Key West March 2026 Events Around Town.

Things to Do in Key West in March 2026: West Martello Tower & Gardens, Food Festivals, Art Walks, and Island Traditions

March brings an island calendar packed with garden color, waterfront energy, and can’t-miss local traditions—making it one of the best windows for travelers searching things to do in Key West March 2026. This Key West March 2026 events calendar highlights festivals, food showcases, art strolls, and signature community gatherings that define the season.

The month opens with the Key West Orchid Festival — March 6–8 (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily), delivering exhibit-quality blooms, expert growers, and a garden setting built for slow wandering and photos. The next day doubles down on pure island character with the Conch Shell Blowing Contest — March 7 at Oldest House Museum & Gardens Key West (free admission, all ages), where competitors turn conch shells into bragging-rights instruments and the crowd reacts to every surprising note.

Also on March 7, the harbor shifts into celebration mode with the Open Air Art & Music Affair at Schooner Wharf Bar in the Key West Historic Seaport, scheduled 9:30 a.m.–midnight—a full-day blend of local art, live music, and waterfront ambiance that feels like a living postcard. From March 9–12, angling culture takes center stage with the March Merkin Invitational Permit Tournament based at Oceans Edge Resort & Marina, creating that dockside buzz where permit stories get told like legends and tournament talk becomes part of the island’s daily soundtrack.

Mid-month leans into St. Patrick’s season with Irish Kevin’s Shamrock Shuffle 5K/10K — March 14, centered around Irish Kevin's and known for multiple distance options (including walk and kids’ shuffle), spirited costumes, and a high-energy start/finish vibe that blends “race morning” with street-party fun. The art scene shines on Walk on White — March 19 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) along White Street, where galleries and studios switch into open-house mode for an easygoing sip-and-stroll night that spotlights local creators. On March 21, Tropic Cinema keeps the mood community-forward with Movies Under the Stars, pairing an outdoor screening with a warm island evening and a relaxed, come-as-you-are feel.

Food-focused travelers looking for Key West festivals in March should circle Taste of Key West — March 23 at Truman Waterfront Park, a waterfront tasting showcase where restaurants and beverage partners turn the evening into a progressive, sample-by-sample tour of the island’s culinary scene—best approached hungry, paced thoughtfully, and enjoyed socially. The month closes with offshore intensity during the Key West Sailfish Tournament — March 26–28, when “tournament week” chatter picks up across docks and boat-friendly corners of town.

Beyond the headline dates, March stays lively with nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square (every evening) and the Thursday afternoon Key West Farmers Market (Thursdays, 1:00–6:00 p.m.)—two weekly anchors that keep the island’s rhythm going all month.