Key West will celebrate its Bicentennial — 200th year — in March 2022, which marks the anniversary of the island’s settlement. A year of events is planned, but the main focus will take place March 19-30, 2022.
A carved granite time capsule will be filled and placed in the city on March 25. The theme of the celebration is the importance of children as the city’s future, said Paul Menta, owner of Key West’s First Legal Rum Distillery, who is helping to organize the celebration.
Menta updated the city commissioners on the plans for the primary weeklong celebration in March 2022 during their Dec. 7, meeting. He outlined events, including drone fireworks, special lectures, ceremonies, a flag-raising at Mallory Square and community celebrations.
“No one is being excluded from this celebration — kids, adults, residents, tourists, even people’s pets are invited,” he said. “Everyone is invited to participate in this. … This year we’ve had a banner year, and I think we all want to keep that going.”
This will be a great way to celebrate our city, our history and our people, Menta said, adding that the city’s Bicentennial celebration, thus far, involves no cost to the city.
“We are looking for city banners to dress up the island a bit in key spots,” he said, hoping Tourist Development Council funding can be pursued for those.
Menta also said the Key West post office has created a specialized, collector’s item cancel stamp, so any mail that comes through the 33040 ZIP code during that week will be canceled with the special stamp.For more information and an events calendar, visit keywest200th.com.
