September in the Florida Keys: Weird, Wild & Wonderfully Unfiltered
FLORIDA KEYS (August 4, 2025) – Forget pumpkin spice. In The Florida Keys & Key West, we usher in fall with salt air, island vibes, and some serious offbeat adventures. This September, we’re teeing up a floating golf tournament where the “greens” drift in the ocean! And celebrating inclusiveness with Womenfest. We’re casting out our cares with highly popular fishing tournaments, and channeling our inner artist with cultural events infused with our special blend of Conch Republic flair. It’s a month designed for travelers who prefer sundresses and board shorts over sweaters and khakis. Ready to embrace the quirky, sun-soaked spirit of our five distinct islands? From Key Largo to Key West, the options for fun are endless.
SEPTEMBER 2025 FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Womenfest Key West - September 3-7, Key West
Key West’s signature celebration for LBGTQ+ women and their friends returns with five days of fun and festivities. The annual event welcomes solo travelers, couples and groups, the festival highlights Key West’s world-renowned "come as you are” mantra, which is all about acceptance. The gathering features an array of events, from beach parties, snorkeling excursions and sunset cruises to live music and themed gatherings. Learn more.
Swim for Alligator Lighthouse - September 13, Islamorada
This world-class, eight-mile open-water swim challenges participants to make the journey to Alligator Reef Lighthouse and back, either solo or in relay teams of two to four swimmers. Proceeds benefit efforts to restore and re-light the 152-year-old lighthouse. Not for the faint of heart, this event draws competitive swimmers from across the globe for a uniquely rewarding aquatic adventure. Learn more.
History of Diving Museum 20th Anniversary Celebration - September 17 & September 20, Islamorada
Join Dr. Sally Bauer, co-founder of the History of Diving Museum, for an engaging presentation chronicling the decades-long journey to build this world-renowned museum. The free in-person and virtual talk on September 17 provides a behind-the-scenes look at curating a 4,000-year story of underwater exploration. Then, on September 20, celebrate two decades of preserving underwater heritage with special guided tours and join historian Christopher Steinbiß as he takes a deep dive into the world's first armored diving suit, the HAGENUK (12:30-1:30 p.m.). Tours are included with regular museum admission. Learn more.
Conch Scramble Charity Golf Tournament - September 26-27, Islamorada
Golf...Florida Keys-style. This zany, boat-based tournament sends costumed teams to floating holes near popular marinas and waterfront bars. Friday’s public kick-off party (September 26, 5-9 p.m.) is at SD Marine, followed by Saturday's on-the-water “rounds.” Spectators are welcome to cheer from popular landmarks like Lorelei, Marker 88, and Oceanview Inn. Learn more.
FISHING EVENTS
- Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Fishing Championship (September 19-21): Honoring “Mr. Everglades” himself, this tournament challenges anglers to catch seven specific species within Everglades National Park’s waters. Competitors aim to land tarpon, redfish, snook, sea trout, snapper, bonefish, and black drum or bass. Learn more.
- Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge (September 26): This catch-and-release tournament in Key Largo focuses on trout, snook, and redfish, all for a great cause. Weekend highlights include a public auction and Sunday dinner. Funds raised support local vocational programs and scholarships for Upper Keys youth through Take Stock in Children. Learn more.
High-resolution images, photo credits, and captions available below and at this link.
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A Siebe Gorman brass diving helmet, used by early commercial and military divers, is on display at the History of Diving Museum in The Florida Keys. Part of one of the world’s largest collections of diving helmets, it reflects the rich legacy of underwater exploration. The museum celebrates its 20th anniversary with special events September 17 and 20, including guided tours, expert talks, and a deep dive into diving history. Learn more at divingmuseum.org. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Hugh Hudson / History of Diving Museum)
Visitors explore an impressive collection of historic diving helmets at the History of Diving Museum in The Florida Keys. The museum marks its 20th anniversary with special events September 17 and 20, including guided tours and expert presentations. Renowned for its “Parade of Nations” exhibit, the museum houses helmets from more than 20 countries, part of one of the world’s largest diving helmet collections amassed over decades by founders Joe and Sally Bauer. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Michael Marrero / History of Diving Museum)
The History of Diving Museum in The Florida Keys showcases one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of diving gear. Celebrating 20 years in 2025, the museum invites guests to explore the fascinating history of underwater exploration through immersive exhibits, guided tours, and special anniversary events September 17 and 20. Learn more at divingmuseum.org. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (David Gross / History of Diving Museum)
An exhibit at the History of Diving Museum brings the world of early underwater exploration to life, showcasing traditional gear once used for treasure diving and sponge harvesting in the Florida Keys. As part of the museum’s 20th anniversary celebration, visitors can experience the ingenuity and the sheer grit of working divers who shaped underwater history. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Mary B. Haban / History of Diving Museum)
Swimmers are escorted by kayakers as they circle Alligator Reef Lighthouse during last year’s Swim for Alligator Lighthouse open-water challenge off Islamorada, Fla., in the Florida Keys. The 8-mile roundtrip race attracted more than 300 swimmers divided into categories including solo and two-, three- and four-person relay teams. The annual event helps raise awareness of the need to restore Alligator Reef Lighthouse, one of six aging Florida Keys lighthouses, that are some 150 years old and no longer needed for navigation. The beacon is named for the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground and sank on the reef in 1822. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Bob Care / Florida Keys News Bureau)
Kayakers escort swimmers during last year’s Swim for Alligator Lighthouse in Islamorada, Fla. The 8-mile roundtrip open-water swim to the lighthouse off the Florida Keys has attracted more than 300 competitors who are swimming in various divisions. Alligator Reef Lighthouse is named after the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground on the reef in 1822 and sank. The annual event is staged to create awareness of the need to preserve the 150-year-old beacon. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Bob Care / Florida Keys News Bureau)
Ready to turn up the heat while soaking in the sun? Womenfest in Key West, Florida can make that possible. The five-day festival offers LBGTQ+ women and their friends a place to relax, revive and thrive, with activities on land and sea, including a pool party unlike any other. This year’s event runs September 3-7, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Karrie Porter Bond / Womenfest)
These ladies are all smiles as they celebrate their epic win during last year’s cornhole tournament at Womenfest in Key West, Florida. The five-day festival caters to LBGTQ+ women and their friends and offers events on land, sea and in the pool. This year’s event runs September 3-7, 2025. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Karrie Porter Bond / Womenfest)
ABOUT THE FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST
The Florida Keys & Key West is a premier getaway destination located at the southernmost tip of Florida and the continental United States. The Keys stretch over 125 miles connected by 42 bridges and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. Discover the spectacular array of diverse activities offered in the Florida Keys like fishing, diving, natural wonders, fine dining and cultural heritage. From large resorts, secluded waterfront hideaways and courtyard guest houses, visitors can uncover the perfect place for their vacation. Restoration, renovation and preservation have become a way of life in the Florida Keys. Whether you’re driving or flying into the Keys, one thing is for sure: there’s simply no place quite like it. Want more reasons to visit The Florida Keys & Key West? Get inspired at visitfloridakeys.com and follow us @thefloridakeys on social media.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Mary B. Haban
Senior Director of Public Relations
Visit Florida Keys & Key West
(305) 394-3142
Visit Florida Keys & Key West PR Agency Team (TURNER)