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KEY WEST ROCKS NEW YEAR’S EVE LIKE NOWHERE ELSE

By
Mandy Miles
-
a woman in a costume surrounded by confetti and streamers
Confetti engulfs drag queen Sushi as she descends to Duval Street in a giant red high-heeled shoe during the midnight countdown. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

New York City dropped the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, but Key West dropped everything else: A drag queen, a conch shell and a pirate wench.

Crowds packed multiple blocks of Duval Street, near Sloppy Joe’s conch shell drop and Bourbon Street Pub’s red shoe drop. Meanwhile, at the harbor, Schooner Wharf Bar’s swashbuckling proprietress Evalena Worthington descended from the towering mast of a historic schooner at midnight.

New Year’s Eve in Key West provided something for everyone and “high spirits” to start 2023.

A boy sporting illuminated 2023 glasses awaits the arrival of the New Year on Duval Street for Sloppy Joe’s 29th annual conch shell drop. CAROL TEDESCO/ KeyWestHolidayFest.com
A full lineup of performers keeps the New Year’s Eve crowd entertained on Duval Street. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
High heels can’t stop this female impersonator’s agile backbend. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
Key West rapper Mike Stack thrills the crowd with his hit, ‘I’m from Key West’ on New Year’s Eve. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly
Mandy Miles
Mandy Miles
Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.

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