7 YEARS OF KEY WEST’S BUBBA AWARDS

By 2017, the Bubbas Award Banquet had earned a reputation for being one of the wildest, most unpredictable comedy shows of the year. Pictured is Sheriff Rick Ramsay being used as a ‘prop’ during one of the most memorable lip sync battles in recent memory.

In 2014 we wanted to conduct a “best of” contest in Key West to honor the diverse mix of amazing restaurants, businesses and nonprofits in Key West. However, our goal was to create something more than just winners’ plaques and bragging rights. Instead, the idea was to conduct something similar to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., where anything could happen and everything was on the table. It would be a roast, mixed with skits and awards — but moreover, it would be an evening where people could kick back and let loose — without the distraction of politics in the outside world. And on top of everything, do it all to support local nonprofits.

By 2019 the Bubbas had become recognized as one of the premier events in town. The three-hour evening consisted of Bubbas winners, skits, humor, live music and other unexpected debauchery that cannot be repeated here.  And while the weeks of voting leading up the awards banquet always added to the anticipation, it was the event itself that capped off all the hard work, the tens of thousands of votes counted and the money raised for local charities.

Today, the Bubbas have raised more than $90,000 for those organizations since the event’s inception in 2014. But sadly, due to COVID, there will be no Awards Show this year. And as many know, we changed our format this year, listing only the previous winners from the past six years on our ballots.

While I know this has understandably disappointed those who were looking to compete in the traditional format, I continue to stand by our decision not to pit every business in town against one another during a time when so many are suffering due to the challenges of a pandemic.

We chose this temporary format for two reasons: Mainly, we wanted to do something that supports Community Wins. And we wanted to simply take a moment to appreciate the past six years of the Bubbas. Not just the winners, but the moments that have defined the memorable evenings and the people who have worked to create a positive event we can all look forward to each and every year.

So as we look to return to our original format and live event in 2021, please remember to vote in this year’s contest. But more importantly, please take a moment to support Community Wins. In the meantime, we want to thank every voter, sponsor, media partner, participant (willing or unwilling on stage) past nominees and winners for the first seven years of this journey — and we look forward to many more.   

Here is a look back at the evolution of the Bubbas: Key West People’s Choice Awards

Britt Myers traded in a life of monetary success, a chiseled body and intellectual enlightenment for a piece of the pie of the Keys Weekly newspapers. He is also the proud parent of an incredible six-year-old and a sucker for Michael Mann movies and convenience store hot dogs.