Key West Lobsterfest is a multi-day August street festival celebrating the opening of Florida's lobster season, centered on Duval Street. The event pairs a lobster boil and parade with live music and food throughout historic downtown Key West, and has run for decades as one of the island's signature late-summer traditions.
Its island seafood identity makes it a strong Florida Keys food event.
The festival's timing is deliberate: it falls around the start of Florida's regular lobster season each August, giving the celebration a direct connection to the local fishing calendar rather than an arbitrary festival date
A signature lobster parade down Duval Street draws both longtime Key West lobster enthusiasts and first-time visitors, described by local coverage as offering something for both 'lobster newcomers and lobster veterans' alike
The festival's opening event, a decadent multi-course lobster boil featuring more than a pound of shellfish per serving alongside shrimp and andouille sausage, sets a food-forward tone that carries through the weekend's programming on Duval Street's 100-500 blocks
Timed to the opening of Florida's lobster season each August
the festival continues a decades-long Key West tradition
marked in past years by anniversaries in the high teens and twenties
of celebrating the local catch with a parade down Duval Street and a season-opening lobster boil
7 August 2026
Old Town walking is easiest.
Casual, breathable summer clothing suited to Key West's August heat and humidity; comfortable sandals or shoes for walking Duval Street's crowded sidewalks over multiple event days.
Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.
Key West
Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.
USD
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Key West Lobsterfest is listed for 7 August 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Key West, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Key West, FL
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