Key West Rum Fest Returns in August with Tastings, Music and Charity Events

Proceeds from the festival will go the MARC House this year.

KEY WEST, Fla. — If Ernest Hemingway is Key West’s favorite writer, rum may be its favorite drink.

The island’s annual Rum Fest returns Aug. 10-16 with a weeklong celebration of premium spirits, live music, culinary events and waterfront excursions, culminating in the Grand Tasting on Aug. 15 at the Key West Theater.

More than 40 rum producers from around the world are expected to participate in the festival, which coincides with National Rum Day and draws enthusiasts from across the United States.

Festival highlights include a five-course RUMposium luncheon featuring internationally known rum experts, a local rum cake competition, sunset sails, sandbar cocktail cruises, a mojito pool party and specialty rum dinners at venues throughout Old Town.

Live performances by Jesse Rice, Cliff Cody, Sharese and Dawson Wright are also scheduled during the week.

Organizers said proceeds from the festival will benefit MARC House, a Key West nonprofit that provides housing and support services for adults with developmental disabilities in the Florida Keys.

Rather than a single admission ticket, festival events are sold individually, with all-access passes also available. The Grand Tasting, the festival’s signature event, will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Key West Theater. To purchase tickets, go here.