3rd Annual Just a Few Friends Festival Key West 2026

The 3rd Annual Just a Few Friends Festival returns to Key West for Labor Day Weekend 2026, with official festival events September 3–7 and early kickoff activities beginning Wednesday, September 2. The island-wide celebration honors Jimmy Buffett’s Key West legacy through live music, waterfront adventures, food events, storytelling, local hangouts and gatherings that bring Friends of Bubba together from around the country.

The 2026 celebration spreads across Key West rather than being confined to a single festival site. Friends of Bubba Festival Headquarters is located at Key West First Legal Rum, while events take place at the Chart Room at Pier House, Duval Street, Truman Waterfront Park, Sunset Pier, Smathers Beach, Southernmost Beach Resort, Comedy Key West and numerous waterfront venues throughout the island.

Early arrivals can begin Wednesday with Festival Headquarters, A Pirate Looks Back: The Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show, a sandbar adventure, the official pre-event meetup at the Chart Room and live music at the Key West Theater Listening Room. Thursday expands into a full day of snorkeling, walking tours, waterfront gatherings and the Cheeseburger Beach Battle at Southernmost Beach Resort, followed by sunset sailing and evening entertainment.

Friday brings one of the weekend’s signature celebrations to Duval Street. Gary & the Landsharks headline a free street party on the 200 block of Duval, accompanied by the Bubba Look Alike Contest. Other Friday events include Buffett tribute music, the Shrimp Boat Sound movie panel, walking tours, snorkeling, sailing and gatherings around Key West.

Saturday begins with the Parrots and Margaritas 5K Run/Walk and continues with the Paddle Out Tribute at Smathers Beach, pool parties, walking and trolley tours, sailing experiences, bar strolls and live music. The evening brings The Wheeland Brothers with Mike Stack & Friends to Sunset Pier for a free waterfront performance.

Sunday features another full day of music and gatherings before the Second Line Memorial Walking Parade begins at 5:00 PM on Duval Street. The procession leads into Party in the Park: Tribute to Bubba at Truman Waterfront Park from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, one of the largest free public celebrations of the weekend.

The celebration continues through Labor Day Monday with sailing and snorkeling adventures, walking tours, pool parties, Chart Room gatherings and the free Come Monday performance by Cayman & the Mango Men at Sunset Pier from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The weekend concludes with the Last Call After Party at Smokin’ Tuna from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

Many of the festival’s major public celebrations are free, while specialty sails, snorkeling trips, tours, tribute performances and other limited-capacity experiences require tickets or specific VIP access. Tickets and experiences are currently on sale. Visitors planning to attend should check the official Just a Few Friends schedule for current times, availability and access requirements, as individual events may change.

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