Ernest Hemingway fans can celebrate the late author’s literary accomplishments, passion for fishing and colorful Key West lifestyle Tuesday through Sunday, July 21-26, during the 35th annual Hemingway Days. Honoring the legacy of the Nobel Prize winner who lived and wrote on the island during the 1930s, activities begin on the 116th anniversary of Ernest’s birth.
Events include the famed “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, an awards reception capping the internationally recognized Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, prose and poetry readings, a street fair on Key West’s Duval Street, a 5k run and paddleboard race, the tongue-in-cheek “Running of the Bulls” and the high-stakes Key West Marlin Tournament recalling Ernest’s love of Florida Keys angling.
The festival begins Tuesday, July 21, with museum exhibits spotlighting the island’s primary literary icons. Attendees can explore “Following the Fish: Hemingway in Key West” at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front St., and the Tennessee Williams Key West Exhibit at 513 Truman Ave.
At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Custom House is to present “Ernest Hemingway — Angler, Sportsman … Conservationist?” by author Timothy O’Brien. O’Brien examines Hemingway’s angling exploits and activities studying and documenting marine life. A “birthday party” for Ernest is to follow.
The announcement of the winners of the annual short story competition, directed by critically acclaimed author and Hemingway granddaughter Lorian Hemingway, is set for 8 p.m. Friday, July 24. The awards reception takes place at Casa Antigua, 314 Simonton St., Ernest Hemingway’s first Key West residence.
Other literary offerings include the “Voices, Places, Inspirations” evening of author readings at the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa, 601 Front St.
Those with a physical instead of literary resemblance to Hemingway can compete in Sloppy Joe’s “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Past winners choose the new “Papa” from approximately 125 stocky, bearded hopefuls at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St., a watering hole frequented by the author. Preliminary rounds are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24, with the final round Saturday, July 25.
The “Papas” also enliven other festival events including Saturday’s infamous Running of the Bulls, held at 1 p.m. outside Sloppy Joe’s with manmade bull replicas, in an offbeat salute to Hemingway’s fascination with the bull ring.
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