Junkanoo Band

Whew.  Goombay Weekend this year seemed to be  one of the most heavily-attended in recent memory! Honoring Key West’s earliest settlers, Bahamian residents who migrated across the water in the early 1800s to help colonize the fledgling American seaport, the annual Goombay street festival is a celebration of the cultural connection between Key West and the Bahamas. Highlights  included a Junkanoo band leading costumed marchers in a parade down Duval Street, a 2-day street fair, and nonstop entertainment by popular Bahamian, South Florida and Keys musicians and bands.

Goombay’s high energy level was a fitting kick-off to Key West’s 31^st. annual Fantasy Fest, the Southernmost City’s 10-day masking and costuming gala, running now through next Sunday, Oct. 31.   What began as a rag-tag and humble respite from the doldrums of the tourism “off season” is now a highly-organized,  internationally-known event representing a $30-million annual infusion to the Keys economy.

Fantasy Fest 2010 King Chris and Queen Anne

Concurrent with Goombay, the Coronation Ball on Friday night saw Key Westers, Chris Elwell and Anne O’Shea, crowned king and queen of Fantasy Fest 2010.  They earned their crowns by raising the greatest share of more than $207,000 for the Keys’ AIDS Help organization.   That sum was accrued through a series of non-stop parties and fundraising events spanning the past couple of months, staged by a field of royal contestants.

Not for the timid, Key West’s annual blow-out – this year’s theme is “Habitat for Insanity” — will entertain an anticipated 70,000 visitors with over 40 masquerade balls, parties and costume competitions for the adventurous and creative, bold and bawdy.  The excitement builds each day, leading up to the festival’s two peak events:  the masquerade march through the streets of Old Town on Friday and Saturday night’s grand parade down Duval Street, the island’s main drag.

Read more about it online at http://www.fantasyfest.net — then start making plans to join us for next year’s festivities.  The Tropical Inn is strategically positioned right at the mid-point of Duval Street, so it’s the perfect base for all that is Fantasy Fest, and a “ringside seat” for the parade.  Reservations for FF 2011 open on November 1, so be sure to reserve early for the best room selection!

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!