2 Hemingway Fests Slug It Out in Florida

The world can be a good and glorious place, as Ernest Hemingway might have written--or it can be filled with family feuds and competing Hemingway festivals.

First up, July 18 to 20, is the first International Hemingway Festival on the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, near Fort Myers, Fla. It promises a literary conference, shrimp dinner, golf and tennis tournaments and events for kids.

This festival, directed by the author’s niece, Hilary Hemingway, came about after Hemingway’s three sons asked for 10% of the gross from the long-established Hemingway Days Festival, a roisterous 10-day affair in Key West. The Key West organizers objected, and in April called off that festival.

But now the Key West party is on again, albeit slimmed down to four days, July 24 to 27. Backing this event is Lorian Hemingway, the author’s granddaughter. It still has a Hemingway look-alike contest but no fishing or writing contest.

For information regarding the International Hemingway Festival in Sanibel and Captiva islands, call (941) 945-0308. For information about Key West’s Hemingway Days Festival, call (800) 527-8539.