Oh, my gosh! Only ten days left until Goombay, the kickoff weekend of our annual extravaganza, Fantasy Fest! Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio, it’s a legendary 10-day party that no lifetime should go without experiencing! To paraphrase a local saying, “If you haven’t done Key West for Fantasy Fest, you haven’t done Key West!”
In 1978, on Halloween Day, local entrepreneurs, who have now earned the status of local icons, Joe Liszka and Frank Romero, found themselves at what is now perhaps the busiest intersection in Old Town, Front and Duval Streets. On a typical day of warm, brilliant sunshine, lay before them a distressingly deserted scene. Nothing moving, no traffic, no tourists, locked up storefronts because there was no business to support the shops during “off season”.
They decided that what was needed was “a fest, a carnival, a celebration, something that will entice people to change our moribund season to one of great fun; a party that will bring many people to understand that this season is one of our best.” The shared vision and inspiration created on that day proved to be the incubation of the concept that would become Fantasy Fest, this year celebrating 30 years (!) of good-natured debauchery and zany, ribald merriment.
Each year, the celebration grows, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to Duval Street for the grand finale parade. Coinciding with Halloween night this year, it promises to be an even more exciting time than usual. Leading up to it is a 10-day party, with increasingly elaborate and high-energy events, building in excitement by the day. Click here for an overview of this year’s schedule, in keeping with the theme, “Villains, Vixens and Vampires”! There is something for all persuasions, from a child-friendly pet masquerade, to dare-to-be-bare body painting, to decidedly adult, edgy adventures, so don’t be shy, come join in the fun!
The Tropical Inn’s strategic location right at the midpoint of Duval Street means that all the zaniness passes right by our front doors. Our porches provide “ring side seats” to the Duval Street pageant that becomes progressively more colorful and outrageous with each passing day.
On Saturday night, we enjoy the grand finale parade by treating our guests to a complimentary open bar of top-shelf libations and a gourmet buffet (no need to scramble for that mass-produced street food for dinner!), which starts early and remains available throughout the parade. Each is assured an uncrowded place on the Duval Street porches for parade viewing, from which they revel in being an integral part of the extravaganza, caught up in the pulsing, vibrant atmosphere. The upstairs veranda is especially popular, with guests throwing and receiving airborne strings of beads with each parade entry as it passes by, ”close enough to touch”. All the while, they have the convenience of their rooms near at hand and the ability to freshen their drinks and take in the festivities just above the crush of the crowd.
Each year, more than half of our attendees stake their room claims for next year’s festivities before this year’s revelry comes to an end. These are our “Fantasy Fest regulars”, who return year after year. And each year we add a few new friends, many of whom, in turn, become repeat guests, both during Fantasy Fest and at other times throughout the year.
We’re sold out this year, of course, but we begin taking reservations for Fantasy Fest 2010 on November 5 (our loyal regulars have “first dibs” until then). We have an e-mail “flyer” that we can send you now, with rates and a description of the special Fantasy Fest reservation procedure, to get you planning! Give us a call or drop us an e-mail for more information: 888-611-6510 or info@ourkeywest.net. As you might imagine, we have a waiting list, so get on it early so you’ll be near the top and come join us for next year’s fantastic fantasy, fun, and frivolity!
