Changing the Map of Key West
September 27, 2024
Florida House Representatives have renamed State Route A1A and put Jimmy Buffett on the map. SB 84 sponsor Florida Senator Lauren Book (D): “With this road naming, we are paying tribute to Jimmy not only as a musical icon, but also a fierce protector of Florida’s natural treasures and our precious manatees.”
The Jimmy Buffet Memorial Highway
In a unique and very touching event held in conjunction with Jimmy Buffet Day and the first-ever Just a Few Friends tribute festival, the new sign designating Florida State Road A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway was unveiled in Key West on August 30. Jimmy’s younger sister Lucy Buffett was on hand to do the unveiling along the first section of the highway on Key West’s Atlantic shore.
Accompanying Lucy were Florida House Republican Representatives Jim Mooney and Chuck Clemons, prime sponsors of the House Bill (HB 91), and Democratic Senator Lauren Book, sponsor of the identical Senate companion bill (SB 84). Both bills passed unanimously, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the final “Highway Bill” in July.
The August 30 ceremonial placing of the first sign here in Key West marked the official beginning of the installation process that will ultimately include all seven sections of 339-mile-long Florida State Road A1A from the beginning of its first section at the southern end of Bertha Street in Key West, running along the Keys as the Overseas Highway, and up Florida’s Atlantic Coastline to Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island just south of the Georgia state line.
The Governor also signed a bill adding a new “Margaritaville” Florida specialty license plate. This makes two specialty plates for Jimmy, whose work for Florida ecology and role in the 1981 establishment of the award-winning national nonprofit organization Save the Manatee Club led to the popular “Save the Manatee” license plate.
Jimmy is an island legend who went beyond making great music and good times as an international star to have an unquestionably positive influence here in the state of Florida through his philanthropic efforts. Now he can be truly noted as having changed the map of Key West and the entire state.
An Active Autumn
The amazing Labor Day weekend that kicked off with the official Jimmy Buffett Day ceremonial honors and new A1A sign unveiling then immediately rolled into the Just a Few Friends festival. This heartfelt tribute brought thousands of Jimmy Buffet fans, margarita lovers, and aspiring beach bums together to celebrate Jimmy’s life, times, and tunes. Somewhere around 5,000 people were on hand to participate in the Second Line parade that headed down Duval Street and ended in Truman Waterfront Park where music, margaritas, and memories flowed freely.
Not even a week later, September 5th through the 8th brought the annual Key West Business Guild Womenfest back to town. One of the largest annual gatherings especially for LGBTQ women and their friends, Womenfest has been bringing female fest goers to the island for over 20 years now. This year’s theme was Fire & Ice Fantasy, with a highlight being a full-fledged Saturday night prom gala at American Legion Post 168.
Of course, as most folks have heard by now, the last weekend of September saw Key West visited by a less-welcome female named Helene. Thankfully, Hurricane Helene passed about 235 miles to the west of us as a tropical storm, and just waved hello with some powerful winds, furious seas, and localized flooding. Videos captured groups of excited and incautious visitors gathering at the Southernmost Point Buoy and other exposed spots to experience the raw power of nature. Some hardy souls were even seen taking to the water with surfboards during the storm.
Island folks evacuated and took shelter as needed, but overall Helene was nothing Key Westers could not handle with aplomb, and in general things turned out ok. However, our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all the folks in Florida’s Big Bend region and points north who were spared no mercy by Helene.
Fall Fantasy Count Down Underway
Excitement is building and the island is buzzing as we head into the final run-up weeks to the 2024 Fantasy Fest, which will bring tens of thousands of fun-loving revelers to the island October 18–27. After an eventful week that kicks off with Caribbean island-style tunes and treats at the Bahama Village Goombay Festival on October 18 &19, the party gets under full steam on the evening of Friday the 25th when a merry mass of Masquerade Marchers hit Duval Street for the Locals’ Parade, a moving dance party featuring lively costumed crews lubricated by abundant libations.
Then, on the evening of Saturday, October 26, over 70,000 party people will line Duval Street for the legendary Key West spectacular that is the Fantasy Fest Parade. This year’s theme—It’s a’90s Neon Cosmic Carnival—is sure to bring on new heights in creativity with full-sized floats, walking groups, bike riders and more all competing for thousands of dollars in cash awards and especially for the honor and notoriety of being the best of Fantasy Fest 2024.
2024 Key West Fantasy Fest Parade Award Categories
Best Overall ($6,000) — Presented by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West
Best in Costume ($3,000)
Best in Entertainment ($3,000)
Best Interpretation of Theme ($2,500)
Best Walking Group ($2,000) — Presented by the Key West Chamber of Commerce
Green Parrot Best Live Music Award ($1,500)
Best Bike Award ($1,000)
Director’s Choice Award ($1,000)
A jam-packed schedule of events and activities promises ten full days and nights of fun and entertainment ranging from family-friendly to fully-freaky. Key West Fantasy Fest is definitely a be there or be square type of event, and as always, there will be far more to do than time to do it in. Better get over to the official 2024 schedule and chart a party course through your best Key West Fantasy Fest 2024.
An Island for All Seasons
Are you dreaming of a home in Key West or the Lower Keys? Maybe the idea of investing in a great Florida Keys vacation or retirement home is sounding good in this time of dropping interest rates. How about grabbing the perfect Key West vacation rental as a base for enjoying the festive fall season here on the island? If you need any help at all navigating the Key West property market, Bascom Grooms Real Estate is your local go-to solution.
Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall here in Key West, all you have to do is call. Or sign up for our informative mailing list to catch an always-tempting selection of our freshest Key West and Lower Keys properties.
Bascom Grooms Real Estate—1110 Truman Avenue, Key West Florida—(305) 295-7511—info@bascomgrooms.com
