Key West is known for many things- idyllic beaches, charming culture, and of course, outstanding parties! If you're looking for a fun place to celebrate Mardi Gras, then you should plan to visit Key West! Here are a few of the festive activities that await you in the Florida Keys.
After two years, the annual Headdress Ball is finally making its grand return! Come out and enjoy the costume contest, which features dazzling headdresses that makers have spent months crafting. You have to see these incredible works of art to believe them! After the show, head to Aqua Sidebar for a special Happy Hour Disco! This event is the perfect way to kick off an extravagant week of Mardi Gras festivities!
Proceeds from the Headdress Ball go to promote LBGTQ+ Tourism to Key West.
Nothing says "Mardi Gras" quite like a bar crawl- and Key West is the perfect place to bar crawl! There are a few ways to go about it- improvise it, plan it yourself, or take a guided crawl. For guided crawls, I can recommend two great companies.
Duval Crawl claims to have created the perfect Key West bar crawl. This tour takes around 2.5 hours to complete and involves 5 cocktails and a souvenir t-shirt! Tours are offered almost every day of the week.
Key West Walking Tours offers a traditional Key West Pub Crawl and a Haunted Pub Crawl. The traditional crawl takes about 2.5 hours and, like Duval Crawl, comes with 5 drinks and a t-shirt. The Haunted Crawl takes around 2 hours and takes you through Bone Island- one of the top 5 haunted spots in America!
Looking for a New Orleans-style meal? Check out one of Key West's top cajun/creole restaurants! Head to Stinkin Crawfish for cajun seafood with tasty seasonings. There's also Firefly, which features southern food with a twist. There, you'll find unique treats like bacon-crab beignets and low-country gumbo!
Mardi Gras is magical in Key West! Plan your trip today!