It is the beginning of a new month and we’re starting November off with a kick-off blog!

Head to our website at the beginning of each month to see what new and exciting things are happening at the Historic Seaport and Harborwalk. November is packed with holiday events to look forward to as well as a time to give thanks and give back.

Our roots date back to over 200 years ago when the seaport was home to many different industries. These industries include boating, sea turtle processing and canning, sea sponge, fishing and shrimping. The Key West Seaport was the center of the sea turtle processing industry in the late 1800s. Sea turtles were shipped, captured, and kept in aquatic dockside pends called crawls or kraals.

The Historic Seaport served as a primary location for turtle kraals throughout the duration of the sea turtle industry and tourists would flock to the seaport to watch hundreds of turtles being taken off fishing boats. Many fishers in the 1800s relied on fishing as a means for food as well as economic activity and based themselves in the Historic Seaport because it offered shallow confines for safe anchorage. We are grateful for our history and all of these industries contribute to how the seaport became what is it today!

To start off the holiday season, plan your holiday break or vacation at the Historic Seaport Harborwalk for the lighted boat parade, experience the super boat championship race that super charges all of Key West! The annual Key West “Bight” Before Christmas event will be on November 25th and you don’t want to miss this special event. Bring your pets for a picture with Santa, experience the Key West City Hometown Holiday Parade, watch the Harborwalk light up with colorful lights, and stop by for the Holiday Classic Car Show. Switch up your same holiday routine and make your way over to the Historic Seaport for new memories this season!

After giving thanks on Thanksgiving for everything this year has brought you, pack your bags with flip flops, sunscreen and your holiday spirit and head to the Key West Historic Seaport for a new and exciting holiday season! We’ll see you there!

Key West Historic Seaport: Your Gateway to Everything Key West!