We made sure to make it down to Mallory Square for at least one sunset celebration during our visit. It's been almost 30 years since the last time I was here and it certainly has changed. One of the performers explained to us that there are very few acts who continue participating and that they have to pay a fee in order to perform. We saw perhaps 3 acts scattered about on this evening, which is so vastly different from what I fondly remembered. In years past, I recalled jugglers tossing chainsaws and machetes, trained rescue cats jumping through fiery hoops 8 feet high, a kilt wearing bagpiper, etc. This current evening's visit was rather serene. I try not to wax sentimental about the old days, but this is one of those moments where it's so sadly and obviously less than what it used to be on the excitement scale. read more

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As a "tourist" this is "A MUST"... almost to the point that if you visit the keys, then most people will ask have you watched the sunset at Mallory Square yet. The square (a very large area with pavers and planters facing due west overlooking the Gulf of Mexico) and shortly before sunset, the place awakens with street performers that live off the tips that guests hopefully give, and various rolling shops/kiosks are present with touristy junk to buy and eventually throw into a drawer in your house since you really have no need for a "southernmost buoy bottle opener" or a key west keychain. There are food carts and coconut water straight from the coconut and there are even some odder booths like palm reading and artists making animal figurines from paper clips and wire. And then the sun begins to set and all the visitors congregate along the Gulf of Mexico seawall and watch the sun drop... the sunset is pretty magical here. In our early years, my wife and I loved coming... it was lively and busy but not nearly as crowded and touristy as it is today. If you're here for the first time or if it's been years, then come check it out, it's worth it. read more

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At the dock in Mallory Square to watch the amazing red sun drop behind the Sunset Key island at 8:19pm. About two hundred tourists gathered here tonight to watch the iconic event. About an hour before the sunset, there are juggler performing at the square with a latin band playing. A must do activity in Key West. read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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There are sunsets, and then there's Mallory Square -- where the end of the day isn't just watched, it's celebrated. Every evening, the square transforms into a living carnival where street performers, artists, food vendors, and travelers from around the globe gather to witness one of nature's most show-stopping finales. It's loud, chaotic, magical... and pure Key West. As the sun starts dipping toward the horizon, the square comes alive. You'll hear steel drums, laughter, and the crackle of fire jugglers warming up the crowd. Painters set up their easels, locals hawk handmade jewelry, and someone, somewhere, is playing a Bob Marley cover for the hundredth time -- and somehow, it works. And if you're lucky? You'll get to see Gazzo -- yes, that Gazzo -- one of the world's greatest living magicians. A legend in the magic community, Gazzo's street show is sharp, funny, and brilliantly interactive. Watching him work a crowd here, with the Gulf breeze in your hair and the sky on fire behind him, is the kind of bucket-list Key West moment you'll talk about forever. The main event, though, is nature's show: the sun sliding into the sea in an explosion of oranges, pinks, and purples that looks almost unreal. The crowd cheers, cameras click, and for a moment, hundreds of strangers share the same collective breath. It's one of those rare travel experiences that somehow lives up to the hype. Pro tip: Get there about an hour before sunset to stake out a good spot and soak in the energy. Bring cash for the performers -- they make this experience unforgettable. Mallory Square Sunset Celebration: Part street festival, part magic show, part spiritual experience. Come for the sunset, stay for the spectacle, and if Gazzo's performing, you've just seen one of Key West's true living legends. read more

When your in the Florida Keys, venture down to Mallory Square to see the sunset and watch the local entanglement acts . read more

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Sunset at Mallory square is literally your #1 priority of must-do, must-see in Key West! You can walk through during the day and it'll be empty, but come at sunset and there's street performers, food huts, and local artists selling their artwork and jewelry. The street performers are great for the kids to see! As soon as sunset ends, there's a mass-exit so make sure to come and see the action and the best sunset in the United States!! read more

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Fun experience and if your staying In key west it really is a must do at least once. It does get crowded more so if the cruise ships are in port. Not sure I would do it every night but once in awhile it can be a lot of fun. Lots of performers and vendors selling a little of everything. read more

Very nice stop around sunset for acts, performances and coconuts! We saw the sunset as well as drank a coconut and saw a few different performances by people juggling, doing tricks and even tarot and psychic readings. A great place for nightlife! read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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The Coconut Vendor here made my trip. No official cost, but rather just tip what you think he deserves. Such a good person with an easy going vibe that's genuine. Super fresh coconuts too. Literally coconuts still on the branch that he uses a machete to whack off. Watching him do it and wracking it again is quite the sight too! Aside from him, there is a plethora of entertainers doing their thing from acrobatics, bag pipers, jump scares, and more! It's free and they only downside is that it can be crowded. However, if you manage to get a good sunset view it makes it all worth it. Crazy, colorful, beautiful... read more

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You quickly realize the implication of the "West" part of Key West, specifically spectacular sunsets. Let's face it you do not go to Key West to be boring and if this square does not put you in party mood then you are a frump. There can be an overwhelming number of people, so introverts beware. Otherwise, celebrate the end of another day of life with a festive crowd. read more

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We started attending this local craziness more than 30 years ago. Trained cats doing tricks. Sword swallowers. All sorts of interesting entertainment plus an amazing sunset and enthusiast audience. It all changed when they started letting cruise ships dock here. The crowds are much larger and the ship sometimes blocks the view of the sunset. Still, this is a very classic Key West destination for tourists and locals. If you can walk here, I'd recommend it. Parking is not overly plentiful. Life is good with sunset in Key West! read more

So you go to Mallory Square for the sunset festival only to discover that the daily cruise ships BLOCK 95% of the view of the sunset. Yes it's that stupid. It isn't just a tourist trap, it's entirely completely a tourist trap. read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - A huge sunset view blocking obstruction - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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I've experience many spectacular Sunsets in the past at Mallory Square on previous visits. I wanted my family to experience it. On this particular Evening of a Full Moon, the sky was pretty cloudy and the Sunset viewing was not possible. Still,nice views of the few Sun rays in between the clouds, and all for free. There is always plenty of activity at the Square. Musicians playing, people watching, nearby restaurants and bars with live music. Mallory Square daily celebrates Sunsets. read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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This is my 4th Key West visit and the 3rd time I've fallen for the terrible sunset experience at Mallory Square. I want to spare some hapless traveler the same fate so here goes: Yes, by all means do visit Malory Square BUT be prepared for a lousy sunset. You will NOT see a stunning, spectacular or even so-so sunset from Mallory Square. For two main reasons, usually 3: 1) The sun doesn't dip below the water as you can't see the horizon. 2) There is a small island between the horizon and Mallory Square, so at best, you'll see the sun go down on some houses on that island. 3) Clouds almost always obscure the sun as it's finally dropping so the sunset ends up being a muddled mess. The better way to see the sunset is via a boat. Find a way to get on the other side of the aforementioned island, such as a sunset cruise or one of those tiki boats. Sorry to be a Grinch, but someone had to say it. read more

If you don't take the time to see (and be seen!!) in Mallory Square while you're down in Key West, I guess you truly haven't visited Key West, nor had the whole "experience." We waited until our last night here to take it all in, and it was just as crazy as we imagined, and definitely worth the wait!! Be sure to arrive early (I'd say at least 2-3 hrs. before sunset) to take it all in, AND to get a good "spot" to see the sunset (as if there's a "bad" spot for sunsets down in KW...!!). Music, arts and crafts, people-watching, just about anything you can imagine awaits in this crazy, vibrant place, and you'll want to see it all, at least once!! If I had to do it again (hopefully one day SOON!!) I'd arrive earlier and take more time to take it in. I'd also skip the MAD RUSH at about 1/2 hour before sunset, when a zillion people all seem to crowd into the same small space right near the waterfront at the edge of the square. I was worried someone (me?!?) might fall in the water, but we all made it through, dry and AMAZED by the sheer beauty of one of the most beautiful sunsets you'll see anywhere... NOT to be missed (though next time, possibly with a little extra "elbow room!!" ;-) read more

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Being our last day in Key West and considering we hadn't yet gone to Mallory Square due to film festival obligations, I really wanted to make it a priority to take my girlfriend to see the sun set. She'd never been before and I really didn't want to go back home without her having experienced this. With so many man-made things clouding our collective consciousness, I always find it nice to appreciate all the beauty nature has to offer. She and I always appreciate a nice sunset and beautiful sky while others keep their eyes down on their screens other artificial distractions so this was the perfect spot for us to enjoy our last moments in Key West. The square itself is always nice. It's crowded, of course, but being such a famous tradition why wouldn't it be. The performers are usually interesting also, but the real gem is of course just taking in the beautiful view as the sun slips below the horizon. read more

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Small square next to ocean and in neighborhood of duval. Sunset is awesome here. Lot of artist performances and so crowd as well. Street vendors , taro card readers , painters, psychic readers everyone here trying to sell their acts and talents. Must visit place in keywest. read more

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Five stars for the sunsets here, everything else honestly doesn't matter. Mallory Square is a place you have to go to at least once on your trip to Key West. Again, it's for the sunsets. It's the perfect place to watch your day end with your friend, partner, or by yourself, because it's just that beautiful. As you walk around you'll see street performers: singers, jugglers, some guy eating fire. You'll also see people selling jewelry, paintings, glassware and more. It's cute, but nothing you wouldn't see in any other tourist shop in the area. A few restaurants around the area as well and a cute place to watch sailboats go by, but listen, don't worry about any of that, just look online to see when the sun is setting and get there in plenty of time to get a good spot so people don't block that sunset selfie you desperately need to take. read more

Party time! You likely go to Key West to enjoy the festive atmosphere and Mallory Square is the end of the day celebration point. From there you will watch the sunset and hear the crowd cheer, then it is off the the bars. There are a number of oddities to observe if you are tired of the sunset. It is a fun place to walk around. read more

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This popular location is surround by beautiful water views, restaurants, and shops. It's a popular spot to watch the sunset; we were coming back from a snorkeling cruise and saw tons of people sitting at the edge watching the beautiful sun go down. It's facing the Gulf of Mexico and nearby the cruise ship port. Everyday and two hours before the sunset, tourists and locals gather here to prepare for the sunset viewing. There's food carts, street performers, and craft artists/vendors. This happens every single evening, because it's that popular. This location is historic since it's part of the old town Key West. There's also a pier there and it's nice to see the boats and cruise ships go by. We've actually boarded a large boat that took us out to sea to snorkel right out of here. We also got some drinks at a nearby restaurant. It's a beautiful place to check out! read more

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You should go at least once in your life. Can get very crowded. We really wanted to see the cats, but they took the night off! read more

Mallory Square is where everyone in Key West goes during late afternoon to watch the sunset and get entertained by street performers. That's what this area is well known for. For myself, I came here during early day and there wasn't much to see or do. I walked around and they do have quaint shops for you to browse through, but it's nothing special as most of Key West has souvenir shops up and down the streets, especially on Duval Street. There is a restaurant for you to sit down and have drinks overlooking the water. The views from this restaurant are picturesque and it could be worthwhile to sit down, relax and appreciate the surroundings. But outside of the prime time hours to come in late afternoon, the street entertainers are nowhere to be seen. So Mallory Square is very quiet most of the time. I never had the chance to return during sunset but I'm almost certain everyone has lots of fun with the performers and soaking up Key West's renowned sunsets. read more

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The heart of historic Key West and the best place to watch the sun go down in paradise! Mallory Square itself is not the cleanest place, if we're perfectly honest, but it has a lot of life, with venders, street performers, and musicians to keep you entertained. So you'll definitely have an easy time finding something to do while you wait for the sun to set. You'll maybe even get to watch a performance over the water from hoverboarders, jet skis, or a sailing ship, but, hopefully it's before the sunset, or it'll be super distracting. Overall, worth a trip for the Key West experience, but not a place to spend much time otherwise. read more

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Very nice area by the water . Definitely a lot going on from different people putting on shows trying to get your attention and money. Cute coconut stand and pineapple drink Stand. The sunset was very nice . Nice spot to watch Would watch again read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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"Artist- juggler- magician- bagpiper- and what's not. Must visit place in kw, especially for sunset" Key west has this advantage to see a sunrise at the beach and sunset at Mallory Square. And both are worth it. There is a shop (The key west shell warehouse) and it has some unique items made up of shells. it has shark jaw too. At square, it was crowded but at same time it was beautiful People were sitting, waiting for sunset. Artist was Performing and it was good. Street guys were dancing. Handcrafts stalls are there. Sunset- it was very beautiful seeing sunset from here In the foreground small ships making it more beautiful. Hotels are there at Mallory sq which offers sunset view. read more

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No trip to Key West is complete without a visit to Mallory Square. Everyone gathers here to see the famous sunset. Makes sense since you are at the most Southern point of the United States the sunsets are magnificent. I have been coming down here since my college days. Since than it is much more formal and the square is filled with vendors and street performers. Now this particular visit I arrived by cruise ship so unfortunately we left way before sunset. So since our ship was docked not far from the square I had to walk through and perhaps since it is season something would be going on. Unfortunately not just a couple people walking around in the hot sun probably looking for a breeze that never comes. Hubby and I duck in past the shops looking for that last minute souvenir before we board our ship. Look forward to our next visit as we love the energy and people that the sunset here brings. read more

What is a trip to Key West without going to Mallory Square to view the sunset. I was there for only one night so it was make or break! I can say the sunset was rather nice. It was a little cloudy but for me that adds to the photo. When I was in Key West about 18 years ago it was a beautiful night with some clouds to add character. I was able to take beautiful photos. The Mallory Square experience has changed somewhat since then. Like most of Key West it has become more commercial with little stalls to buy things. The street performers are still there in various forms which makes the wait for the sunset more entertaining. In the area there is an Aquarium, Museum and other sites which I did not get to see. Hopefully next time I will have the time to look at them. All in all it was fun just being there to experience it all with a whole bunch of people. read more

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No trip to Key West is complete without partaking in the "Sunset Celebration" at Mallory Square. Every night, two hours prior to sunset, Mallory Square is filled with food vendors, local artists and street performers. Hundreds of tourists and locals mingle at the festival while enjoying the sunset into the Gulf of Mexico horizon. The sunset celebration is such an important tradition that Key West passed an ordinance requiring the cruise ships to leave two hours before the sunset so that the view is not obstructed. (The boats are allowed to return after sunset.) TIP: Once you have purchased your souvenirs and enjoyed the street performers at Mallory Square visit Sunset Pier for a cocktail, just footsteps away from Mallory Square. The good seats fill up fast! read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Mallory Square (Key West, FL) - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

Mallory Square is one of those places that if you don't go to, you really didn't go to Key West. I mean, where else are you going to buy tchotcles (key rings, stuffed animals, and the like) to take to friends back home? You'd miss out on a painted "Screw the Cracker, Polly Wants a Cocktail" sign. Unlike me, you wouldn't see a fire dancer accompanied by a drummer and guitarist, a tarot reader and a juggler. You'd miss out drinking rum (with one refill included) from a coconut. Not to mention not see the busts of various Keys historical figures. Yeah, Mallory Square is also the main cruise ship terminal. It's also just off Duval, where you can get your drink on. It's also the BEST place to catch the sunset. There's a huge crowd to watch the sun slowly take his nightly swim by the ocean, and showcase a quick green tint, a green glow before his nap. Seriously, just go and enjoy Mallory Square! (I want to go back for a full moon!) read more

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A must !! The sunset is beautiful . Need to get there early . Can aslo do a sunset cruise . read more

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It's two hours till the sunsets in Key West, everyone know where the show is so grab a fist full of dollars and head over to Mallory Square the admission is free but you're gonna want to tip the magical performers staged nightly since the mid 1960's weather permitting hopefully this isn't your first appearance. What started as a completely spontaneous salute to the sunset and a toast to Mother Nature grew into an internationally famous ritual for locals and tourists alike. There's plenty of food and drinks to be had and the celebration doesn't end when the big orange ball sinks into the Gulf of Mexico this is Key West and you'll still be entertained for another two hours here and countless hours on Duval afterwards. read more

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Mallory square is a cool place for souvenir shopping, and eats in Key West. They have all kinds of souvenirs here from cigars to sponges, and everything in between. They also have restaurants where you can get both seafood and Cuban food. If you have had enough with souvenir shopping and eating, street performers are outside waiting to perform just for you. All they ask from you is a just a little tip at the end of the show. Mallory Square is also where people go and watch the sunset. You can get a great view of the sunset here. If you get here early enough, you can get a great spot. Free wifi is available outside the buildings if you need it. A great place to go visit if in Key West. The price? Free! read more

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

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One of the top tourist rituals of Key West is watching the sunset at Mallory Square which is located in Old Town west of the north end of Duval Street and facing the Gulf of Mexico. It was once where pirates anchored. Then in the 1800's Commodore Porter used it as base to fight the pirates. Legend has it that the tradition of watching the sunset was started by playwright Tennessee Williams who enjoyed the evening ritual with a gin and tonic in hand. In the 1960's the hippies used to gather to watch the sunset with a little help from LSD. In the 1970's and 1980's vendors gathered to sell their wares to the tourists despite the fact that peddling was not allowed. The pier began to look like a flea market forcing the city to confront the issue. Members of the community formed the Key West Cultural Preservation Society in 1984 for the purpose of saving the sunset tradition. They developed an agreement with the city to manage the artistic integrity of the nightly proceedings which they have done ever since. Mallory Square sunset is now an internationally known tourist experience. It was an iconic experience I couldn't wait to share with my daughter on our recent tip. After dinner at Blue Heaven we headed on over. Parking is at a premium on the island and the first lot I found was $35. I opted instead to park under the CVS for $25. Street parking would be the most economical if you can find it. When we arrived the celebration was in full force. You can check the time of sunset on the Mallory Square website and the festivities begin 2 hours before. The last time I was here many years ago there were several performers at any given time. My favorite was always the cat guy. This trip I noticed that there was only one performer at a time. We got to see a juggler who balanced on a rope and a juggler on a tall unicycle. Be sure and bring some cash for the performers who work for tips. While watching the shows we sipped on the most amazing pineapple drink that was only $8. Before we left the area I did a little browsing among the vendors. My favorite was the bird pictures made out of feathers. Of course the highlight was the actual sunset. If you are in Key West this is a historic ritual that should not be missed. read more

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The sunset celebration is not exactly what you might think... it is really a collection of street performers and vendors catering to tourist, and the sun happens to be setting. It is a great experience if you are around Mallory Square at sunset, but not something that is super vital to your Key West experience. read more

This is the best location for the sunsets!! They are absolutely breathtaking! We really enjoyed meeting other vacationers and seeing the street performers. Some performers were more obnoxious than others but we did enjoy seeing their talents. Mallory Sq has many souvenirs shops for you to get any type of parting gift you desire. The only drawback is the amount of people that flood into the area, but it's worth it for these sunsets!! See photos below! If you're staying anywhere in Key West you can easily walk there, it took us 15 mins from the historic district and it was a beautiful walk. read more

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Oh ​Mallory ​Square​, thank you for the beautiful ​time we had as we watched the sunset last Saturday in Key West. This place was just the perfect location to watch the famous sunset at the Keys, and while we were there, they had some bands playing live music, shows, food and drink vendors. People come in here, they grab their folding beach chairs, enjoy their drinks and snap amazing pictures of the gorgeous view. ​The place is clean and there's public parking nearby. We parked in the Margaritaville parking lot. ​ Oh, Mallory Square, gracias por la hermosa​ estadía ​ que tuvimos mientras veíamos la puesta de sol el sábado pasado en Key West. Este lugar era el lugar perfecto para ver ​el​ famoso​o atardecer de los Cayos, y mientras estábamos allí, tenían algunas bandas tocando música en vivo, espectáculos, vendedores de comida y bebida. La gente viene aquí, agarran sus sillas de playa plegables, disfrutan de sus bebidas y toman fotos increíbles de la hermosa vista. El lugar está limpio y hay un estacionamiento público cerca. ​Dejamos nuestro carro en el estacionamiento de Margaritaville. read more

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There's food and local unique entertainment. One of the over served audience was overly friendly with a performer and they got mouthy and handsy with each other. The sunset is nice but there's gobs of people to see through and possible boat interference. read more

Another great Sunset at Mallory Square...lots of great entertainment, food choices nearby, and just a great way to end the day. read more

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Unfortunately I didn't stay here late enough to see the Sunset Celebration (a nightly event and sunset typically occurs between 5:30 PM [November/December] to 8:15 PM [June/July]), but it was cool to see a giant Carnival cruise ship docked right next to the Mallory Square and few roosters running around the square. Parking is a huge pain - parking rate for the parking structure located on the corner of Front St is $4 a hour ($16 max a day). One of the better squares I have visited with a great ocean view. Oh and don't forget to check out Sloppy Joe's just around the block (where Ernest Hemingway frequently hung out back in 1930's). read more

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Mallory Square in Key West offers a little something for everyone. From saloons, restaurants, clubs, lodging choices and the most beautiful, picturesque sunsets on earth you will find it at Mallory Square. Outside the Sunsets, it is a very crowded, very overprices tourist epicenter. While the sunsets are definitely something you don't want to miss out on at least once on your visit the crowds become so large that you likely will not be able to get close and your view will be blocked. There are many street performers in the area and that can be entertaining to watch, the shops lining the area mostly sell the same stuff at outrageous prices while relying on the steady stream of tourists. read more

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