10 Things to Do in Key West in December

Key West or Key West is a small island belonging to the state of Florida. It is a destination with a great tourist offer: historical and cultural sites, natural spaces, recreational and leisure activities. In December, this island city is transformed into a very special place.

You can enjoy many unique activities. Such is the case of the Christmas tree lighting, the annual Key Lime Pie Festival, take advantage of the monthly shopping sales, swim in the warm waters of the local beaches, among other of the best things to do in Key West.

If your 3-day visit to Key West or longer coincides with the first week of December, then you can enjoy the city's Christmas tree lighting. This is a lively annual event that brings together locals and tourists.

To attend this activity, you should head to the iconic Mallory Square. There, you will see an impressive Christmas tree illuminated with hundreds of colored lights and original ornaments. The backdrop is the marina, lined with palm trees, restaurants and bars. In the distance, the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.

You'll find a truly celebratory atmosphere with live music, food and drink stands. Plus, if you're in Key West with children, they can meet Santa Claus. After spending an unforgettable time and taking lots of pictures, you can continue discovering the city. Perhaps take a bike tour of Key West.

Interesting information

• Price: this activity is free.
• Hours: the tree lighting is from 6:00 p.m., approximately.

Another of the things to see and do in Key West in December is the lighted boat parade, which takes place on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. You will see in the waters of the city a series of boats with Christmas decorations: Coast Guard boats, sailboats, rowboats, etc.

This parade usually starts from the Schooner Wharf pier to the Key West harbor and returns to the starting point. You can watch the parade directly from each of the ports, as well as approaching Mallory Square or the Whitehead Street Bridge.

Whichever location is selected, you will enjoy a breathtaking scene of Key West at night, the Atlantic Ocean and the colorful boats sailing in it. Undoubtedly, a must-see experience that you can incorporate into your itinerary along with a visit to the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, a tour of the historic district, among others.

Information of interest

• Price: the show is free.
• Schedule: the parade of boats starts at 6:00 pm. However, you should arrive at least a couple of hours before, since this is a very crowded event and you might not get a good spot to watch it.

Visiting the beaches of Key West is usually a good plan during December. During this month the weather is very pleasant, the sea water has an average temperature of 23ºC and the chances of rain are very low. Take advantage of these good weather conditions and spend a different day outdoors.

In Key West you will find several options in terms of beaches, some of them being the following:

• The Clarence S.Higgs Memorial Beach, a beach without waves, with a pier, some monuments and birds to watch.
• Smathers Beach; this is a public beach with white sand, crystal clear waters and beautiful palm trees, considered one of the largest on the island.
• The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach, a beautiful beach suitable for water sports such as snorkeling, paddle surfing, paddling, etc..

In addition to lying on the sand, swimming and water sports, you have the option of taking a sunset boat ride around Key West. To do so, you can go to Sunset Beach, as this beach offers a wide range of this type of panoramic tours.

While the Truman Waterfront Market is available year-round, during December you'll find a number of seasonal items. Take advantage of your visit to the island city of Key West during the last month of the year and check out this picturesque spot.

Once at the market, you can browse the dozens of open-air stalls at your own pace , finding the fragrant grapefruit, limes, lemons and oranges, which begin to be harvested from November through April. You will also find local fish such as grouper, tuna, snapper and mackerel (which are only caught in December), as well as vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants and peppers.

The market also features a section of handicrafts, original Christmas decorations and a series of souvenirs, which you can take home as a souvenir of your trip. At the end of this small tour, you could take advantage of the proximity to the Truman Little White House in Key West to visit it. It is only a 9-minute walk.

Information of interest

• Price: admission to the market is free.
• Hours: The Truman Waterfront Market is open every Thursday of the year from 2:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Whether you're in Key West for 2 days or more, during the month of December you can't miss the city's great gastronomic offerings. You will delight your palate with the traditional flavors of this island city and delve into its culinary culture.

To carry out this gastronomic adventure, you will find dozens of restaurants in the city: Latitudes, Pep's Café, Blue Heaven, among others. You can take a route on your own or join a gastronomic tour of Key West.

Whatever the case may be, you will be able to taste the most popular seasonal dishes in Key West. Such is the case of stuffed turkey and glazed ham. Also, sweet preparations such as gingerbread cookies, fruit cake and eggnog.

December is a good opportunity to enjoy the Conch Train tour of Key West. You will be able to take an entertaining and educational ride around the island, observing the lights and decorations on the facades of the main buildings. You will get a different perspective of the city than at any other time of the year.

You will board the tourist train after sunset and, from the comfort of a car, you will begin a lively scenic ride. You will enjoy some narration on board that will help you learn about the history of the places you pass by. In addition, due to the Christmas season, you will listen to some Christmas carols while admiring the lights.

Some of the places you will pass by on the Conch Train in Key West include the streets of the old town, Hemingway's house, Harry Truman's Little White House, among others.

Information of interest

• Price: the tour on the Key West Conch Train has an approximate cost of 42€ per person.
• Duration: generally, this tour in the tourist train lasts 90 minutes.

December in Key West is a high season month, so many stores offer significant discounts on their products. Visit the main stores and boutiques of this island city and take advantage of the low prices to do some shopping.

On the island you will find several shopping areas with dozens of stores with souvenirs, souvenirs, fashion, handicrafts and much more. For example, you can stroll along Duval Street, which is lined with boutiques; the historic Key West Harbor, with marine stores and galleries; Mallory Square, which hosts a number of arts and crafts sales.

You'll have a fun day exploring the city and enjoying the bargains. Definitely one of the best Key West tours you can undertake on your own. Afterwards, if the timing of your itinerary allows, you could take a pub crawl through Key West to discover the nightlife of this vibrant island.

The Christmas par ade is another activity that should not be missing from your December itinerary in Key West. It is an annual event, usually held during the first week of the month, that brings out the ingenuity of the locals.

You should head to Bayview Park, which is the starting point of the parade. You can also head to Duval and Truman Streets. Both places are part of the route and offer a good view of the floats, parades and more.

You will be enveloped in a celebratory atmosphere. You will see in front of your eyes emblematic characters such as Santa Claus in his sleigh, a giant snowman, the famous grinch, among others. You won't be able to avoid dancing to the rhythm of the comparsas.

Interesting information

• Price: participation in the parade is free.
• Hours: The Key West Christmas parade usually starts at 7:00 pm. However, you should arrive early so you can get a good spot.

An original way to celebrate the night before Christmas in Key West is by visiting Sloppy Joe's bar. This is a historic and very busy place, where you will enjoy a true celebratory atmosphere until dawn. In addition, you will taste a delicious dinner.

When you arrive at Sloppy Joe's you will be amazed by the extravagant decorations on the walls. You can sip a glass of wine or beer while listening to live music. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a dinner with traditional dishes of the city: ham, turkey, fruitcake. You'll feel like a local.

To continue the evening, you can go to the ballroom to enjoy the lively music of the DJs or sit in the bar area and try the different drinks on offer. And, if you are interested in the history of Ernest Hemingway, don't hesitate to ask one of the waiters, they will tell you a little about this iconic character, who used to frequent the bar.

In the island city of Key West you will find many options to welcome the new year: street parties, fireworks shows, special events in local bars and restaurants, among other things. Join these celebrations and live an unforgettable night.

You can go to Duval Street, which is the main street of the city. There, you will find a wide range of bars and nightlife venues that, during this celebration, are usually open until dawn. Also, if you go to Mallory Square, you'll find an open-air atmosphere of celebration: live music, DJs and more.

Another good alternative is the Key West Marina, lined with bars, restaurants and nightclubs. There, whether you are in the dock area or on a terrace, you can enjoy the great fireworks show, which illuminates the entire panorama.

Key West in December is a warm place, but at the same time very cool. Temperatures usually range between 19ºC and 24ºC, the average rainfall registers about 77 millimeters (at least a couple of rainy days) and the seawater offers an average temperature of 23ºC.

In December you will enjoy ideal weather conditions for all kinds of outdoor activities without fear of suffering from heat stroke. Perhaps, join a dolphin watching and snorkeling tour in Key West, swim in the waters of Smathers-Beach, among many other things.

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