1. Harry S. Truman Legacy Symposium
City: Key West, FL
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (305) 294-9911
Address: 111 Front St.
Description: From 1945 to 1953 president Harry S. Truman spent 11 working vacations on the Key West Navy Base in what was to be known as the Little White House. The annual Truman Legacy Symposium, held in mid-May, offers a reception and lunch with a VIP tour of the house. Guest speakers, like Florida senator Bob Graham, discuss the various roles Truman played in shaping our nation’s history. Topics change each year, as do the speakers. Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, usually is in attendance and gives one of the keynote addresses.
2. Key West Songwriters Festival
City: Key West, FL
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (305) 292-2032
Address: 400 Front St.
Insider Pick:
Description: You may not recognize the names of the performers at this annual event in early May, but if you’re a country music fan, you’ll almost certainly know their songs. For more than 15 years, this festival has been bringing over 100 of the country’s foremost performing songwriters to the Key West stage. The Songwriters Festival revolves around 5 days and nights of more than 25 free shows staged at the most popular drinking holes and hot spots throughout Key West.
3. Hemingway Days Festival
City: Key West, FL
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (305) 294-2587
Address: 907 Whitehead St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Celebrate the legendary author’s birthday with residents of the old man’s former hometown by the sea. There’s a street fair, a short-story competition, and a Hemingway look-alike contest at what was one of his favorite haunts, Sloppy Joe’s (see the Nightlife chapter). This weeklong event centers on the author’s July 21 birthday. Fees for some events are required.