Fantasy Fest: A Brief History On Key West, Florida's "Must-Do" Annual Event
A common question asked of those who live in Key West is, "What is Fantasy Fest?" Most answers involve comparisons to New Orleans' Mardi Gras and, depending on the respondent's personal opinion, can range from "It's the greatest party ever" to "I wouldn't be within a thousand miles of it." Of course, the response depends on how much you might like the biggest party to descend upon the beautiful Florida island all year. What most people don't explain about Fantasy Fest is how it ever got started.
In the late 1970's, during October in Key West the tourist trade was as slow as it could possibly be. Even though the weather at that time of year is some of the best the island typically experience, hardly anyone was coming for vacations back then. So, in 1979, two local businessmen decided to mix fun with philanthropy and they created the now world famous Key West Fantasy Fest; an event designed to draw people to the island and serve as a fundraiser to help support the members of the island community that had been affected by AIDS. Obviously, the idea took off.
In its first years, Fantasy Fest was simply a weekend celebration. Today, it has grown into a ten day event, drawing upwards of one hundred thousand people each of the last several years. There are different themed parties every night. There are celebrations of specific colors, a masquerade march, a zombie bike ride and even a pet parade. The highlight of it all, however, is the Saturday night parade. This is the event that everyone comes to see. Floats - some three dozen in number - pass by, displaying the most inventive and outrageous designs a person can imagine. Just as in the Mardi Gras celebration, there is bead passing and excessive consumption of cocktails.
The Fantasy Fest parade has become such a large and popular event that it has become hard for one to experience the full effect from street level. The best place to watch the Fantasy Fest parade, barring being a part of it, is from a second floor, outdoor deck of a local restaurant or tavern where, while you watch the festivities, you can enjoy the finest seafood or award winning key lime pie, while washing it all down with the tastiest cocktails and finest wines available on the island. Where would the best place to watch the Fantasy Fest be? One of the hottest locations on the island to enjoy delicious cuisine and inventive cocktails while viewing the fun-filled parade is The Roof Top Cafe.
Located on the only block of Front Street where the parade marches, as it crosses from Whitehead Street to Duval Street, The Roof Top Cafe offers a perfect vantage point from the delightful second floor deck, high above the crowded streets. There, you can comfortably take in the parade and all of its splendor. There is no better place from which one can enjoy the charitable Key West celebration known as Fantasy Fest.
About the Author
An 8 year resident of Key West, Robert Willis has seen things during Fantasy Fest that would make a lesser man cry...or laugh.
Visit http://www.rooftopcafekeywest.com for more information on this iconic, annual Key West event known as Fantasy Fest.
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here