The World Sailfish Championship sponsors set up a series of connected tents that almost totally cover Mallory Square. Only members can get in, but others are welcome to come to the live band event on Friday night, which is usually a very good show. Inside the tent, there is gourmet food, including shrimp raw bars, wine events, and one gala dinner event after the last race of the week, Saturday night. Prize ceremonies take place in the big tent, with bikini babes, big name sponsors, and everything else you’d expect from a grand event involving lots and lots of money, like this one.

The rules of the tournament are serious, and there are many ways to get your sailfish catch disqualified. These days you have to get your catch on video, or mini DVD. If it’s not recorded, it doesn’t count! Boats leave the docks at 7am and have to turn in their DVDs each day by 5pm. Winner of this year’s World Sailfish Championship released 22 sailfish and won over $340,000. See what we mean by big? This is for serious fishing teams with serious piles of cash, since just to enter you pay $7,500. No wonder they treat the entrants so well, with shrimp dinners, bikini babes, and live music!

The protest lasted less than one day, and it was half in jest, but the message was real. Border Patrol stations set up within state boundaries was an infringement and Conchs weren’t going to stand for it. The “Conch Republic” you’ve heard so much about was created out of this border controversy. They still issue passports and Conch Republic Independence Celebration hangs on as one of the favorite holiday weeks in Key West. There are annual events, and most of them take place in Key West, although it’s a celebration for all of the Keys.

Probably the most popular event of the entire Conch Republic Independence Celebration, at least for tourists that is, is the reenactment of the “Bloody Battle”. Anyone with a boat can join the battle, which takes place in Key West harbor. Boats cruise back and forth and whip rotten food at each other, simulating the Great Battle for Independence of 1982.

To enter, captains must attend a mandatory “Captains’ Meeting” the night before. Mainly, this is to make everyone aware of the rules of the battle. Throwing dangerous things at other boats will get you banned from the battle. Visitors can watch from shore, either at Mallory Square, or at special viewing parties hosted by the luxury waterfront Key West hotels like the Westin and Pier House.

This weekend was the annual Key West Seafood Festival in Bay View Park. All Manner of seafood was represented along with live music and plenty of distractions for children.