Key West, Florida
Want to larn most the best-kept hole-and-corner for street celebrations inwards the United States? It’s a wild 10 twenty-four hr catamenia costume political party inwards Oct called Fantasy Fest inwards Key West, Florida.
If I had to depict Fantasy Fest inwards 1 sentence, I’d tell it’s Burning Man meets Mardi Gras for Halloween on a tropical island. Except inwards a identify where yous tin also remain inwards a beautiful B&B surrounded past times ancient banyan trees.
A identify together with thence various that gays, bikers, pirates, artists, strippers together with entrepreneurs are the norm, living a motto “One Human Family.” Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 identify where yous tin spotter the Sun both ascension together with laid over the body of body of water every day.
After knowing most the festival for years living inwards South Florida, I finally made it downwards to view what all the hype was most amongst my blogger friend Steph from Travel-Break.net.
Our calendar week was incredibly fun, absurd, together with liberating all at once.
Click hither for swell accommodation deals…
The Conch Republic
Key West is America’s ain niggling Caribbean Area island, known every bit the Conch Republic to locals who fancy themselves a split upwardly country. The isle is located at the southern tip of the beautiful Florida Keys.
With sure laws beingness a chip to a greater extent than lax (like allowing “open containers” on the street) together with such a unique blend of people together with styles, yous truly practise experience every bit though you’re inwards some other land.
Spend an afternoon walking past times Key West’s pastel colored homes or browsing some of its 50 fine art galleries spell even together with thence never to a greater extent than than a dozen blocks from the sea inwards whatever direction.
The whole island’s 1 x 4 miles is navigable past times quaint lanes bordered past times tropical flora, feeling a chip similar a hole-and-corner garden which yous tin navigate past times foot, bike or moped.
Fantasy Fest Vibe
This magical niggling isle gets fifty-fifty wilder when it celebrates Halloween for 10 days at the halt of Oct inwards an incredible wonderland known every bit Fantasy Fest… where almost anything goes.
Bring out whatever slice of your grapheme (or a dissimilar 1 every night)!
During the festival venues host their ain especial events. These celebrations create an entire footing inside themselves, worlds that yous are encouraged to bring together in! They describe together a combination of local cuisine, talented artists, together with fundraising for various local charities.
This collaboration makes each final result accept on a life of its own, feeding everyone’s creative inner-child that you’ll go out the festival feeling closer to.
There are costume competitions, AIDS fundraisers, family-friendly parades, drag-queen contests, together with more.
Intergalactic Freak Show
The subject for 2015 was the All Hallows InterGalactic Freak Show, together with it sure enough lived upwardly to its name. This modest town welcomed 60,000 freaks, gratis spirits, together with aliens from all over the country.
People pass months planning out their costumes (or lack thereof) for the multitude of themed parties that hand throughout the week. I got into the spirit of things past times packing three dissimilar costumes myself — Greek God, Dirty Pirate, together with Intergalactic Alien consummate amongst full-body pigment job.
One black Steph together with I constitute ourselves at Irish Kevin’s annual Fantasy Fest 80’s political party when who should crash the phase but Mr. Margaritaville himself!
Jimmy Buffett (ok, possibly non the existent one) picked upwardly a guitar together with played along amongst the band for a few songs every bit the residue of us danced similar no 1 was watching.
Just a typical eve at Fantasy Fest inwards Key West.
Fantasy Fest Events
Some highlights of Fantasy Fest include The Coronation Ball where the Conch King together with Conch Queen brand an appearance. They win this majestic championship past times having raised the greatest amount of funds for AIDS Help.
In 2007 they raised over $200,000 together with since 1989 almost $2.6 meg has been donated.
Goombay is a ii twenty-four hr catamenia street political party held inwards Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood. It’s named afterwards the goatskin drums that generate the party’s rhythms together with celebrates the heritage of Key West’s large Bahamian population amongst food, fine art together with a lot of dancing.
Other pop events include the Zombie Bike Ride, Pet Masquerade, Anything But Clothes Party, Rum Barrel Pirate Bash, Airbrush Expo, Sloppy Joe’s Toga Party, together with much more.
You tin notice a total listing of events on the Fantasy Fest Website.
On the in conclusion day, the festival culminates amongst the Fantasy Fest Parade downwards the town’s primary Duval Street spanning the 1 mile cross-stretch from the Atlantic to the Gulf shore.
Fantasy Fest Tips & Advice
While basically an extended adult costume political party at the halt of October, Fantasy Fest doesn’t ever autumn on Halloween itself. It did inwards 2015, but that’s non ever the case.
There’s some nudity at Fantasy Fest, but that’s non all it’s about. You’ll notice people of every race, age, trunk type, sexual-preference, together with career hither too. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 celebration for judgement-free together with open-minded people.
With solely 75 taxi cabs together with 60,000 people during the event, finding a taxi isn’t ever easy. Renting a bike powerfulness hold upwardly a goodness alternative for getting around, provided yous don’t potable every bit good much.
No Fantasy Fest experience is consummate without some trunk paint. Airbrush artists from around the province laid upwardly store to brand your dreams reality. Prices hit from $100 to $800+ depending on how intricate the run is.
Need a cure for your killer hangover the morn after? Grab a seize amongst teeth to consume at Blue Heaven or some rigid cuban java at Cuban Coffee Queen.
Getting There
So how practise yous acquire to this crazy political party called Fantasy Fest inwards Key West? Fall downwards a rabbit hole? Hope a tornado picks upwardly your farmhouse inwards Kansas? Fortunately yous tin but crusade 160 miles South from Miami on Highway US1.
The route trip to Key West from Miami is a beautiful crusade over endless bridges across the Florida Keys islands, flanked past times the Atlantic Ocean on 1 side together with the Gulf of United Mexican States on the other.
A quick 45 infinitesimal pool jumper flying from Miami or Ft Lauderdale drome direct to the isle is also possible.
Good Places To Stay
We stayed at the beautiful Casa Marina Resort on the border of the water. But I’m a large fan of AirBnB too. If yous haven’t yet, brand sure to read my article most how to notice inexpensive hotels.
Have yous ever considered short-term floor rentals? It’s a swell means to salve money! Click here to larn how to acquire $35 off your offset booking.
So if you’re looking for a goodness party, together with wild photos of crazy together with scandalous costumes, yous direct maintain to banking concern represent out Fantasy Fest sometime. I promise I’ll view yous at that spot side past times side year! ★
Location: Key West, Florida
Official Website: FantasyFest.com
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid yous start packing for your trip. Pick upwardly a locomote backpack, photographic tv camera gear, together with other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to notice deals on airlines. Also brand sure to read how I notice the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a swell site for comparison automobile prices to notice the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than most how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than most why yous should ever deport locomote insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Miami & The Keys
Suggested Reading: The Key West Bucket List
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