03:14Enthusiastic Ernest Hemingway fans, known as 'Papas' and 'Mamas', gathered at Sloppy Joe's Bar to celebrate the author's 125th birthday with a lookalike contest in his beloved Key West.
Footage captured on Saturday shows contestants dressed as Ernest Hemingway, clad in his signature outfit and vying for the top prize, as the crowd cheer on their favourite contestants.
"You know he was a controversial figure, but what he has done, he lived a life that inspired a lot of people to chase after their dreams. Whether that was through writing, catching a big fish or just being a big personality. And try to make a mark on the world" said event organiser Collin Coll.
"And I think he inspired a lot of men to go out and be men, and we need that a lot right now," he noted, adding, "I think he'd love the idea of people getting together and having drinks in his name, in his honour. He was a big dude, he wanted it."
The Hemingway lookalike group has grown into a global network of hundreds of members, raising over $350,000 in scholarships for Florida Keys students.
"It is important for our scholarships and doing a fundraiser for the Key West community college and a couple of other organisations for charity," explained Matt Gineo, 2011 winner and contest judge.
The celebration known as Hemingway Days began in 1981 with a short-story contest and lookalike competition. This year's festivities will wrap up on Sunday, marking the 125th anniversary of Hemingway's birth on July 21, 1899.
The festival began as a promotional event for Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of Hemingway’s favourite hangouts.
'A life that inspired people to chase after their dreams' - Hemingway lookalike contest at Sloppy Joe's Bar celebrates author's 125th birthday
Enthusiastic Ernest Hemingway fans, known as 'Papas' and 'Mamas', gathered at Sloppy Joe's Bar to celebrate the author's 125th birthday with a lookalike contest in his beloved Key West.
Footage captured on Saturday shows contestants dressed as Ernest Hemingway, clad in his signature outfit and vying for the top prize, as the crowd cheer on their favourite contestants.
"You know he was a controversial figure, but what he has done, he lived a life that inspired a lot of people to chase after their dreams. Whether that was through writing, catching a big fish or just being a big personality. And try to make a mark on the world" said event organiser Collin Coll.
"And I think he inspired a lot of men to go out and be men, and we need that a lot right now," he noted, adding, "I think he'd love the idea of people getting together and having drinks in his name, in his honour. He was a big dude, he wanted it."
The Hemingway lookalike group has grown into a global network of hundreds of members, raising over $350,000 in scholarships for Florida Keys students.
"It is important for our scholarships and doing a fundraiser for the Key West community college and a couple of other organisations for charity," explained Matt Gineo, 2011 winner and contest judge.
The celebration known as Hemingway Days began in 1981 with a short-story contest and lookalike competition. This year's festivities will wrap up on Sunday, marking the 125th anniversary of Hemingway's birth on July 21, 1899.
The festival began as a promotional event for Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of Hemingway’s favourite hangouts.
Enthusiastic Ernest Hemingway fans, known as 'Papas' and 'Mamas', gathered at Sloppy Joe's Bar to celebrate the author's 125th birthday with a lookalike contest in his beloved Key West.
Footage captured on Saturday shows contestants dressed as Ernest Hemingway, clad in his signature outfit and vying for the top prize, as the crowd cheer on their favourite contestants.
"You know he was a controversial figure, but what he has done, he lived a life that inspired a lot of people to chase after their dreams. Whether that was through writing, catching a big fish or just being a big personality. And try to make a mark on the world" said event organiser Collin Coll.
"And I think he inspired a lot of men to go out and be men, and we need that a lot right now," he noted, adding, "I think he'd love the idea of people getting together and having drinks in his name, in his honour. He was a big dude, he wanted it."
The Hemingway lookalike group has grown into a global network of hundreds of members, raising over $350,000 in scholarships for Florida Keys students.
"It is important for our scholarships and doing a fundraiser for the Key West community college and a couple of other organisations for charity," explained Matt Gineo, 2011 winner and contest judge.
The celebration known as Hemingway Days began in 1981 with a short-story contest and lookalike competition. This year's festivities will wrap up on Sunday, marking the 125th anniversary of Hemingway's birth on July 21, 1899.
The festival began as a promotional event for Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of Hemingway’s favourite hangouts.