Key West Lobsterfest: A No-Frills Guide to Florida’s August Seafood Festival

Key West Lobsterfest: A No-Frills Guide to Florida’s August Seafood Festival

Every August, just after the start of Florida’s lobster season, Key West throws one of its most anticipated parties of the year: Lobsterfest. It’s loud, it’s packed, and it smells like butter—and that’s exactly the point. For more than 25 years, this event has marked the unofficial end of summer with street food, cold drinks, and fresh spiny lobster pulled from the waters just offshore.

This is more than a seafood fest. It’s a weekend that brings locals and travelers together on Duval Street, celebrating a Florida tradition with live music, great eats, and the kind of no-nonsense fun that Key West is known for.

What Is Key West Lobsterfest?

Key West Lobsterfest is an annual food and street festival held each August to celebrate the start of Florida’s lobster season, which opens August 6. Unlike the cold-water lobsters with big claws, Florida’s spiny lobster is all about the tail—meaty, sweet, and perfect for grilling.

The event started in the late 1990s and has grown into one of the biggest summer attractions in the Keys. What makes it different from other seafood festivals is the focus: it’s all about lobster. No fried Oreos, no turkey legs. Just lobster, local drinks, and live music under the sun.

When and Where It Happens

The festival usually runs over four days during the second weekend of August. The 2024 dates, for example, are August 8–11.

  • Main Events Location: Duval Street, between Front and South Streets

  • Closest Airport: Key West International Airport (EYW)

  • Walkability: High. Most events are in Old Town and within walking distance of popular hotels

Here’s how the event usually breaks down:

  • Thursday: Kickoff Lobster Boil at the Roof Top Café

  • Friday: Pub Crawl (ticketed event, limited capacity)

  • Saturday: Free Street Fair with live bands and lobster stands

  • Sunday: Lobster Brunches at local restaurants

What You’ll Eat

Spiny lobster shows up in just about every form you can think of:

  • Grilled lobster tails with drawn butter

  • Lobster mac and cheese

  • Lobster tacos

  • Lobster ceviche

  • Lobster rolls (New England style meets Florida seafood)

Vendors line Duval Street with portable grills, steamers, and fryers. Local restaurants also set up outdoor stations serving their own lobster specials. Most prices range from $10–$20 per dish, and portions are generous.

If you’re looking for something to drink, bars sell frozen cocktails, beers, and non-alcoholic options along the route. Expect plastic cups, hot sidewalks, and the occasional guy in a lobster hat.

The Street Fair

The Saturday Street Fair is the centerpiece of the weekend. Duval Street shuts down to cars, turning into a walk-up dining zone. Live bands play at the intersection of Duval and Greene Street, and the music runs from early afternoon through the evening.

What’s good about this fair is that there’s no entry fee. You just walk, order, and eat. You can sit on the curb, grab a table at a bar, or just keep walking with food in hand. It’s first-come, first-served all day long.

Friday Night Pub Crawl

For a different pace, the Friday night Pub Crawl is a ticketed event that takes participants through several of Key West’s most popular bars. Each stop includes a drink (beer or cocktail), and there’s usually a commemorative T-shirt involved.

Spots are limited, and this sells out fast every year. If you plan to go, buy tickets early online through the official Lobsterfest website. Cost is usually around $60–$70.

Live Music and Entertainment

The bands aren’t an afterthought. Past lineups have included classic rock, tropical country, reggae, and local jam bands. Sets run for hours during the Street Fair, and people crowd around the stage with drinks in hand.

Music kicks off in the early afternoon and goes until about 10 p.m. The main stage is usually near Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of the most iconic spots on Duval.

Tips If You’re Going

Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Book Early: Hotels fill up fast. Rates spike for the weekend, so if you want walkable access to the festival, reserve a room in Old Town months in advance.

  • Hydrate: It’s August in the Keys. Bring a reusable water bottle.

  • Pack Light: You’ll be walking a lot in the sun. Hats and sunscreen help.

  • Cash is handy: Some street vendors prefer it, even though most take cards.

  • Pace yourself: Lobster and rum drinks don’t mix well in large quantities.

Spiny Lobster vs. Maine Lobster

If you’ve never had Florida spiny lobster, you’re in for something different. Unlike its cold-water cousin, it doesn’t have claws and is typically smaller. All the meat is in the tail. It’s slightly firmer and less sweet than Maine lobster, but when grilled and served with butter or garlic sauce, it holds its own.

Fishermen in the Keys catch them using special traps, and during the season, spiny lobster becomes a menu regular across the region.

Why It’s a Local Favorite

Lobsterfest brings money into the local economy during the off-season and gives chefs, food truck owners, and fishermen a high-profile chance to show what they do best. For locals, it’s a summer highlight. For travelers, it’s a reason to see Key West beyond Hemingway tours and sunset cruises.

And unlike some of the bigger events in town (like Fantasy Fest), Lobsterfest is family-friendly. You’ll see kids eating lobster nuggets next to retirees drinking cold beers on the curb.

Where to Stay

If you want to stay close to the action, look for hotels in or near Old Town:

  • The Marquesa Hotel (quiet, upscale, close to Duval)

  • The Southernmost Inn (adults-only, more budget-friendly)

  • Kimpton Ridley House (charming and walkable)

  • Casa Marina Key West (Hilton property on the beach)

Vacation rentals are another option, but many require a 3-night minimum.

Getting There

Key West is accessible by plane (EYW), car (via U.S. 1), or ferry (from Fort Myers or Marco Island). If you’re driving, plan extra time—the Overseas Highway is beautiful, but traffic can back up on festival weekends.

Parking in Old Town is limited. If you’re not staying nearby, consider parking at a public garage or taking a uber or bike to the event area.

Final Thoughts

Key West Lobsterfest is exactly what it sounds like—lobster, drinks, music, and crowds. It’s hot, it’s loud, and it’s worth showing up hungry. This is one of those Florida events where nobody’s trying too hard. It’s simple, good fun in the middle of August, and if you like your seafood fresh and your summer casual, it’s probably your kind of scene.


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