Just a Few Friends Festival Returns to Key West This Weekend

KEY WEST, FL – This Labor Day weekend, Just a Few Friends returns to Key West for its second year of unforgettable events celebrating the life, music, and laid-back legacy of the island’s favorite son. From Thursday, August 28 through Monday, September 1, the island will come alive with music, parades, and heartfelt gatherings that capture the spirit of the man who helped put Key West on the map.

The weekend kicks off Friday morning with an all-volunteer effort led by Plogging the Keys and the City of Key West to pick up trash from the Historic Waterfront. At 11 am, a Proclamation Ceremony at Shrimp Boat Sound Studios, where Vice Mayor Donie Lee will officially declare August 30 Jimmy Buffett Day in Key West. The Key West High School Marching Band, one of the festival’s charity beneficiaries, will perform, and Lucy Buffett will accept the proclamation on behalf of her brother.

On Sunday, August 31, the festival reaches its emotional peak with the Second Line Memorial Parade, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the 100 block of Duval Street. Fans in tropical wear, with instruments, bubbles, and placards in hand, will march through Old Town and arrive at Truman Waterfront Park for the free Party in the Park, presented by The Greeen House. The concert lineup features local trop rock musician Jocky Jord, Nadirah Shakoor, longtime Coral Reefer vocalist, Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band, and special guest Lucy Buffett, who will greet the crowd following the parade. Festival goers can enjoy food trucks, bars, local artisans, interactive photo ops, the Greeen Bar hospitality tent, and the Friends of Bubba Memorial Wall, where attendees are encouraged to light a free candle and leave photos or mementos honoring the man who inspired the celebration.

Other highlights include:

• Friday’s Cheeseburger on the Beach Contest with Landshark at the Southernmost Beach Resort
• Saturday’s Milagro Margarita Bar Stroll with two routes and 21 bars
• Two Sunset Pier concerts—Roger Bartlett & the Nautical Wheelers on Saturday and Will Kimbrough, Bubbles Up collaborator, on Monday
• A “Pencil Thin Mustache” contest at the infamous Chart Room at the Pier House on Monday
• Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers can also enjoy sunset cruises, brunches, tiki boat tours, walking and trolley tours, a 5K fun run, movie nights, author talks and book signings, pool parties, and more.

Collectible souvenir Event Badges are still available for a $45 donation and unlock access to both Sunset Pier concerts, exclusive areas at Party in the Park, a pool party at Margaritaville Resort and special offers from local businesses. Guests may order online now and pick up their badges by showing a receipt at Key West First Legal Rum during regular hours. Badge proceeds benefit Reef Relief, Bahama Village Music Program, and the Key West High School Marching Band.

“This event is about remembering and celebrating a lifestyle that’s uniquely Key West,” said co-organizer Paul Menta. “It’s music, friends, and sunshine—what more do you need?”

More than a tribute, Just a Few Friends is a community-driven celebration that brings locals and visitors together during one of Key West’s historically quietest weekends. Dozens of businesses—from bars and hotels to musicians, artisans, and nonprofit organizations—benefit directly and indirectly from the added foot traffic, bookings, and charitable contributions. As the summer season winds down, this event helps keep the island’s creative energy—and its economy—alive and thriving.

Find the full schedule and badge info at www.justafewfriendskeywest.com.