Fans of the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett can celebrate his legacy over Labor Day Weekend in Key West, his former home and the island that inspired his most enduring songs, during the Just a Few Friends festival. Set for Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, the gathering is part memorial, part music festival and a unique opportunity to experience the place where Buffett developed his famed “trop-rock” sound.
The gathering offers attendees a chance to walk the same streets Buffett sang about, visit the bars and marinas where his stories began, and hear the musicians who knew him best perform in intimate settings.
“This is about more than music,” said co-organizer Paul Menta. “We honor Jimmy’s memory by immersing people in the island he loved — the people, the history, the sunsets, the flavors. It’s a celebration of the way of life he enjoyed here and made his own.”
The heart of the weekend is Sunday’s Second Line Memorial Parade, a jubilant procession that winds down Key West’s Duval Street and ends at Truman Waterfront Park. There, the free “Party in the Park” concert will carry the tribute past sunset with Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band, vocalist Nadirah Shakoor from Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, and a stage full of his musical friends.
Concerts also are scheduled starring former Coral Reefer guitarist Roger Bartlett & the Nautical Wheelers on Saturday evening, and Buffett’s “Bubbles Up” co-writer Will Kimbrough Monday night. Both take place at the Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier overlooking Key West Harbor.
Beyond music, the festival weaves in experiences that could only happen in Key West. Among them: Scott Atwell will reveal the true story behind the colorful life of Phil Clark, the subject of Buffett’s classic song “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” in a panel discussion that debuts his book “Buffett Backstories: The Pirate Edition.”
Sailing adventures on schooners, catamarans and floating tiki boats offer a taste of the island from the water, while guided walking and trolley tours spotlight Buffett’s favorite places in Key West.
Festival attendees can also enjoy book signings, brunches, a 5k race, pool parties, a waterfront cleanup and even a mustache look-alike contest at the Chart Room Bar where Buffett hung out and Clark poured drinks.
Two ticketed highlights round out the weekend. Friday’s Cheeseburger on the Beach Contest at Southernmost Beach Resort pairs delicious competition with live music from the Margaritas in Paradise tribute band. Saturday’s Milagro Margarita Bar Stroll is a lively tasting tour where 22 bars compete for the title of Key West’s Best Margarita.
While the festival typically draws visitors from across the country, its heart remains local. Proceeds from collectible Event Badges directly benefit three Key West organizations: Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program, and the Key West High School Marching Band. Last year the badges raised more than $34,000, with every dollar going back into the community.
For Buffett fans who want to do more than listen, Just a Few Friends offers the chance to become immersed in the island that gave birth to a state of mind. Details, badges and ticket information are at www.justafewfriendskeywest.com.
The events are not affiliated with or endorsed by Buffett’s estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.
