KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) 鈥 Almost 140 bearded men who resemble Ernest Hemingway converged on Key West, the late author鈥檚 home during the 1930s, to compete in the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest that began Thursday evening.
The challenge is a highlight of the island鈥檚 festival that salutes the literary talent and adventurous life of the Nobel Prize-winning writer.
During his Key West years, Hemingway penned classics including 鈥淔or Whom the Bell Tolls鈥 and 鈥淭o Have and Have Not.鈥
The three-night look-alike competition is held at Sloppy Joe鈥檚 Bar, where Hemingway often spent time with local and literary friends.
Closely observed by a judging panel of previous winners including 2022鈥檚 , of Dade City, Florida, contestants take turns pontificating and parading across Sloppy Joe鈥檚 stage.
Many are repeat contenders who bring their own cheering sections, and most attempt to copy the 鈥淧apa鈥 persona and appearance adopted by Hemingway in his later years.
The contest鈥檚 second preliminary round is set for Friday, the 124th anniversary of Hemingway鈥檚 July 21 birth, and the 2023 winner is set to be chosen Saturday night.
Hemingway Days continues through Sunday with events including a quirky 鈥淩unning of the Bulls鈥 spoof, a street fair and the Key West Marlin Tournament that recalls the author鈥檚 passion for Florida Keys fishing.
