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Aug 2022
Passport MagazineSeveral dozen masquerade parties, quirky costume contests, live music and theater shows, and themed events are scheduled during the 10-day festival. Revelers can express their creativity by donning dazzling costumes during the annual Fantasy Fest celebration in Key West.
October 2022
WRLN Miami South NewsFantasy Fest means big business for the small tourism-dependent island, as tens of thousands of tourists pour in to party in a way they likely can't back home.
Aug 2022
Southwest Florida Happenings Magazine
Several dozen masquerade parties, quirky costume contests, live music and theater shows, and themed events are scheduled during the 10-day festival, culminating in a lavish grand parade featuring massive motorized floats and elaborately costumed marching groups.
July 14, 2019
14 Best Free Things to Do in Key West
Fantasy Fest is an annual Key West street party held each year during the last week of October, originally founded in 1979 by island residents Joe Liszka, Frank Romano, Tony Falcone, and Bill Conkle.
December 29, 2018
The people (and dogs) here sure love wearing a tutu. Now, the mayor wants it official.
Stick around Key West long enough and you’ll see plenty of tutus, those tiny puffs of skirt worn by ballerinas.
October 2018
Zombie Bike Ride – Local NewsWe Cycle's Zombie Bike Ride is a costumed, 4-mile bicycle ride from historic Fort East Martello to Downtown Key West
October 29, 2018
Thousands gather for Fantasy Fest in Key West
The Florida Keys' annual "Fantasy Fest" celebrations are winding down after 10 days of revelry. Roughly 60,000 people gathered Saturday night in the island city of Key West for the "Fantasy Fest" parade.
October 28, 2018
10-day 'Fantasy Fest' winds down in the Florida Keys
Roughly 60,000 people gathered Saturday night in the island city of Key West for a flamboyant parade.
October 28, 2018
Fantasy Fest Masquerade Marchers Roam Key West Streets
More than 10,000 costumed revelers staged the high-spirited Masquerade March through Key West’s historic Old Town as a prelude to Saturday night’s lavish Fantasy Fest Parade.
October 25, 2018
Costumed pets take the stage at Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade in Key West
Dogs, cats, birds and even a hedgehog put on their best costumes at the Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade in Key West.
October 25, 2018
Key West's Wacky and Decadent Fantasy Fest Is in Full Swing
The parties are under way during Fantasy Fest, the annual 10-day festival in the Florida Keys.
October 23, 2018
Skimpy costumes, racy parties. Fantasy Fest lets it all hang out (but no sex, please).
In Key West, the annual 10-day-long Fantasy Fest includes nearly 100 events including a tutu-required party, a pet masquerade and big parades including one packed with zombies.
October 22, 2018
Zombie Bike Riders On The Streets Of Key West (Video)
More than 6,500 eerily costumed zombies, known as “the walking dead,” abandoned pedestrian power for bicycles Sunday evening, Oct. 21, during Key West’s offbeat annual Zombie Bike Ride.
October 22, 2018
Thousands Of ‘Zombies’ Parade On Bikes In Key West
More than 6,500 eerily costumed zombies, known as “the walking dead,” abandoned pedestrian power for bicycles Sunday, during Key West’s offbeat annual Zombie Bike Ride.
October 19, 2018
Key West Fantasy Fest Kicks Of Friday With Coronation Ball
The costuming and masking festival began in 1979 when a small group of Key Westers dreamt up the event to bolster tourism business between summer and winter.
October 19, 2018
Watch As Fantasy Fest Begins in Key West
The island city’s wacky and sometimes-decadent costuming and masking festival kicked off Friday with a coronation ball to crown the 10-day festival’s king and queen.
October 12, 2018
What happens at Fantasy Fest is between you and your god. Here’s your guide.
If you don’t have your plans in order for Fantasy Fest 2018 in Key West by now, you’ve got some work to do. Debauchery doesn’t just happen on its own, you know.
October 11, 2018
Fantasy Fest Kicks Off Oct. 19 in Key West
More than 100,000 people are expected to show to this year’s Fantasy Fest in Key West, which kicks off on Oct. 19. The annual event will feature more than 60 parties including costumed marches, street fairs, glamorous balls, as well as the show stopping and world-renowned Fantasy Fest Parade.
October 29, 2017
Fantasy Fest draws thousands to Key West
Fantasy Fest — one of Key West’s major tourist draws of the year — is in full swing. And that’s a relief for Florida Keys business owners trying to weather the economic storm that hit after Hurricane Irma battered the middle stretch of the tourism-dependent island chain.
October 28, 2017
Fantasy Fest Masquerade Marchers Prowl Key West
Thousands of masked and costumed partiers promenaded through Key West’s Old Town during the free-spirited Fantasy Fest Masquerade March, a lively prelude to Saturday night’s elaborate grand parade.
October 28, 2017
Fantasy Fest returns to Key West after Hurricane Irma
A pair of Vikings push a stroller full of stuffed chimps down Duval Street. A man with a ponytail swallows a steel sword. People dressed only in body paint and glitter wander and jiggle from bar to bar.
October 24, 2017
Thousands dress up for 'Zombie Bike Ride'
Thousands of "zombies" and their bikes hit the streets of Key West, Florida on Oct. 22
October 23, 2017
Zombie Bike Ride Draws More Than 6,000 Undead
Several thousand costumed “creatures” pedaled through Key West during the Zombie Bike Ride that concluded the opening weekend of Fantasy Fest, the Florida Keys’ first major special event since Hurricane Irma struck the island chain Sept. 10.
October 17, 2017
10 Things You Have To Do During Fantasy Fest in Key West
Come experience the 10-day, no-holds-barred party filled with costumes, body paint, drinking, dancing, life loving and skin aplenty.
October 12, 2017
Key West’s Fantasy Fest returns to its ‘Key Weird’ roots
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the Keys are open for business, and Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest bacchanal is on as planned from Oct. 20-29 with the theme Time Travel Unravels.
October 4, 2017
Key West's Fantasy Fest is back despite Hurricane Irma
Fans of Fantasy Fest, never fear. Key West's annual costume street party returns this year from Oct. 20 to 29, undeterred by the passing of Hurricane Irma.
January 22, 2017
New producers hired for Key West’s Fantasy Fest
A prominent Key West artist and a veteran event planner will team up to produce the annual 10-day Fantasy Fest this October, having struck a deal with the nonprofit that owns the event’s name.
October 28, 2016
Presidential Politics Takes Center Stage at Key West Fantasy Fest
Presidential politics took center stage at Key West’s Fantasy Fest Headdress Ball – just one of more than 40 events being held during the 10-day festival.
October 24, 2016
Así se vivió el 'Zombie Bike Parade' en Key West
El tradicional evento logró traer este año a unas 8,000 personas que recorrieron Key West disfrazados de zombies.
October 24, 2016
Key West gets festive with annual Zombie Bike Ride
Thousands of costumed zombies roamed Key West Sunday evening on bicycles along shorelines and streets during the annual Zombie Bike Ride.
October 24, 2016
Key West Holds Annual "Zombie Bike Ride" as Part of Fantasy Week Festivities
If you were in downtown Key West Sunday evening and thought a zombie invasion was taking place, no need to worry – it was just the annual Zombie Bike Ride to kick off the annual Fantasy Fest activities.
October 19, 2016
Zombies take over part of the island
Brush off the graveyard dust and break out your wheels for the sixth annual Zombie Bike Ride in Key West.
May 14, 2016
Key West at its wildest: 10 days of Fantasy Fest
If you haven't been to Key West's Fantasy Fest, you haven't seen how wild Key West can truly be.
October 31, 2015
Decadent Fantasy Fest comes to a close in Key West
The decadent 10-day Fantasy Fest concludes this weekend in Key West, capped by a Halloween parade expected to attract more than 60,000 spectators.
October 31, 2015
Fantasy Fest Masquerade Marchers Roam Key West’s Old Town
Thousands of masked and costumed partiers promenaded through Key West’s Old Town during the free-spirited Fantasy Fest Masquerade March, a lively prelude to a Halloween night lavish grand parade.
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