GREAT BATTLE VICTORY PARTY AT SCHOONER WHARF— The Oysters Fantastic Band is back by popular demand and they're at the Schooner Wharf Bar tonight, Friday, April 28, 7 `til midnight. These guys are hot!
The 18th Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration continues through this weekend. The 10-day party commemorates the republic's "secession" from the United States to form a "fifth world nation" recognized by international public law as "a sovereign state of mind."
The island republic, whose motto is "We Seceded Where Others Failed," was born following a 1982 US Border Patrol blockade of the Florida Keys. Its stated mission is to bring more humor, warmth and respect to the planet— and the featured events during this year's Conch Republic Independence Celebration are designed to do just that.
An annual highlight of the Conch Republic Independence Celebration is the Naval Parade and Great Battle in Key West Harbor. This event starts at 7 p.m. in full view of the waterfront hotels, bars and eateries. See the Conch Republic Navy take on the U.S. Coast Guard. (The Conch Republic always wins.)
Best viewing is the huge patio at the Key West Hilton. The Bloody Battle Party starts at 6.
The after-battle Victory Party will be at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Live music by the Oysters Fantastic Band from 7 p.m.
Saturday highlights include a craft show and food fest on Greene street near Duval, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; the Lower Duval Bar Crawl, Noon-5 p.m.; a pedicab race, beginning at the La Concha at 1 p.m., and a bed race starting at the La Concha at 4 p.m.
Don't miss the Conch Republic Fiddler's Contest at the Green Parrot Bar, 3-7 p.m.
The Great Conch Republic Chili Cookoff will heat up the 200 block of Duval Street, 6-11 p.m. Lots of live music and food.
The famous Pirate's Ball and Pig Roast gets underway at the Schooner Wharf Bar at 7 p.m. Live music by the Overnite Sensations.
The party ends as it began— at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Conch Cruiser Car Show at Noon. The Wreckers Race starts at 1, with another party at the Schooner starting at 7.
Imagine an evening of over 50 of Key Wets's restaurants and more than 75 fine wineries from around the nation offering their most delicious vintages for your delight! AIDS Help, Inc., will host it's Fifth Annual "A Taste of Key West" this Monday, May 1, 6-9 p.m. at Higgs Beach Park.
Open to the public, admission is FREE. Food and wine tickets may be purchased for $1 and exchanged for dishes from an incredible variety of Key West restaurants. In addition to the spectacular array of foods, wineries represented by National Wines will be featured for tastings in souvenir etched wine glasses.
Free parking will be available at Higgs Beach and Indigenous Park. Free non-stop transportation will also be provided every hour by Old Town Trolley beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Pier House with stops at The Hilton Resort, The Reach, and the Casa Marina. Trolley service will continue throughout the evening with the last trolley leaving Higgs Beach Park at 9 p.m.
All proceeds go directly to serve the clients of AIDS Help, Inc. So come have a Taste of Paradise and help your neighbors!
Info: Call Denise at AIDS Help, Inc. at 296-6196.
If you love steel band music, you may want to take some time off from the Conch Republic Independence activities and limbo on out to East Martello Tower, next to the airport, tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, April 29, Noon-5, for the Steel Band & Caribbean Food Festival.
The entertainment lineup includes:
• 12 Noon: Trinidad Joe & his island tales
• 12:15: The Steel Your Heart band
• 1:30: Jim Wist on double seconds
• 2:00: Cedrick Luces from Trinidad
• 2:30: Performance by the Gerald Adams' Juggling Club
• 3:00: Key West High School Conch Cruiser Steel Band
• 4:00: Florida Atlantic University Blue Waves Steel Band under the direction of Brad Watson of the Miami Steel & Percussion Orchestra, which recently performed at Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center.
This is a family event starting with the all-day limbo contest with prizes for everyone. A special Caribbean limbo stick has been designed for this event.
There will be a juggling contest with mangoes and avocadoes sponsored by the Gerald Adams Juggling Club. Members will be giving short juggling workshops all day and trying to set a record for non-stop juggling of avocadoes and mangoes.
There will be more than 20 local restaurants serving food all day long including Kelly's Caribbean Restaurant, Camille's, Blue Heaven, Caribe Soul, Mo's, Hukilau, Bohemia, Cafe Sole, Chico's, Sloppy Joe's, Margaritaville, El Siboney, Conch Republic Seafood, Abaco House, Coca Cola Co. and El Meson de Pepe.
A silent auction of Caribbean artwork will go on all day with pieces of art from the Haitian Art Gallery, the Pelican Poop, Art Behind Bars and the Kennedy Art Gallery.
All day tickets include admission to the museum and are $3 for students, $5 for adults and family tickets for $12 at the door.
This event is sponsored by the Key West Art and Historical Society, Monroe Council of the Arts, Republic Bank, Niles-Willis & Moore, Keys Credit Union, Southernmost Motel, Manley DeBoer Lumber, Historic Tours of America, First State Bank, Hilario Ramos Dev., Shark Key Development, and Ramlo Dev.
This is a benefit to help further Steel Pan in Monroe County Schools.