KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Ernest Hemingway’s decade of residence in Key West ended late in 1939, but his literary legacy lives on — both in the island city and in the annual Hemingway Days festival. Now through Sunday, July 26, Hemingway Days 2009 offers a number of events that celebrate Key West’s rich literary tradition and the talents of contemporary writers.

The festival’s primary literary event is the announcement of the winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, July 24. Now in its 29th year, the annual competition supports the efforts of emerging writers of short fiction.

Its director, Lorian Hemingway, is Ernest Hemingway’s granddaughter and a powerful writer whose critically acclaimed books include the memoir “Walk on Water.” A frequent visitor to Key West, she currently is working on an in-depth book on the island and its heritage to be titled “Key West: The Pirate Heart.”

Lorian Hemingway heads a judging panel that reads and evaluates the 800 to 1,100 entries the competition receives each year from U.S. and international writers. During the short story awards reception she plans to announce the winners of the 2009 competition’s $1,000 first prize, $500 second and third prizes, and honorable mentions.

The awards presentations and reading are to be held at Casa Antigua, 314 Simonton St., Ernest Hemingway’s first Key West address. Now beautifully restored with a central atrium, garden and pool, Casa Antigua is the traditional site of the short story events.

The evening is to feature a reading of the winning story and a presentation by Casa Antigua owner Tom Oosterhoudt on the property and its place in Key West’s literary history. Admission is free.

In addition to announcing the short story awards, Lorian Hemingway will be joined Wednesday, July 22, by several renowned writers for an evening of readings, presentations and discussions. Participants in “Voices, Places, Inspirations” are to include Mark Childress, whose writing credits include the bestselling novel “Crazy in Alabama” and the screenplay of the same name; Tom Corcoran, whose Key West–based Alex Rutledge mystery series is praised for its authentic depiction of the island, and writer/photographer and expert fishing guide Jeffrey Cardenas, whose books include “Marquesa: A Time & Place with Fish.”

Hosted by Wyland Galleries of Key West, the event is scheduled for 8-10 p.m. at Wyland’s 623 Duval St. gallery. The evening is to include a reception where attendees can mingle with the presenters in an intimate, relaxed setting. Admission is free.

The following evening, Lorian Hemingway and Tom Corcoran are to showcase their latest works at a 5:30-7 p.m. book signing and reception at the Key West Art Bar, 901 Caroline St. Corcoran is to sign his latest Alex Rutledge mystery, “Hawk Channel Chase,” while Lorian Hemingway will showcase the anthology “Growing Up in Mississippi” and her contribution to it. Hemingway Days also is to include the world premiere of a one-man dramatic presentation written and performed by Brian Gordon Sinclair. Sinclair, who has presented segments of his planned six-play cycle on Hemingway at past festivals, has done extensive research into the author’s life, work and motivations.

Focusing on the World War II era, “Hemingway On Stage: The Death Factory” is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Square. A reception for playgoers is to follow at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, 281 Front St., featuring a celebration of the 110th anniversary of Hemingway’s July 21 birth.

Sinclair plans a second performance at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 23, as a memorial to the late Jean Klausing of Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a longtime guiding spirit of Hemingway Days.

For ticketing and other information about the “Hemingway On Stage” performances, visit kwahs.com. For information about Hemingway Days literary events, visit shortstorycompetition.com or call (305) 294-0320. A full schedule of festival events can be found at hemingwaydays.net.

For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539), or explore this Web site.