CONNECT TO THE ARTS

THIS WEEK

DECEMBER 18 - 25

FESTIVALS AND FUNDRAISERS

Merry Divemas

Wednesday, December 18, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

History of Diving Museum

82990 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada

Dive into some holiday fun at the museum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Bring the family for cookie decorating, ornament making, festive snacks and photos with Santa Claus! The event is free but donations are appreciated. The event is to be followed by an Immerse Yourself presentation at 7 p.m. about the Journey of the Christ of the Deep statue.

Click HERE for more information.

Kiki's Sandbar Lighted Boat Parade & Drone Show

Friday, December 21, Dusk

Kiki's Beach

183 Barry Ave., Little Torch Key

Kiki's Sandbar's annual Lighted Boat Parade takes place Saturday, Dec. 21 beginning at dusk. Watch from Kiki's beach or dock and remember to look UP for the fabulous drone show, as well as at the boats

Noche Buena

Tuesday, December 24, 6 - 8 p.m.

The Garden at Oldest House Museum

322 Duval S., Key West

This Christmas Eve event is a celebration of Key West Cuban heritage. Enjoy a traditional succulent roast pig dinner loaded with sides and topped off with El Mocho's homemade flan.

Click HERE for more information.

Waterfront Winter Wonderland

Through December 28, 4 - 10 p.m.

Coffee Butler Amphitheater

Truman Waterfront Park, 21 Quay Rd., Key West

Make your Key West holiday experience even more magical at Waterfront Winter Wonderland at Truman Waterfront Park. Coffee Butler Amphitheater transforms into an amazing winter wonderland, with an ice-skating, rides, games, music, holiday lights, a vendor village with food and local artisans, and more.

Click HERE for more information.

Key West Sunset Celebration

Daily one hour prior to sunset

The Dock at Mallory Square, Key West

A nightly arts festival of arts and crafts exhibitors and psychics, street performers, food carts, and of course the thousands of tourists from around the world who visit this Key West art show.

Click HERE for more information.

THEATER

The Foreigner

Thursday through Saturday, December 18 - January 11, 7:30 p.m.

Red Barn Theater

319 Duval Street (rear), Key West

The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by “Froggy” LeSueur, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time “Froggy” has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So “Froggy,” before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins

For more information, click HERE.

ART STROLLS

Walk on White

Thursday, December 19, 6 - 9 p.m.

White Street between Southard and United Streets

White Street Gallery District, Key West

This month Walk on White benefits the KWHS Band. There will be band performances at City Hall, Brenda Donnelly Real Estate, and Lower Keys Plumbing. Santa and Mrs Claus will also hand out sweet treats at City Hall!

Enjoy exhibition opening receptions, open artist studios, pottery-throwing demos, locally-made art, special events, promotions, and complimentary libations from local galleries, studios, and over 25 art-loving businesses in the White Street Gallery District.

Click HERE for more information.

Morada Way Arts & Cultural District Art Walk

Thursday, December 19, 6 - 9 p.m.

151 Morada Way, MM 81.5, Islamorada

Held every month on the 3rd Thursday throughout the year, offering live music, performance artists and original art and hand-crafted jewelry, sculptures and more.

Click HERE for more information.

CALL TO ARTISTS

Submit Artwork for Celtic Festival

Art in the Park

Drop-off January 10, 10 a.m. - 5 pm

We live in a beautiful place and everyone can create something that relates to the Florida Keys. No categories, no specific theme.

The requirements: all artwork must be created within the last year. It must be original and not have won any previous awards. Entries must be ready to hang, no saw tooth hangers, no nails, string or staples showing. Mats must be fresh, clean and unspotted. Artists may enter 1 piece of original art, not to exceed 50 united inches including the mat. (IE, total of 2 sides of the work 18 x 32 or 25 X 25 or anything else that adds up to 50”). This does not include the frame which should be no more than 2”.

Email floridakeyscelticfestival@gmail.com with completed application

Download application here

A Child with the Blues by Erykah Badu, by Mary Yardley

Call to Women Artists: From a Woman's Hand

Open through January 30, 2025

Drawn entirely from the Florida Keys community, the exhibit illuminates the remarkable achievements of women artists who have been marginalized for centuries. Gender bias is less obvious today, but contemporary women artists still face many barriers and disparities, as well as continual underrepresentation in museum collections and exhibitions worldwide. The innovative exhibition concept challenges conventional boundaries, inviting artists to create artwork that expresses ideas about the natural world.

Click HERE for more information and to apply.

ARTIST MARKETS

Waterfront Farmers Market

Thursday, December 19 (Every Thursday), 2-7 p.m.

Farmer's Market

Truman Waterfront Park, Key West

(end of Southard Street)

Culinary, beverages, produce, seafood, apparel, gifts, and art.

For more info contact Sean@dailyplan-it.net

Island Home: Local Artisan & Gourmet Market

Friday, December 20 (Every Friday), 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Island Home

88720 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier

Pick up and indulge in Artisan Breads, Local Honey, Nut Butters, Homemade Jams, Oils, Spreads, Dried Fruits & Veggies, Baked Goods, and more!

Key West Artisan Market

Sunday, December 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Key West Wildlife Center. Parking Lot

1801 White Street, Key West

Come enjoy bloody’s, mimosas along with a full bar, coffee, smoothies, natural juices and cut fruit, multiple food trucks and stalls offering eat-here or take-away. Shop a curated outdoor market offering fine crafts, art and jewelry from talented Florida Keys makers. Listen to awesome local musicians of the trop rock variety and meet talented local writers.

Click HERE for more information.

FILM

Movies Under the Stars: ELF

Saturday December 21, 1/2 Hour After Sunset

Tropic Cinema

416 Eaton St., Key West

Join us outside the Tropic each month for a free outdoor screening of a cinema classic! Concessions will be available inside the Tropic lobby; limited seating will be provided but you’re welcome to bring chairs or blankets.

Click HERE for more information..

LECTURES

IMMERSE YOURSELF: The Journey of the "Christ of the Deep"

Wednesday, December 18, 6 p.m.

History of Diving Museum

82990 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada

Click HERE for more information.

Distinguished Speaker Series: Storms, Shipwrecks & Saints' Names

Thursday, December 19, 6 - 9 p.m.

Tropic Cinema

416 Eaton St., Key West

This talk focuses on the dangers associated with early Caribbean and Gulf travel in the first generations of Spanish colonialism. The Florida Keys were a late and important, but also particularly treacherous, final leg of a roundtrip journey from Spain, through the Caribbean, and back to Spain. Dr. Kevin Kokomoor talks on the subject and brings to light discoveries covered in his recent book, "La Florida: Catholics, Conquistadores and other American Origin Stories."

Click HERE for more information.

Art by Mario Sanchez

Mario Sanchez

Daily, 2 p.m.

Gallery on Green

606 Greene St, Key West

Daily lecture, 1908 American, whose art tells the unwritten history of Key West and in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American art Museum, and the American of Folk Museum in New York.

Click HERE for more information

LITERARY

Keys Writers Meeting

Wednesday, December 18, 1 p.m.

Big Pine Library Conference Room

Winn-Dixie Shopping Plaza, Big Pine Key

Explore writing in a fun, supportive environment with the Keys Writers Group! All styles and abilities are welcome. Participants may bring up to five pages, double spaced, to read aloud. If you can, bring 5-7 copies to share. The group offers feedback in a friendly, constructive way. Not ready to share? Come to a meeting to get acquainted and offer feedback. "Writers need readers!"

Work with Young Adult writer Malinda Lo, at Literary Seminar Writers' Workshops

Now accepting applications

Our Writers’ Workshop Program provides writers at all stages of development with opportunities to explore the craft of writing. We have a few spots left in Malinda Lo's workshop, Developing the Young Adult Voice (fiction). . Enrollment is typically limited to twelve participants per workshop to ensure individual attention.

For information and application link, click HERE.

MUSIC

A Jazz Christmas

Friday, December 20 , 8 p.m.

Tennessee Williams Theatre

5901 College Rd., Key West

John Simon, veteran record producer of such acts as The Band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen and others, presents a joyous celebration of the marriage of a rich holiday repertoire with America’s true Art Form: jazz.

For more information, click HERE.

Musical Musings

Friday, December 20 , 7 p.m.

Key West Theater

512 Eaton St, Key West

Musical Musings is a part of the 3rd Cayo Hueso Original Music Series where audiences and artists come together to share a night of songs and stories behind the songs.

For more information, click HERE.

Winter Show Fundraiser

Friday, December 20, 5:30 p.m.

Island Dolphin Care's Marine Mammal Responder

82748 Overseas Highway, Islamorada

This holiday season, give the gift of a second chance at life for whales & dolphins when you support the Florida Keys Sea of Trees. Raising funds and awareness for the Dolphin ICU at The Protect Center.

Elementary to high school bands will be playing hits from Lorde, Noah Kahan, Weezer, Stone Temple Pilots, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac, Eartha Kitt, Vance Joy, Foo Fighters, originals from several of our students, and more!

For more information, click HERE.

It’s A Hollywood Jolly Christmas

Sunday, December 22. 4 pm

St. Pauls Church

401 Duval St., Key West

Get ready to unwrap a holiday celebration like no other! The Music Room is thrilled to present their 44th Annual Christmas Concert, a sparkling tradition that brings the community together for music, magic, and the true spirit of giving.

For more information, click HERE.

Key West Jazz Society Duo

Thursdays, 4-7 pm

Hemingway Social Club

201 Simonton St, Key West

Vintage and Latin Jazz with Channing (clarinet, sax, flute) and company.

For more information, click HERE.

Jazz In The Gardens on Sundays

Sundays, 5-7 pm

The Gardens Hotel

526 Angela St., Key West

ARTIST CLASSES

Life Drawing Classes

Annamarie Giordano Artist

Tuesdays, 11 - 2 p.m.

3 hours of continuous drawing. All levels and mediums are welcome. Reservations are required and classes are held in Key West.

Reservations are required text 609-884-3474 or email annamariegoirdanostudios@gmail.com.

Weekly Classes

Sacred Space

529 Southard St., Key West

Enjoy Dulce Vida snazzy margaritas while you meet more than 5 different local artists at this all female gallery. We will have Ashli Tillett Designs, Drifting Through, Washed Ashore Seaglass, pottery by Wildflower Art and Zen Jewelry by Karen Moore popping up in the gallery. You will have the chance to meet each of the artists and shop their new work during this fun event!