10 Things to Do in Key West at Christmas

Key West is a city belonging to the state of Florida, which stands out for having a great tourist offer throughout the year. At Christmas you will find many seasonal activities to enjoy, whether you are alone, with friends or family.

Among the best things to do in Key West you will find the parade of illuminated boats, the theatrical show Nutcracker, the markets with seasonal products. Also, there are the lights and decorations such as the Christmas tree in Mallory Square, which make the city's night 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 the surrounding area to see the dozens of lights on the facades of the buildings and the original decorations that dot the streets.

You can stroll through Mallory Square and the Memorial Sculpture Garden, where you will discover a lively atmosphere, food stalls, crafts and a huge Christmas tree. If you continue walking, you will see the facade of the building where the 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 boarding Key West's Conch Train. With the latter, you will enjoy a scenic tour with live narration.

If your 2-day stay in Key West or longer coincides with the Christmas season, then you will have the opportunity to enjoy the lighted 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 variety of boats: sailboats, boats, kayaks, among many others. All of them with beautiful decorations and vibrant lighting. Just head to Schooner Wharf, which is the starting point of the parade.

You can also head to Mallory Square, Key West Harbor (where the parade returns), Whitehead Street Bridge, among other places. From any of them, you will enjoy the incredible night scene of the city while 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, among other things.

Information of interest

• Price: this parade is free.
• Hours: the show starts around 6:00 pm. However, you will have 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 observe the city's large Christmas tree with its hundreds of lights and original decorations. This is a very busy and lively place, incorporated into the Key West tourist streetcar route .

Apart from seeing the imposing tree that stands in the center of the square, you will also find a number of craft and seasonal food stalls. And, if you're with children, they can meet Santa Claus, who often walks around the place. Don't miss the opportunity to take some pictures.

You'll also have the chance to be part of the sunset celebration which, although it takes place all year round, is especially attractive at Christmas time due to the low percentage of cloud cover. You will see how the fire color of the sky merges with the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Christmas classic in Key West that brings together locals and tourists annually is the famous Nutcracker theatrical show. It is the story of the Nutcracker, but with the flavor of this island city. You will have a different time enjoying this original staging.

The show usually takes place in the halls of the Tennessee Williams Theater. There, you will observe a display of dancers and actors, who will transport you to the city of Key West in the year 1864. All of them in dazzling costumes of vibrant colors.

You will see young Clara with the toy sailors who try to protect her from King Rooster. You will also enjoy some scenes that have been set on the island's living coral reef and others with images from the shipwreck 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 it, you could visit the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum to learn a little more.

Information of interest

• Price: the cost of the show starts at about 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 to explore 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 will find dozens of open-air stalls with fresh seasonal produce.

You will find local fish (snapper, grouper, tuna, etc.), vegetables (eggplants, 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 shows by street performers, craft 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 you can do in Key West at Christmas is to visit its beaches and take advantage of the season's cool weather, which ranges from 19ºC to 24ºC (68ºF to 75ºF). You will have a different and fun time outdoors and, if you are lucky, you might even see Santa Claus lying on the sand or surfing. Ideal if you are 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 observe.
• The Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, which is a very popular place for those who want to practice water sports such as paddling, snorkeling, 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.

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

Taking a scenic boat ride on the waters of Key West is a good idea at Christmas time. You will 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 the historic port of Key West. Whichever the case, you will embark on a maritime route minutes before sunset around the island, enjoying the city skyline, the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Christmas lights.

In this sunset boat ride around Key West you will see the dozens of terraces with bars and restaurants that line 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 will enjoy the lively nightlife that characterizes this island city: live music, DJs, good drinks and much more.

Just head for Duval Street, Mallory Square and its surroundings, 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, the ideal is to connect with a guided activity such as the popular Key West pub c rawl. You'll go 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 parade. This is a busy annual event that brings together locals and tourists during the first week of December. You will see floats, parades and much more.

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

Once in the parade, you'll enjoy a celebratory atmosphere. Iconic Christmas characters such as Santa Claus in his sleigh will pass in front of your eyes along with some elves, the Grinch, snowmen, among others.

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

Information of interest

• Price: access to the parade is free.
• Hours: this event usually starts at 7:00 p.m., but you should arrive earlier to get a good spot on the streets.

At Christmas time you can delight your palate 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 savory preparations that the locals usually eat 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 with a creamy eggnog. In addition, you should savor the delicious fruit cake and gingerbread cookies, which are another of the delicacies of the season.

To enjoy this culinary experience you can visit on your own the main restaurants and cafes in the city, some of them being 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 thanks to the help of the guide in charge of the activity.