Start of Fantasy Fest – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Chuck Wagner
This celebrated festival will take place from Friday, October 20, through Sunday, October 29. Masquerade parties, costume contests, glitzy galas, and an extravagant grand procession are among the many festivities. The importance of creative costuming cannot be overstated, and the best efforts always receive praise. The 2023 festival’s theme, “Uniforms and Unicorns…200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy,” celebrates the bicentennial of the Florida Keys, the establishment of the U.S. Navy in Key West, as well as the mystical and “unicorn-like” uniqueness of the islands.
The creators of Fantasy Fest invite attendees to embrace the idea when creating parade floats and costumes by drawing inspiration from fictional characters or uniformed groups such as superheroes, sports teams, or cosmic armies from far-off planets.
The two-day Goombay Festival in Key West’s Bahama Village serves as the official start. Goombay, which takes place on October 20 and 21, pulsates to a Caribbean beat with nonstop music, arts and crafts, food reminiscent of the islands, and even a traditional Junkanoo parade. On October 20, the Royal Coronation party and stage play will crown the Fantasy Fest king and queen, ending a six-week campaign by candidates to raise money for the Florida Keys SPCA.
The bizarre Pet Masquerade, a Fantasy Fest favorite for dressed-up pets and their owners on Wednesday, Oct. 25, is one of the many events that await participants. The Key West Business Guild’s 40th anniversary Headdress Ball is the next evening, where participants compete for “head-turning” awards while donning enormous and ornate masks and cowls.
The Captain Morgan Masquerade March is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 27, and will feature unicorns and uniformed revelers strutting through the streets. A perennial favorite, the jovial march draws tens of thousands of residents and tourists who parade through a part of Key West’s Old Town while wearing elaborate costumes.
The family-friendly Zombie Bike Ride, the energetic Fantasy Market, the rocking Beatles tribute concert and look-alike party, “Tutu Tuesday” and pool parties, the waterfront Woodstock takeoff, and many other events are available to revelers.
Tens of thousands of onlookers are anticipated to line Whitehead and Duval streets in Key West’s historic downtown on Saturday night, October 28, for the Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade. The parade, which features elaborate floats, costumed marching groups, and bands, exemplifies the ingenuity and energy that have helped characterize the Florida Keys over the past 200 years.
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.