When former Key West resident Michael Whalton conceived Hemingway Days more than 40 years ago, he couldn’t possibly foresee it would become a continuing, internationally recognized celebration of the island’s best-known inhabitant.

At the time, he was a day manager at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, famed as a hangout of Ernest Hemingway’s when he lived in 1930s Key West.

Whalton directed the festival for 16 years before moving to West Virginia in the Mid-1990s. In July 2023, he traveled back to Key West to experience Hemingway Days for the first time since his departure. During his visit, he reflected on the iconic event’s origin, growth and continued significance - particularly meaningful as the 2024 festival celebrates Ernest Hemingway’s 125th birthday.

Schedule:

9:00am - 10:00am: “Coffee and Donuts with the Papas.” Meet the contestants and previous winners of the “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at the Southernmost Pint Brewpub located at 522 Front Street.

At 5:00pm, Round One check-in contestants must check in at the registration table to pick up their name tags and event shirts.

5:10pm: Achievement Award Presentation.

5:30pm: Introduction “Welcome” to the Contest by David Douglas & Jeff Allen.

6:00pm: Introduce “Bahama Bob” to sing our National Anthem.

6:10pm: Hemingway Look-Alike Society Scholarship Presentations. The society will announce the winners of its annual scholarships for The College of the Florida Keys students on stage at Sloppy Joe’s Bar.

6:30pm: Sloppy Joe’s 43rd Annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest - Preliminary Round One on stage at Sloppy Joe’s. Contestants will be narrowed down to approximately 12 finalists to advance to Saturday night’s final round. (Live Auction benefiting the HLAS Scholarship Fund immediately following preliminary round-one while awaiting results)

Date: July 17-21, 2024