Fantasy Fest and Goombay Begin Saturday in Key West

Fantasy Fest Brings a Super-Powered Celebration to Key West

 

 

 

By: Lauren Tjaden

     Have you ever dreamed of being Superman, a muscle-bound bloke who can leap buildings in a single bound? Or maybe you’d prefer to be the Joker, cloaked in green, purple and a twisted smile. Or maybe the Bionic Woman, a shapely do-gooder who humbles Fembots, is more to your liking.

Key West’s outrageous annual costuming celebration, Fantasy Fest, Oct. 18-27, 2013, is the ideal place to unleash your inner comic-book superstar, because this year’s theme is ‘Super Heroes, Villains... & Beyond.’

‘Beyond’ is an apt description not only for this year’s theme but for the Festival in general. It’s beyond crazy, beyond belief -- and beyond popular. In recent years, its attendance has surpassed 100,000 people, or more than three times the population of the island itself.

The gala includes events like a 5K run, a pet parade, and contests galore.  It includes Fantasy Fest Street Fair, a mile-long extravaganza of arts, crafts, food vendors, libations and costumed frivolity that spills down Duval Street. And it includes a plethora of parties --toga, pajama, bikini, pink and even tighty whitey parties – to keep the most dedicated reveler reeling.  

The world-renowned Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, Oct. 26, 2013, 7 p.m., caps off the celebration.

You should go. Because as Spider-Man said: I believe there's a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride.

   This is the BIG ONE here in Key West and the one you don't want to miss.   I'll be sending pix and stories of the fun all week long next week as things unfold.  Parade night I'll be at my usual place don Duval Street selling the street side booze and watching all of the fun.

 

     Don't forget the Zombie Bicycle Ride coming this Sunday afternoon either.  Lots of zombies and lots of fun.    ;o)