10 Things to Do in Key West at Christmas

Key West is a city in the state of Florida, which is known for having a great tourist offer all year round. Whether you're on your own, with friends or with the family, you'll find plenty of seasonal activities to enjoy at Christmas time.

Some of the best things to do in Key West include the illuminated boat parade, the Nutcracker theatre show, the seasonal flea markets and the lights and decorations such as the Christmas tree in Mallory Square, which make for a great holiday atmosphere. There are also the lights and decorations such as the Christmas tree in Mallory Square, which make the city's night-time scene vibrant.

The streets of Key West at Christmastime offer a scene unlike any other time of the year. Take a stroll through the old town and surrounding area to see the dozens of lights on the facades of the buildings and the original decorations dotting the streets.

Stroll through Mallory Square and the Memorial Sculpture Garden, where you'll discover a lively atmosphere, food stalls, arts and crafts and a huge Christmas tree. If you keep walking, you'll see the façade of the building where playwright Tennessee Williams stayed for ten years of his life, Harry Truman's Little White House. Also, the Sloppy Joe's bar, which is considered the oldest in the city, among other destinations.

This activity can be done at your own pace, either on foot, by bicycle or golf cart. In addition, you have the option of joining a guided tour, using an audio guide, or hopping aboard the Key West Conch Train. With the latter, you'll enjoy a scenic tour with live narration.

If your 2-day stay in Key West or longer coincides with the Christmas season, then you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the illuminated boat parade. This is an event with more than 20 years of tradition in the city, which takes place in mid-December.

In the parade you will see a great variety of boats: sailboats, guard boats, kayaks, among many others. All of them with beautiful decorations and vibrant lighting. Just head to Schooner Wharf, the starting point for the parade.

You can also head to Mallory Square, Key West Harbour (where the parade returns), the Whitehead Street Bridge and more. From any of them, you'll enjoy the city's incredible night scene as the picturesque boats sail the Atlantic Ocean.

This is a must-do activity to do in this island city during Christmas. You can incorporate it into your itinerary along with a bike tour of the old town, a visit to the Sails to Rails Museum in Key West and more.

Useful information

• Price: this parade is free.
• Time: The show starts at around 18:00. However, you will need to arrive early to get a good spot to watch the boats.

During your stay in Key West you can take a stroll through Mallory Square to see the town's large Christmas tree with its hundreds of lights and original decorations. This is a busy and lively spot, incorporated into Key West's tourist tram route .

As well as seeing the imposing tree in the centre of the square, you'll also find a number of stalls selling seasonal crafts and food. And, if you're with children, they can meet Father Christmas, who often walks around. Don't miss the chance to take some photos.

You'll also have the opportunity to take part in the sunset celebration which, although it takes place all year round, is especially attractive at Christmas time due to the low cloud cover. You'll see the fiery colour of the sky merge with the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Christmas classic in Key West that brings locals and tourists together every year is the famous Nutcracker theatre show. It's the story of the Nutcracker, but with the flavour of this island town. You'll have a different time enjoying this original staging.

The show usually takes place in the halls of the Tennessee Williams Theatre. There, you will see an array of dancers and actors, who will transport you to the city of Key West in 1864. All of them in dazzling costumes of vibrant colours.

You will see young Clara with the toy sailors who try to protect her from King Rooster. You'll also enjoy some scenes that have been set on the island's living coral reef and others with images from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

This is definitely a great way to learn about some of the city's history. And, if the timing of your itinerary allows, you could visit the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum to learn a little more.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of the show starts at around €35 per person.
• Duration: approximately a couple of hours, including an intermission of about 15 minutes.

A must-do activity on your 3-day trip to Key West or longer is exploring the local markets. You will find a great offer of seasonal products: decorations, souvenirs, groceries, among others.

Two very popular markets, frequented daily by dozens of locals and tourists are the following:

Truman Waterfront Market

At the Truman Waterfront Market at Christmas time, and throughout the month of December in Key West, you'll find dozens of open-air stalls selling fresh seasonal produce.

You'll find local fish (snapper, grouper, tuna, etc), vegetables (aubergines, tomatoes), fruits (oranges, grapefruit, limes) and much more. You will also have the opportunity to buy Christmas decorations, souvenirs, fashion, among other things.

Mallory Square Market

This market is available every month from January in Key West until December. However, during the Christmas season you will find a really lively atmosphere of celebration.

You will enjoy the amazing performances by street performers, craft stalls and food stalls. You can enjoy traditional seasonal grilled seafood, tropical fruit cocktails and more. You can also take advantage of the market's proximity to the Key West Aquarium to visit it.

Another of the things to do in Key West at Christmas is to visit the beaches and take advantage of the season's cool weather, which ranges from 19ºC to 24ºC. You'll have a different and fun time outdoors and, if you're lucky, you might even see Father Christmas lying on the sand or surfing. Ideal if you're in Key West with children.

Some of the beaches you can visit include the following:

• Higgs Beach; this is a beach with a large pier, wave-free waters, monuments and a number of native birds to watch.
• The Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, which is a very popular place for those who want to practice water sports such as paddling, snorkelling, paddle surfing, among others.
• Smathers Beach. This is one of the largest and busiest beaches in the city, where you will enjoy beautiful palm trees, crystal clear waters and fine sand.

Also, if you are a water sports enthusiast, but don't have the necessary equipment or knowledge, you can hire an instructor or connect with a guided activity within the respective beach. For example, take a jet ski tour in Key West.

A scenic boat ride on the waters of Key West is a great idea at Christmas time. You'll get a different perspective of the city, which after sunset is illuminated by the dozens of lights that line the streets and decorate the facades of the main buildings.

This type of activity usually starts at the marina near Mallory Square or from Key West's historic harbour. Whichever the case, you will embark on a boat tour minutes before sunset around the island, enjoying the city skyline, the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and the Christmas lights.

On this sunset boat tour of Key West you will see the dozens of terraces with bars and restaurants lining the docks, the Key West lighthouse, the old town with its Victorian houses. Also, the Hemingway House, the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum, among others.

If you plan to spend the night before Christmas in Key West, then a lively way to do so is to discover the city's pubs. You'll enjoy the lively nightlife that characterises this island city: live music, DJs, good drinks and much more.

Just head to Duval Street, Mallory Square and the surrounding area, which is where the largest number of pubs are concentrated. You will find many places to have fun in Key West at night such as the Green Parrot Bar, the Sunset Pier bar, Sloppy Joe's bar, among others.

This is an adventure that you can undertake on your own. However, if you don't know your way around Key West, it's best to connect with a guided activity such as the popular Key West pub c rawl. You'll get straight to the sights without fear of getting lost in the city looking for directions.

Another of the things to see and do in Key West at Christmas is to go to the city's Christmas par ade. This is a busy annual event that brings together locals and tourists during the first week of December. You'll see floats, parades and more.

To enjoy the spectacle, you can head to Bayview Park (which is usually the starting point) or head to Duval and Truman Street, which is part of the route. From either location, you'll get a good view of the parade.

Once you're in the parade, you'll enjoy the celebratory atmosphere. Iconic Christmas characters such as Father Christmas in his sleigh and some elves, the Grinch, snowmen and others will pass in front of you.

This is a fun leisure activity that will allow you to get closer to the local traditions of the island. Therefore, you can include it in your itinerary along with a bike tour around Key West, a visit to the best museums in Key West, among others.

Useful information

• Price: access to the parade is free.
• Hours: this event usually starts at 19:00 hours, but you should arrive earlier to get a good spot on the streets.

At Christmas time you can indulge your taste buds with Key West's Christmas food offerings. You will have the opportunity to delve into the culinary culture of the city through a series of sweet and savoury preparations that the locals are used to eating during this time of the year.

For example, you can try the traditional stuffed turkey and glazed ham. These are considered two of the main dishes at Christmas dinner, which are usually accompanied by a creamy eggnog. In addition, you should savour the delicious fruit cake and gingerbread biscuits, which are another of the season's delicacies.

To enjoy this culinary experience you can visit the city's main restaurants and cafes on your own, including Blue Heaven, Pep's Café, among others. You also have the option of joining a gastronomic tour of Key West, which will allow you to learn a little more about the history of each place and the respective preparations tasted. This will be done with the help of the guide in charge of the activity.