Hemingway Days 2013

Ernest Hemingway, a legend of both the literary and fishing world, will once again be honored by an annual festival in Key West, Florida. Hemingway Days 2013 will be held July 16-21.

Read more in the press release below.

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Throughout the 1930s, Ernest Hemingway lived on the tiny island of Key West, penning now-classic works that included “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “To Have and Have Not.” The Nobel Prize-winning author’s legacy is to be celebrated Tuesday through Sunday, July 16-21, with events saluting his literary prowess and vigorous Key West lifestyle.

Hemingway Days 2013 includes a popular look-alike contest, authors’ readings, an offbeat “Running of the Bulls,” a marlin tournament and the culmination of a short story contest directed by author and Hemingway granddaughter Lorian Hemingway.

Events begin Tuesday, July 16, with a museum day celebrating the island’s two leading literary residents. Featured is the “Hemingway in Key West” exhibition at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front St., and the Tennessee Williams exhibit at 513 Truman Ave. behind the Key West Business Guild Visitor Center.

The festival’s leading literary event is the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition winners announcement and awards reception. The reception is scheduled Friday, July 19, and typically takes place at Casa Antigua, 314 Simonton St., Ernest Hemingway’s first Key West residence. For information, visit www.shortstorycompetition.com.

Other literary events include “Voices, Places, Inspirations,” an evening of readings by acclaimed authors set for Wednesday, July 17, at Wyland Galleries, 623 Duval St.

Approximately 125 stocky, bearded men resembling Ernest are to compete in Sloppy Joe’s “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Now in its 33rd year, the competition is staged at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St., a watering hole frequented by Ernest in the 1930s.

Preliminary rounds are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 18 and 19. The winner will be chosen Saturday night by a judging panel of past winners. For more information and registration, visit www.sloppyjoes.com.

The “Papas” also take part in other festival activities, including Saturday’s “Photos with Papas” at noon and “Running of the Bulls” at 1 p.m. — an offbeat salute to Pamplona’s sporting challenge featuring man-made bulls. Following that, they plan to host a birthday party complete with cake honoring the 114th anniversary of Hemingway’s July 21 birth.

Those who share the author’s well-known passion for angling can compete in the July 17-20 Key West Marlin Tournament, offering cash prizes for top catches of marlin and other fish. For details, visit www.keywestmarlin.com.

Other events include the 5k Sunset Run and Paddleboard Race, a land-and-sea challenge inspired by Hemingway’s enthusiasm for sporting pursuits. For details, visit www.keywestspecialevents.com.

Rounding out the festival are a lively daylong street fair on Key West’s Duval Street, a Hemingway film screening and Sloppy Joe’s 27th annual Arm Wrestling Championship.

In addition, fans of the author can visit his former Key West home at 907 Whitehead St., now a museum open for daily tours.