KEY WEST, Florida Keys — A hearty appetite and a passion for lobsters are mandatory during the 13th annual Key West Lobsterfest, a celebration of Florida’s clawless lobster now through Sunday, Aug. 9. The events salute the tasty crustacean at the start of the Florida Keys lobster season, which runs from Aug. 6, 2009, through March 31, 2010.

Often called spiny lobsters, the Keys’ clawless crustaceans offer sweet and tender meat. Most commonly served steamed with melted butter, they also can be baked and stuffed, blended into a creamy bisque or chilled in crisp salads.

Lobsterfest is to kick off at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, with a welcome party at Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex, 202 Duval St. Attendees can rock to the music of Cool Breeze, performing on the main stage of Durty Harry’s, or join local radio station WEOW FM 92.7 for a 10 p.m. live broadcast on the deck at Rick’s Upstairs.

Also Friday night, the third annual Lobsterfest Duval Crawl is set for just after sunset on Duval Street, Key West’s most famous thoroughfare.

The weekend’s “main course,” the tastebud-tempting Key West Lobsterfest Street Fair, is to take place noon through 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in the 100 through 500 blocks of Duval. Lobster lovers can chow down on dishes ranging from tantalizing appetizers to traditional lobster dinners with all the trimmings. Chefs from 20 local restaurants are to showcase specialties featuring crustaceans caught by Florida Keys fishermen, as well as delicacies made with Key West pink shrimp.

In addition, participating establishments' chefs are to compete for bragging rights in an unofficial lobster cook-off.

Attendees also can browse and buy from the street fair’s enthusiastic vendors of arts, crafts and even lobster-themed merchandise. Live music from top local and regional bands is slated to begin at 1 p.m. and continue through 11 p.m. from a stage at the intersection of Duval and Greene streets.

Lobsterfest’s weekend of events concludes with a Sunday lobster brunch set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Reservations are suggested; call (305) 293-1818.

The three-day crustacean celebration benefits a scholarship fund for Key West High School students.

For more information about Lobsterfest, visit keywestlobsterfest.com or e-mail info@ricksanddurtyharrys.com.

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