Christmas Time in Key West

It is Christmas time in KW and things are a buzzing. With the economic issues it is quieter than usual since tourism is down but the locals are doing their part to get in the holiday spirit. 

Ours started with the Mel Fisher holiday party on Saturday Dec 6. It was the employee get together and even though we are not 'official employees' we were given invitations as VIPS.  There were a few of the local investors that they invite and we were lucky to be included. It was a great evening of dinner and drinks at Mangos. 

That evening there was also the KW Holiday Parade. It is a family parade with kids groups, churches, music, floats and more parade down Duval and instead of throwing beads (as usual in KW) they throw candy. We were able to watch it from the balcony at Mangos which was a great view. 

Then Thursday night was the hay ride/ tour xmas lights/ pub crawl that was put on by Cowboy Bill, the local cowboy bar. Jan, Ray, Tom and I decide to go along since we heard that it was a lot of fun last year. There is a fee of $25 and an unwrapped toy to ride in the hay which of course all goes to one of the kids charities. 

So we had dinner at the Iguana since Mike (favorite bartender) was working and it was across the street from Cowboy Bills where we were to pick up the hay ride. In the KW spirit things got started 30 minutes late which was 2 hot buttered rum drink later we boarded a large flat bed trailer that was filled with hay bales and ice chests of beer we were greeted by one of Santa's KW elves shown below.   

So it was an evening of looking at xmas lights, singing xmas carols REALLY off key, stopping at local bars, and having a great time! 

The rest of the xmas events are taking place after we leave for Phoenix. The one we are sorry we won't be able to see is the lighted boat parade.  The local boats get decorated & lit up then parade through the harbor. We have heard it is amazing so we will be there for it next year. 

So now we are in Phoenix for Taryn's graduation from college with her degree in nursing along with visiting friends, an early xmas with the family and then to relocate Taryn to Richmond VA now that school will be done.  More blogs will follow with all that is going on here.