Born in 1979, Key West's Fantasy Fest has grown to be an exuberant 10-day whirlwind of costuming and masking contests, themed parties, masquerade events and a gala grand parade. And the revelry has also celebrated some amazing people and true-life heroism.
Last October in Key West, I spotted a character wearing a feathered bikini and six-foot-tall peacock headdress, a group of silver-garbed “Beauty School Dropouts From Mars” and a quartet impersonating the legendary Jamaican bobsled team. And it was all part of Fantasy Fest.
Is your Halloween finery is head-and-shoulders above the rest? Then prove it at Key West's glitzy annual Headdress Ball, where revelers hoping to make “headlines” will take center stage and compete for cash prizes.
Key West's Zombie Bike Ride, a pre-Halloween tradition for visiting and local families and groups, is scheduled Sunday, Oct. 23 -- and much of the island is likely to be overrun by an oddly lively gaggle of the biking dead. The spooky spectacle typically draws several thousand participants (including a few slightly bewildered pets).
It’s almost inevitable — sometime this coming fall or winter, your thoughts will turn yearningly toward Key West. Maybe you’ll be drawn by the glitzy outrageousness of Fantasy Fest, or the sudden desire to spend New Year’s Eve watching the “red shoe drop” on Duval Street. Or maybe you'll just want to flee a northern winter.
"Only in the Keys!" has become a common response from people hearing about everything from a Key West parade for dachshunds to mermaids attending a Lower Keys music festival (FYI, these are both actual things).
While the Florida Keys are better known for their living coral reef and other offshore wonders, the island chain also features inviting beaches from Key Largo to Key West. These sandy spots are perfect for chilling out, sunning, swimming or just dipping your toes into warm, clear turquoise waters.
Key West’s favorite New Year's Eve diva, and a 100-foot section of the island's iconic "sea-to-sea" rainbow flag, were among the star attractions at the kickoff of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association's 2016 national convention.
Attention, foodies! Key West, the sunny subtropical getaway known for its fantastic fresh fish and stunning seafood, is hosting its first-ever full-fledged restaurant month. It’s called WineDine KeyWest, and it takes place Sept. 16 through Oct. 16. And during the mouthwatering month, you can enjoy multicourse prix fixe meals at as many as 30 Key West restaurants.
Authors and artists, playwrights and poets have long been lured to the seductive island of Key West — rightfully known as one of America’s most fascinating playgrounds for creative spirits.