Fantasy Fest in Key West
Key West, Florida
Want to learn about the best-kept secret for street celebrations? It’s a wild 10 day costume party in October called Fantasy Fest in Key West, Florida.
Fantasy Fest is Burning Man meets Mardi Gras for Halloween on a tropical island. Except in a place where you can also stay in a beautiful B&B with a pool in its courtyard surrounded by ancient banyan trees.
A place so diverse that gays, bikers, pirates, artists, strippers and entrepreneurs are the norm, living a motto “One Human Family.” A place where you can watch the sun both rise and set over the ocean every day.
After knowing about the festival for years living in South Florida, I finally made it down to see what all the hype was about with my blogger friend Steph from Travel-Break.net.
Our week was incredibly fun, absurd, and liberating all in one.
Shiver Me Timbers!
The Conch Republic
Key West is America’s own little Caribbean island, known as the Conch Republic to locals who fancy themselves a separate country.
With certain laws being a bit more lax (like allowing “open containers” on the street) and such a unique blend of people and styles, you actually do feel as though you’re in another land.
Spend an afternoon walking past Key West’s pastel colored homes or browsing some of its 50 art galleries while still never more than a dozen blocks from the sea in any direction.
The whole island’s 1 x 4 miles is navigable by quaint lanes bordered by tropical flora, feeling a bit like a secret garden which you can navigate by foot, bike or moped.
Steph is Attacked by Sexy Spartans
Fantasy Fest Parade
Fantasy Fest Vibe
This magical little island gets even wilder when it celebrates Halloween for 10 days at the end of October in an incredible wonderland known as Fantasy Fest… where almost anything goes.
Bring out any piece of your character (or a different one every night)!
During the festival venues host their own special events. These celebrations create an entire world within themselves, worlds that you are encouraged to join in! They pull together a combination of local cuisine, talented artists, and fundraising for various local charities.
This collaboration makes each event take on a life of its own, feeding everyone’s creative inner-child that you’ll leave the festival feeling closer to.
There are costume competitions, AIDS fundraisers, family-friendly parades, drag-queen contests, and more.
Pirates
Intergalactic Alien Invasion
Intergalactic Freak Show
The theme for 2015 was the All Hallows InterGalactic Freak Show, and it certainly lived up to its name. This small town welcomed 60,000 freaks, free spirits, and aliens from all over the country.
People spend months planning out their costumes (or lack thereof) for the multitude of themed parties that happen throughout the week. I got into the spirit of things by packing 3 different costumes myself — Greek God, Pirate, and an intergalactic Alien complete with full-body paint job.
One night Steph and I found ourselves at Irish Kevin’s annual Fantasy Fest 80’s party when who should crash the stage but Mr. Margaritaville himself!
Jimmy Buffett picked up a guitar and played along with the band for a few songs as the rest of us danced on like everything was normal.
Just a typical evening at Fantasy Fest in Key West.
Jimmy Buffett!
King & Queen of Fantasy Fest
Fantasy Fest Events
Some of the highlights of Fantasy Fest include The Coronation Ball where the Conch King and Conch Queen, winning by having raised the greatest amount of funds for AIDS Help. In 2007 they raised over $200,000 and since 1989 almost $2.6 million has been donated.
Goombay is a two day street party held in Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood. It’s named after the goatskin drums that generate the party’s rhythms and celebrates the heritage of Key West’s large Bahamian population with food, art and a lot of dancing.
Other popular events include the Zombie Bike Ride, Pet Masquerade, Anything But Clothes Party, Rum Barrel Pirate Bash, Airbrush Expo, Sloppy Joe’s Toga Party, and much more.
You can find a full listing of events on the Fantasy Fest Website.
On the last day, the festival culminates with the Fantasy Fest Parade down the town’s main Duval Street spanning the 1 mile cross-stretch from the Atlantic to the Gulf shore.
Parade Guys
Arrrrrgh! Rum Barrel Pirate Bash
Festival Tips & Advice
As this was my first ever Fantasy Fest experience, I came away with some tips and advice for other first-timers who are preparing for a possible visit.
While basically an extended adult costume party at the end of October, Fantasy Fest doesn’t always fall on Halloween itself. It did this year (2015), but that’s not always the case.
There’s some nudity at Fantasy Fest, but that’s not all it’s about. You’ll find people of every race, age, body type, sexual-preference, and career here too. A celebration for judgement-free and open-minded people.
With only 75 taxi cabs and 60,000 people during the event, finding a taxi isn’t always easy. Renting a bike might be a good option for getting around, provided you don’t drink too much.
No Fantasy Fest experience is complete without some body paint. Airbrush artists from around the country set up shop to make your dreams reality. Prices range from $100 to $800+ depending on how intricate the work is.
Need a cure for your killer hangover the morning after? Grab a bite to eat at Blue Heaven or some strong cuban coffee at Cuban Coffee Queen.
Crazy Clowns
Getting There
How do you get down to Fantasy Fest in Key West? Fall down a rabbit hole? Hope a tornado picks up your farmhouse in Kansas? Fortunately you can drive 160 miles South from Miami on Highway US 1.
It’s a beautiful road trip over endless bridges across the Florida Keys, flanked by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.
A quick 45 minute puddle jumper flight from Miami or Ft Lauderdale airport directly to the island is also possible.
More Information
Location: Key West, Florida [Map]
Accommodation: Casa Marina Resort
Costume Rental: Crazy About Costumes
Useful Notes: The theme for Fantasy Fest 2016 will be “Political Voodoo & Ballot Barbarians”. Dates for 2016 will be October 21st – October 30th. You can learn more about the festival at FantasyFest.com.
Recommended Reading: The Key West Bucket List
READ NEXT: Ultimate Key West Road Trip
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
from Expert Vagabond http://ift.tt/1LA47Xs
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