Fantasy Fest 2026 runs October 16–25. — Key West's answer to Mardi Gras, ten days of costumes, parades, and parties. The 2026 festival ran April 29–May 3. draws Nashville talent to intimate bar venues. Hemingway Days (July) features a lookalike contest and marlin tournament honoring the author. The Fourth of July and New Year's Eve (with a drag queen dropped from a boot at Bourbon Street Pub) are also major draws.