Key West is celebrating one of its best-known residents: Ernest Hemingway.
The annual Hemingway Days festival runs from July 16 to July 21.
Events during the celebration include a look-alike contest, a commemoration of the 114th anniversary of Hemingway's July 21 birth, readings, book signings, a three-day marlin tournament and an awards ceremony for the short story competition put on by Hemingway's granddaughter author Lorian Hemingway.
Below is a list of some of the scheduled events:
Tuesday, July 16
The Hemingway Days scheduled a museum day. "Hemingway in Key West," an exhibit depicting the author's life while living on the island, will be at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, located at 281 Front Street. Also, an exhibit displaying author Tennessee Williams' years on the island will be at 513 Truman Ave., behind the Key West Business Guild Visitor Center. Exhibits are open daily.
Wednesday, July 17
Contemporary Key West writers will hold readings and be presented. It is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Wyland Galleries, located at 623 Duval St. Participants include David Sloan, author of "The Key West Bucket List," and Sue Cooper, who wrote "Millionaire in Flip Flops."
Thursday, July 18
At 5 p.m., the Key West Poetry Guild will read and celebrate the many poems Hemingway wrote during his life. The reading will take place at Blue Heaven restaurant, located at 729 Thomas St. The restaurant is built on the site of a boxing ring where Hemingway once refereed neighborhood matches.
Local
Friday, July 19
Winners of the 33rd annual short story competition will be announced at 8 p.m. The competition awards $2,500 annually to emerging short fiction writers. The presentation is commonly held at Casa Antigua located at 314 Simonton St., Hemingway's first address in Key West.
Saturday, July 20
The Lazy Dog Paddleboard Race is set to kick off at 6 p.m. at the island city's Southernmost Beach located at 1405 Duval St. on the Atlantic Ocean. Participants will have to paddle a 3-mile ocean course.
The 5K Sunset Run will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Southernmost Point in the continental United States. It overlooks the ocean at Whitehead and South Streets. The 3.1 mile course travels through Old Town Key West and passes by the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.
Those interested can register online at www.active.com. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.keywestspecialevents.com or picked up at local hotels and fitness centers. Registration is $37 per adult for either race and $25 for children under the age of 15.
Thursday-Saturday July 18-20
About 125 white-bearded men will compete in the Sloppy Joe's 33rd Annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. The contest will take place at Sloppy Joe's Bar at 201 Duval St, where Hemingway enjoyed drinks with the locals. Preliminary rounds are set for 6:30 p.m. July 18 and 19, with the finals at 6:30 p.m. on July 20.
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