Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Reviews (Key West, Florida)

Beautiful

Manhattan County, New York

November 27, 2011

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The lovely inn keeper recommended that we go see the sunset on the tip of Key West and we are so glad we did! After battling a mob, it was almost magical to just soak in the Sun setting into the horizon. No need to get drinks or food in the ...Read more

Sunset Celebrations at Mallory Square

by Joy S

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

July 12, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo Every night in Key West there is a sunset celebration in Mallory Square. This is where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico. It begins an hour or so before sunset and is a bit like a street carnival. There are vendors selling all sorts of ...Read more Every night in Key West there is a sunset celebration in Mallory Square. This is where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico. It begins an hour or so before sunset and is a bit like a street carnival. There are vendors selling all sorts of things, food and fun performances. Be sure to bring your camera as there are great photo opportunites for some of the best sunsets ever.

We went here every evening during our stay in Key West and never actually got tired of it.

You need to arrive Mallory Square about an hour before sunset to catch the nightly celebration. Jugglers, fire-eaters, high wire artists and musicians do their thing. It really is the best show in town and the whole thing is free!

Apparently the crowds can be overwhelming at peak holiday times. We found it was fine during our stay and never got too crowded at all. No matter what though, the festive atmosphere which ends with the magnificient sunset into the Gulf of Mexico, makes this a must-see. The sunset is different every night, the colours change depending on the clouds, so it becomes addictive as you want to see what you are going to get each evening.

Vendors sell hand-made everything - from food to t-shirts to artwork - you can pick up some great souvenirs here. There was a man chopping the top off coconuts and selling these. The performances are also fantastic - we saw the most amazing escape artist, who proceeded to dislocate his shoulders and elbows in front of us to get out of his straightjacket; a banjo player whose dog went around the crowd and collected the tips; a fire eater whose finale involved his contortionist assistant folding herself into a box and then letting everyone in the crowd peek in at her; a unicyclist who juggled fire and a gymnast/acrobat who somersaulted through a tiny hoop which balanced on a lady's back while she leaned over a bicycle. It really is amazing!

Half an hour or so before the actual sunset, get yourself to the edge of the deck so your children can get a good view of the sunset without being blocked by taller heads. Be sure to wear sunscreen as well - even this late in the day, you will need it.

This is the perfect way to end the day in Key West - watching the wonderful street performers and then the grande finale - a spectacular sunset of fiery Caribbean pink that lights up the sky and then sinks into the water. Close

From journal 6 Nights in Key West

Great Experience - A Must Do!

by KitInTheCove

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia

February 1, 2010

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We were hesitant to attend the sunset celebration at Mallory Square when we first arrived in Key West because we heard how popluar of an attraction this was. We thought that we would have to get into Old Town (downtown Key West) very early just to ...Read more

A Uniquely Key West Attraction

by notso62

Boston, Massachusetts

August 28, 2008

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Best of IgoUgo Interestingly enough I had visited Key West two times prior to ever making it to Mallory Square. Of course I know this is listed as a main tourist attraction and I should have done it the first time there, but I never seemed to make it past the ...Read more Interestingly enough I had visited Key West two times prior to ever making it to Mallory Square. Of course I know this is listed as a main tourist attraction and I should have done it the first time there, but I never seemed to make it past the shops on Duval Street during my free-time in the evenings; one of the perils of business travel to vacation destinations I suppose.

On my third trip I made a point to go down to the square one evening and I certainly did not regret it. There was quite the scene; street performers, food carts, souvenir stands, and tourists everywhere. Everyone comes here in eager anticipation of seeing the best view of the sunset from the land that lays claim to having the most beautiful ones in the world.

Mallory Square gets so jam-packed with people about an hour before the sunset that it is difficult to maneuver around the crowds. I went during Spring Break which I suppose is a popular time, but the density of the crowd reminded me of something I had only experienced at South Boston’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. The sobriety of the crowd in Mallory Square might have been likened to the St. Pat’s Day Parade as well; many rowdy folks, but mostly well-behaved.

The street performers that perform acts in Mallory Square are indeed sights to see themselves. There’s a fire-eater, a juggler, one that performs with domestic house cats, one that performs with dogs, and several magicians of various types. At any given time one or two acts are occurring, and usually one starts right up after another finishes. It is encouraged that you tip the performers at the end of their act- my favorite thing was when one of the performer’s dogs went around collecting the tips from the crowd by taking cash out of people’s hands and putting it in his bucket around his neck. I have never seen anything like it.

Food venders and several restaurants dot Mallory Square and make this an ideal place for tourists to grab dinner and take in the scene. It looked to me that all the restaurants in the area required some sort of reservation, but the vendors and stands were readily available to sell ice cream, hot dogs, fried dough, and various other snacking or dinner items.

Everyday is a party in Mallory Square centered around the greatest performance of all- the sunset. Around twenty or thirty minutes before the sun dips below the horizon it starts displaying fantastic color changes that light up the entire sky. The horizon beyond Mallory Square is just beautiful. Several islands dot the endless expanse of Gulf water and this makes for a beautiful backdrop for the ethereal colors of the sky. I really didn’t get why everybody made such a big deal about a Key West sunset until I saw it for myself firsthand. Pictures could never do this light show justice.
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From journal Key West Revisited

Nightly Festivities as the Sun Sets

by mikro

Liverpool, New York

August 17, 2008

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Mallory Square comes to life each evening as the sunset approaches. There are street performers, vendors and lots of tourists at this daily event. Bring your camera and be prepared to move through the crowds to get a good view as the sun sets over ...Read more

From journal Weekend Wedding in Key West

Sunset at Mallory Square

by catronma

Nixa, Missouri

November 11, 2007

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My husband and I are not really sit and watch the sunset people but his father insisted we go check it out so we did. Before the sunset the whole square is a mini circus. Performers gather and will give you everything from a dog on a tight rope to ...Read more

From journal Spring Break in Paradise

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

by two cruisers

Ames, Iowa

August 20, 2006

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Every night Key West celebrates the setting of the sun. We wandered down early and found the plaza empty so decided to have supper first. By the time we finished eating and settled the check we found the square so packed with people we couldn’t ...Read more

From journal Key West Kudos

Mallory Square

by mtemail

Huntsville, Ohio

August 18, 2006

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Mallory SquareKey West is ALL about the daily sunset festival. The focal spot of this is Mallory Square. The area on the northwest corner of the island is the location of Mallory Square. Starting about 2 hours prior to sunset the local street ...Read more

From journal Key West with the Whole Family 2006

Sunset Festival

by Mamaofboyz

Key West, Florida

June 28, 2006

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Every evening, locals celebrate the beautiful sunsets that occur. The view from Mallory Square is unobstructed, and the entertainment can't be beat. It is a circus side show at its best. Fire jugglers, live statues, steel drum bands, and Dominique ...Read more

From journal Florida Keys

Sunset Celebration Mallory Square

by Dutchnatasja

Great Falls, Virginia

February 16, 2006

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In the evening, everybody comes to Mallory Square to watch the sunset. I always love to watch the entertainers at Mallory Square. Some of the artists performing for many years now. Everybody loves them, and they love the applaus (and money).Take ...Read more

From journal The Key to my Heart - Key West, Florida

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Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

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Beautiful

Sunset Celebrations at Mallory Square

Great Experience - A Must Do!

A Uniquely Key West Attraction

Nightly Festivities as the Sun Sets

Sunset at Mallory Square

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

Mallory Square

Sunset Festival

Sunset Celebration Mallory Square