-air island market with arts, crafts, jewelry, tropical clothing and food. For info, visit lva-monroe.org or email info@lva-monroe.org.

Noon
Photos with "Papas." Hemingway look-alikes provide a photo opportunity for fans. Greene Street outside Sloppy Joe's. For info, visit sloppyjoes.com.

1 p.m.
Running of the Bulls. This wacky event is sponsored by Sloppy Joe's Bar and features past "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest winners and current entrants dressed in their Pamplona best — and a breed of "bull" found only in Key West. The fun begins and ends on Greene Street outside Sloppy Joe's. For info, visitsloppyjoes.com.

3-5 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament weigh-in. Dante's Key West Pool Bar and Restaurant, stage.

3-7 p.m.
Papa's Pilar Rum Hemingway 5k Sunset Run/Walk and Paddleboard Race registration. Register and pick up race packets for the popular run and paddleboard challenge. Southernmost Hotel parking lot, corner of Duval and South streets. $45 entry fee for either race or $80 for both. For info, visit keywestspecialevents.com.

6 p.m.
Lazy Dog Paddleboard Race. Competitors follow a 3-mile Atlantic Ocean course that begins and ends at Key West's Southernmost Beach, 1405 Duval St. on the ocean. For more information and registration, visitkeywestspecialevents.com.

6:30 p.m.
Key West Marlin Tournament awards banquet and silent auction. Cocktails and silent auction are set for 6:30, with the dinner and awards presentations at 7:30. Open to tournament participants and their guests only. Westin Key West Resort & Marina, 245 Front St.

6:30 p.m.
Sloppy Joe's 36th annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, final round, to be judged by former contest winners. Sloppy Joe's Bar. Free to watch.

7:30 p.m.
Papa's Pilar Rum Hemingway 5k Sunset Run/Walk. Racers start at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States at Whitehead and South streets, and proceed through Old Town Key West. A post-race awards party is scheduled at the Southernmost Beach Café. For info and registration, visitkeywestspecialevents.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 24

10 a.m. Sloppy Joe's 30th annual Hemingway Days Arm Wrestling Contest. Registration is set for 10 a.m. and the contest begins at 11 a.m.. Prizes await male and female winners in multiple weight divisions. Sloppy Joe's Bar. $5 entry fee; free to watch. For info, visit sloppyjoes.com.

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