In the early 1980s, a federal roadblock along parts of the Florida Keys on US1 resulted in at least one Key West City official issuing the threat of secession, which infamously generated publicity.
Key West, of course, remains part of the union but launches a series of official and independent events each April to celebrate the spirit of The Conch Republic. Parades, re-enactments on the water, and even zany races all make a return for spectacles that aim to put the island’s authenticity on full display.
A Long Parade
You can find a parade just about every month in Key West and of course, the month of all-things-conch is no exception, with the Annual World’s Looooongest Parade, which slowly takes participants through Duval Street. This nighttime affair starts around 8 p.m. on April 23. Cuties in Action, members of the Conch Republic’s Armed Forces, and large sections comprising inflatable chickens are just some of the entries viewers can see. A parade pre-party at the Mansion by the Sea’s Seaside Café and an after-party at Schooner Wharf Bar add even more options for those looking to stretch things out and snag a prize for a creative entry.
Exploring Conch Cuisine
The Key West Art & Historical Society continues its presentation of the region’s food history in partnership with The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. This latest exhibit explores Key West’s multicultural food traditions as they were shaped by immigration from the Bahamas, Cuba, and other parts of the state and the South. It features artifacts, memorabilia, and interactive and multimedia components, including a “Key West Food Fight.”
Annual Bed Races
Beginning around 3 p.m. on April 25, viewers will pack the sidewalks of Duval between Olivia and Southard Street for the curious and amusing sight of re-created beds on wheels that race through the streets with at least one “sleeper” on board pushed by their respective team members. The 43rd Annual Julie Hansen Memorial Bed Races invites interested parties to “the most fun you can have with your clothes on.”
A Great Sea Battle
On April 24 at 7 p.m., expect spots along the gulf to become packed with onlookers armed with phones and binoculars, hoping to catch much of the Annual Reenactment of the Great Sea Battle of the Conch Republic. This light-hearted battling is between the Conch Republic’s own military forces (Air Force, Army, and Navy) and members of the United States Coast Guard. Small planes drop what appear to be toilet paper while those on the water gleefully blast each other with water guns and adjusted cannons. Floating tiki bars and striking schooners all ferry passengers who prefer to get even closer to the action that unfolds before magnificent sunset views. All this is followed by a Surrender Ceremony and Victory Party at Schooner Wharf Bar for a staged surrender of the USCG to the CR Armed Forces.
