Hemingway Days Attracts Author's Admirers
KEY WEST (CBSMiami) – Since Tuesday, stocky, white-bearded men who bear resemblance to the Gorton's fisherman have been converging on Key West.
They gathered for Key West's Hemingway Days festival, honoring the legendary American author who lived and wrote on the island throughout the 1930s.
On Saturday, Hemingway look-alikes proved their affinity for the author was "no bull" during a "Running of the Bulls," a zany (and much shorter) take-off on the annual run held in Pamplona, Spain.
The Pamplona parody was followed with a birthday cake and celebration saluting the 113th anniversary of Hemingway's July 21st birth.
The bull run featured scores of past winners and competitors in the annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, parading through Key West's historic downtown pushing life-size replica bulls on wheels.
The offbeat event began and ended outside Sloppy Joe's Bar, frequented by Ernest Hemingway during his decade-long residence in Key West.
Saturday night, 25 finalists culled from 140 entrants are to vie for the title of "Papa" in the final round of Sloppy Joe's annual "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Among the contenders: Michael Groover, husband of Food Network personality Paula Deen.
Hemingway Days began July 17 with events including literary and theatrical presentations plus a marlin tournament.
Another big event: a short story competition directed by author and Hemingway granddaughter Lorian Hemingway.
Winning that contest was an Iowa woman who bested 1,330 entries and earned publication for hers, titled "Ship Full of Beasts", a story exploring what happens when children raised in poverty turn their rage outward.
The festival concludes Sunday.
