November in the Keys: Powerboats, Oysters, Film Fest and Thanksgiving

November is the best month nobody plans around. The water is still warm, the first real fronts knock the humidity down, and the winter crowd hasn't shown up yet. By Thanksgiving week the Overseas Highway fills back up, so the first three weeks are the ones to use. Here's what's on, Key Largo to Key West, with dates checked against the organizers' own pages.

1. Powerboat races, Key West (through Sunday, Nov 8)

The Race World Offshore Key West World Championship runs Nov 1 to 8 off Truman Waterfront. The parade down Duval already happened, but two race days are left: Friday, Nov 6, and Sunday, Nov 8, starting around 10am. The dry pits at Truman Waterfront are free all week, and that's where to take kids. Keys Weekly's powerboat race guide has where to watch and what the Outer Mole costs.

• Local Tip: Bring ear protection if you're standing anywhere near the course. Get to the Mole early for shade.

2. Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov 11

Monroe County offices close for the day, and every part of the Keys holds its own ceremony at 11am:

• Key West: wreath-laying at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Bayview Park, then the parade on Duval in the afternoon.
• Marathon: American Legion Post 154's parade starts at 20th Street, turns at the 107th Street light and ends at the Legion, 4115 Overseas Hwy, with a ceremony around noon.
• Islamorada: ceremony at Islamorada Fire Rescue Station 20, 81850 Overseas Hwy.
• Key Largo: Monroe County Veterans Affairs and VFW Post 10211 at the Murray Nelson Government Center, with the Key Largo Community Band.

A week later, on Wednesday, Nov 18, the Marathon Elks Lodge #2139 holds a fish fry honoring veterans. It's $15 a plate, veterans eat free, and the bar opens at 5pm.

3. Tournament week: Nov 12 to 14

Two catch-and-release backcountry tournaments land on the same three days.

• Cheeca's All-American Backcountry Tournament, Islamorada. Two days of all-release fishing with a guide, war heroes competing in honor of Veterans Day, and proceeds to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.
• Sugarloaf Showdown, Sugarloaf Key. The 13th year of the Lower Keys Guides Association's catch-and-release tournament for bonefish, permit and barracuda, with fly, spin and youth divisions.

Up in Marathon a week later, the Benevolent Wahoo Tournament for Marathon Fire Rescue runs Nov 20 and 21: kick-off at Bongo's Botanical Beer Garden on Friday night, lines in at 7am Saturday, weigh-in from 3:30pm. Entry is $800 a boat with six anglers.

Rather fish without a scorecard? DirtyBoat Charters runs private and split trips out of Robbie's.

4. Key West Oyster Fest weekend (Nov 13 to 15)

This one's new. The first Key West Oyster Fest takes over the Historic Seaport on Saturday, Nov 14, from 5 to 10pm, with oyster farms, Key West chefs, shuckers and live music, put on by Half Shell Raw Bar and Everglades Oyster Company. On Sunday, Nov 15, Half Shell does a separate brunch from 9am to noon honoring Chef Norman Van Aken. Festival tickets don't cover the brunch.

5. Key West Film Festival (Nov 18 to 22)

The Key West Film Festival turns 15 this year. Opening night is Wednesday, Nov 18, 8 to 10:30pm at the Truman Little White House, $75 with a film included. An All-Access pass is $399 if you want every screening and every party.

6. Upper Keys nights out

• Friday, Nov 6, Islamorada: a forward-facing sonar talk, 5:30 to 8pm at Safe Harbor Angler House, 80500 Overseas Hwy.

• Wednesday, Nov 18, Islamorada: the Village's America's 250th celebration at Founders Park, 5 to 8pm, with the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Mobile Exhibit.

• Thursday, Nov 19, Islamorada: Third Thursday Art Walk on Morada Way, and the Village's Beats on the Bay music series is back for the season, November through March.

• Friday, Nov 20, Islamorada: Mote Marine Laboratory's 4th annual Reef Revival Fest, 5 to 9pm, free.

• Saturday, Nov 21, Key Largo: the 17th annual Light Up Key Largo at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 4 to 8pm.

• Local Tip: Nov 18 to 21 is the busiest stretch of the month. Upper Keys people can skip the drive to Key West: Founders Park on the 18th and Reef Revival on the 20th are right here, and Reef Revival is free.

7. Saturday, Nov 21: bikes on the bridges

Tour de Keys sends charity riders from Key Largo (100 miles) or Marathon (50 miles) to Key West, over the Seven Mile Bridge, starting around sunrise. Give them room on US 1 that morning, especially on the bridges.

8. Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov 26

• Before the meal: the Hawks Cay Turkey Trot on Duck Key starts at 7am, $40 until Nov 19 and $45 after, capped at 350 runners. In Key West, the Southernmost Turkey Trot 5K starts at 8am, $49.99 until Nov 19.
• Dinner out: Cheeca Lodge does a Thanksgiving buffet from 2 to 7pm, $125 a person and $28 for kids 12 and under. Cheeca asks you to reserve: 305-394-1609. Hawks Cay has a buffet too. If you'd rather not do turkey, most of the restaurants in our Islamorada guide are a good fallback, but call ahead on the holiday.
• The night before: Key West lights the 21st annual Harbor Walk of Lights at the Historic Seaport on Wednesday, Nov 25, from 5pm. It's free, and it kicks off the Cheryl Cates Toy Drive, so bring a toy.

Two days later, on Saturday, Nov 28, the Lower Keys Chamber holds its Island Art Festival on the chamber grounds at mile marker 31 in Big Pine Key, 9am to 3pm.

9. Stone crabs, still

Stone crab season opened Oct 15 and runs to May 1, so November is prime claw month. Cold, cracked, mustard sauce. Same rule as October: don't let anybody heat them up.

The November Short List

• Friday, Nov 6 or Sunday, Nov 8: catch a powerboat race day before the boats leave.
• Wednesday, Nov 11, 11am: find the Veterans Day ceremony closest to you. There's one in every town.
• Saturday, Nov 14: oysters at the Seaport.
• Nov 18 to 21: film fest in Key West, the 250th at Founders Park, Reef Revival and Light Up Key Largo. Pick two.
• Reserve Thanksgiving dinner early if you're eating out.
• Hurricane season ends Nov 30. Check the forecast anyway.

Enjoy the quiet weeks. The boat parades start in December, and so does the traffic.