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:

5:00pm - 7:00pm: Meet & Greet the “Papas” at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Get to know the contestants and previous winners of the Sloppy Joe’s Hemingway Look-Alike Contest.

Date: July 17-21, 2024