There are Labor Day Weekend shows – not show – in Key West as the Conch Republic celebrates the life and songs of Jimmy Buffett.
It was two years ago that the Jimmy Buffett passed away and to mark the occasion the town in which he lived, had a recording studio and pretty much defined his lifestyle is having a celebration. Called “Just a Few Friends Key West” –– a play on words from Buffett’s “just a few friends” line in his “Pirate Looks At 40” song – it is Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
It’s three days of Jimmy Buffett tribute bands, a margarita pub crawl (of course), a parade and more. The event is mostly free. Some events require tickets and the organizers are selling souvenir parade passes that can be purchased that benefits local nonprofits.
Jimmy Buffett Tribute Key West Highlight Events
Here are the some of the highlight events for the Just a Few Friends Key West celebration.
Friday, Aug. 29
• Reading of a Florida State Legislature proclamation designating Jimmy Buffett Day. Civic leaders, regional celebrities and Parrotheads will gather for the waterfront reading and welcome ceremony outside his Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio in the Key West Historic Seaport (11 a.m.)
• Welcome party on the beach with live music by a Buffett tribute band.
Saturday, Aug. 30
• A Back to the Island Beach Party (all day, free, Bourbon Street Pub) a margarita bar crawl down Duval Street ($45, 2 p.m., meeting at La Concha) “Blue Heaven Rendezvous” trop-rock jam. Roger Bartlett, the original guitarist for Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and his Nautical Wheelers band is playing at the Ocean Key Resort (free, 6:30).
Sunday, Aug. 31
• Second Line Memorial Walking Parade, a New Orelans-style celebration (5 p.m.). It starts in the 100 block of Duval Street past the singer/songwriter’s original Margaritaville Store and Margaritaville Café, turn right onto Southard Street and end at Truman Waterfront Park for the Party in the Park celebration.
• Party In The Park, featuring .ive music by Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band, vocalist Nadirah Shakoor from Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and others, from 6-11 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 1
• A “pencil thin mustache” contest (free, 2 p.m., Chart Room), a “Come Monday” seafood boil from (5-8 p.m.) Will Kimbrough, co-writer of Buffett’s posthumous hit “Bubbles Up.” is performing at the at the Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier.
In other words, it’s much like Hemingway Days in Key West, except devoted to Jimmy Buffett.
Website: justafewfriendskeywest.com.
Leave a Reply