We ended up in Key West for Fantasy Fest by accident. We always go on vacation for my birthday, which happened to be this week. I couldn't stop staring at people. Each night is a different theme nights. People dress up in risque costumes and body paint. They have parades and all sorts of things. I recommend coming to experience this at least once, unless you're a prude and easily offended. Then make sure you specifically do not come during this time. read more

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WHAT A BLAST!!! Its similar to Mardi Gras but on a smaller scale but includes the same body painting and bead necklass wearing and throwing. This is a big October Halloween event in Key West and NOT for kids at all. Very cool parade on Duval Street. Most hotels mandate a 2 or 4 night minimum stay. Just be aware that restaurants and bars are extremely packed. A must try at least once for a really fun experience. read more

Fun Halloween Party in Key West!! From painted bodies and pasties to elaborate costumes...you will see it all!!!! Rated R and fun! read more

Wow, I have never been to the festival this "EXPO" and "EYE Popping". Fantasy is one of the kind. I am guessing I am doing something like the TV reality show of " Better Late than Never". What a experience. I have been to the Key many time but never on the Fantasy Fest. No wonder the are place as wild party every year. This definitely an adult festival. I am guessing many people must be cook up at home and finally has a chance to show up freely in body expression. Some has put some thought into it and some just has no decorations. I saw some has group theme which make it very interesting. Some just husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend theme. I think it will take a lot of year to think about and reflect in life if I will be doing the same things in the future. Nop, not even any hesitation. Sorry you won't find me in that situation. However, we enjoy our time there. Tip Parking is a mesh. Please watch out residence permits parking only. Please find spot has no writing on the ground. However, Olivia and Fort Street has some free parking but requires 4 blocks walking. read more

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This 2014 fest was great despite the rain we had on Wednesday and Thursday. Most people were respectful with "you can look, but you can't touch" nudity that were either covered with nipple pasties, speedos, or body painting. There are a lot of photographers, so be wary if you don't intend to have your photos taken and potentially posted online. The festival fun is typically on Duval but you may also catch a little bit more of fun on Whitehead and Front streets. While there are several restaurants and bars on Duval, don't be afraid to ask a local for suggestions of true Key West dives that aren't on Duval and may be way better tasting and quicker to order. Even though the colorful costumes and themes for the fest every year may sound like out of a kid's movie... Fantasy Fest isn't exactly ideal for the kids to be brought along. There are hundreds of adults who get super slammed and a few fights have broke out, making it dangerous for any persons under 18 to attend. If you do bring your children, keep an eye on them at all times as they also can easily get lost in the rowdy crowds. Wear walking shoes, bring rainboots and /or umbrellas if the forecast has rainy days during the fest week. Sunscreen is a must and a simple crossbody purse is good to have to carry id, money, and hotel key! Have fun and hope to see you all next year! read more

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Sooo much fun. Even more fun since I got to laugh at all the drunk idiots and I was sober. Take lots of pictures, accept the fact that it will be crowded, dirty, and you will be exposed to a lot of sexual content :) I was very well covered and still got my tushy pinched. Not nice. Go with friends and l promise you will have lots of fun. The main parade happens on a Saturday, but the whole week there are other festivities to include the Locals Parade, Goombay Festival, Toga Party and other events . There is a theme every year. If you plan on attending, hotel reservations are usually made 2 years in advance, get your plane tickets or car rentals very early. Expect to spend $60 if you are a light drinker the night of the main parade. You will see many parents with children and teens. This is not an event for kids. read more

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There are a few places and events in the world where the saying "What has been seen cannot be unseen" applies. Bars along a night market alley in Bangkok, for example. Another is clearly Fantasy Fest. When I saw a group of men in the parade, with monk robes on but the backs cleverly cut out, the "order of the hairy butts" produced a mental image I have simply not been able to delete, no matter how hard I try. The creativity is amazing. The insanity is compelling. The silliness is infectious. Nothing compares to Fantasy Fest. Everyone must experience it at least once. read more

I have gone to Fantasy Fest twice & people always ask me the same thing... what's it like!?! Well, it's a mix of both Young & Old, Mardi Gras & Halloween. You've got costumes, body painting, parades of floats, beads getting thrown everywhere, & lots of drinking. It lasts about one week & has a ton of small parties leading up to the final parade at the end of the week. The easiest way to break down FF is to describe the vibe. Everyone is laid back & there to just have a good time. If you are closed minded, a prude, super religious, or against public alcohol consumption & nudity(both young & old) then Fantasy Fest is probably not going to be your thing. One thing you can expect 100% of the time is to pay a ton of money for a hotel. A typical hotel around the time of FF can run $300-$500 a night with a 3 night minimum at some locations. Is it worth it? It depends on how appealing what I described is to you. I can't always afford to go but every few years I will try & make the trip. Both times I have gone I had a great time so it was money well spent. Expect to take a cab from your hotel & a cab back as most streets near Duval are shut down to traffic. Parking is practically non existant. If you are kicking around the idea of making the trip I suggest you check Instagram for #FantasyFest to get an overall idea of what you will encounter. I will leave you with one last thing... PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE!!! Call a cab, Uber, Lyft, get a designated driver, or sleep it off. read more

I had a ball... I was visiting and didn't know this was even happening... it was fun, hilarious and welcoming... I got plenty of beads

Sunday night activities and Monday afternoon and night activities were amazing!!! It's great to see adults of all types having fun. We saw nobody causing trouble or being rude, nothing but fun and respectful behavior. Hats off to every business that drew us in for a stop to enjoy and partake. Great 2 days!! read more

The wife and I just finished out fifth Fantasy Festival weekend (for photos, visit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bills_pics/sets/72157627935881439/detail/). We keep coming back for one reason....for one week (really, one weekend, but that's a nit), KW turns into the party capital of the world! It really is a blast - a bit crowded, since around 1,522,532,235, 241,000 of your best friends are there with you...but the crowd makes for photo ops galore...and trust me (see link above) photo ops are definitely abounding. Friday night is really the best night for photos, followed by Saturday afternoon. Saturday night is all about the parade..and what a parade it is! Based on the theme (for 2011, it was Aquatic Afrolic), revelers and float builders alike go crazy interpreting that theme and setting it to their views. As a result, this becomes an insane parade. And the body painting....ahhh...the body painting. True works of art are everywhere...some humorous, some following a theme, and some just avant-garde... You DEFINITELY need to do Fantasy Festival at least once in your life. BUT....if you don't have an open mind.....er....nevermind! read more

It's like Mardi Gras - only with more gays and bikers. You can be topless of Duval Street as long as you get those tatas painted. (Actually, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen was a much older woman, tan, robust figure, LOOONG gray hair, a white thong, and delicate little flowers painted all over her less than buoyant bosom at Fantasy Fest.) This this is CRAY CRAY. Unfortunately, I can't tell you any of my good stories. Well, maybe more "won't" than "can't." Thanks Fantasy Fest. PS I use all the beads I've collected from Fantasy Fest trips strung together to decorate my Christmas Tree every year. Never mind how I got them in the first place. read more

Oh. My. Hell. This is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! What a great way to spend a weekend. Well, at least if you're open-minded, don't mind naked people (in all shapes and sizes) and like drinking. It's like a Chicago street festival, combined with Mardi Gras and Halloween. People wear costumes or body paint, but it's certainly not a big deal if you don't do either. And, I'll admit, sometimes you wish that you hadn't seen that 250 lb guy's ass squeezed into a thong, but hey...more power to him! There are parades and theme parties and the cover charges for the parties all go to charitable organizations. It's a feel good festival in many ways. I don't know if I'd ever bring kids, but there were surprisingly quite a few. Probably depends on your view of nakedness and children. Aside from that...save up and get down there! read more

You must do fantasy fest at least once in your life! If you're a prude stay home. If you have kids leave them at home. Take at least 1 costume or nude is also an option, body paint is also available. Bring only open minded friends that are fuuun! This event has a mix of all ages 21 - 100? unfortunate looking humans & hotties, it doesn't matter as long as you are there to have a real good time. I'm definitely going back again. If you have a huge group of fun, daring, open-minded friends convince them to be part of he parade. Life is too short, not to have fun! read more

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What's the big deal? I went into this expecting INSANITY and came out a little disappointed. I mean, yeah. I saw lots of boobies. And lots of costumes. And butts. And more costumes that otherwise would have been totally questionable on these people. Beads? Yup. Crowds? yes but nothing obnoxious. Drunkards galore? You betcha. I had an aunt who lived in Mississippi. I expected more from Key West's Mardi Gras I guess. Revelry was to be had certainly, but a lot of the chaos and spirit were missing here. Not that I mind naked drunken people with live music and all other sorts of debauchery, but *shrug* This bad girl thinks there could have been more read more

Fantasy Fest is a blast for the OPEN MINDED!! Went there twice and had fun both times! The food, the people, the energy, the costumes are amazing. Everyone is in good spirits having a blast...it's like an adult Halloween party. Age ranges from 21-101, but there is something to do for everyone. Every day is has different events going on, and on the last day they have the famous Captain Morgan costume parade were everyone lines the street with their costumes having fun, It can get VERY crowded as Key West is small. BUT, I can say that for it to be so many people, I've never seen or experienced any unruly or violent behavior. Also, be sure to bring a camera because you will see some interesting costumes. Con: Hotel prices are expensive. Some hotels charge $300ish a night with a 3 night minimum. read more

Nothing like i ever seen before had a blast a lot of boobage, ass fake penises out of control had a few beers at sloppy Joes best time of my life. We also had a blast at Rick's read more

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What a fun time!!! I really thought I was going to hate it and ended up having the best time ever!! RJ and I arrived in Key West around 2pm and stayed until after the parade was over. There are just no words to describe this, and there is so much you can never unsee. You have to go. You have to get painted. Enough said!!! read more

Amber G. Fantasy Fest is one of the most exciting things my wife and I get to do. We plan our costumes for months in advance. But the reasons you give are the very reasons we leave Saturday morning. Too many college age kids that can't control themselves or their alcohol (and drugs). But it's perfect for responsible adults who just want to escape reality for a while. My advice; come down earlier in the week before the idiots show up and you'll have a really good time. read more

Fantasy Fest - Jennifer with one of the drag show performers - Festivals Near Me - Key West, Florida

OK, first this thread answers one of life's most imporant questions, namely "What kind of dumb----s take kids/teenagers to Fantasy Fest. Clearly, the ones who don't read the reviews before they travel somewhere. Sheesh..... Fortunately, the majority of the participants -- the ones who know what they're getting into -- love FF. It's a baccanalian festival, somewhat in the spirit of New Orleans Mardi Gras, but it's sufficiently expensive and scheduled to keep the college kids away. In short, it's a frat party for rich old people. What exactly does that mean? In the daytime during FF, Key West is the same sleepy caribbean village it usually is. The restaurants have marginally poor service and reasonably bad food, but the booze is great (Capt Tony's Pirate Punch is world-class, and cold beer is the local bottled water.) Around dark, the costumes come out. Every night for a week there are one or two different themes (it's not unusual to change costumes twice in a day). The tourists who didn't read the brochures are shocked, simply shocked I say, at the carousing. Once you've gone for a few years (and I try to go nearly every year), you find that the daytime hours are best spent taking boat cruises or plane rides or simply laying out by the pool trying to discern exactly what point in the day you should switch from Bloody Mary's to Mai Tais. After dark, there are some mind-numbingly great bands in seedy bars playing until dawn. Must-do things: Sunday before FF there is a Zombie Bike Ride starting about 6 from Stock Island ending up down-town about 8 for the Zombie Fest. Last year, about 3,000 showed up. Monday night is Kelly's Kinky Carnival. You have been warned. There's a toga night, a red night, a plaid night, and a pirate night. There's also a tutu parade. On Friday, about 5pm, there is a "people's march" thru the old town with about 10,000 of your new best friends. Saturday is the Captain Morgan's parade. About 100 floats. Stake out your spot early. See ya'll there! read more

We go down to fantasy fest every year, the drive down from St Pete. to Key West is about 8 hours and worth the trip down, we live both places so the drive is something were used to. Its a family event and something for everyone, mornings and afternoons are very tamed and polite, nighttime is for the adults only! With over 70,000 people this year, we saw no fights, no arguments with anyone, its very open minded and happy go lucky crowd, I would go as far in saying one of the safest events I have ever been to. The body painting was a unique experience, extremely talented young artists, these people can do anything involving art on human canvas, its not a cheap event, standard motel rooms start at $250 per night, bed & breakfasts can reach double that and we heard of some of the nicer Hotels on Duval in the thousands per night! So this is not an event to drive to when on a budget. read more

never been to key west b4 nor fantasy fest. my first time there and I must say I had an absolute terrible time. no parking walking everywhere. fantasy fest was only a few blocks of nothing but spanish food vendors . i drove 9 hours round trip for street style Spanish food. . the place is boring hot humid and crappy. I would never go backnto.key west or fantasy fest again. to meni wasted a weekend going there . food in key west is also under par. I found nothing special there I'd go back for. BIG WASTE OF TIME !!! read more

Terry is right! We got into Key West a couple of years ago on the night before FF and we had no idea what was going to happen the next day. Thank goodness the Conch Train driver told us so we could cut our visit short and get out of town. Not my cup of tea and most of what I saw on the way out of town just made me mad. If you enjoy this type of thing - have at it. Do not take your kids to Key West during this week or the week before or after. read more

Fantasy Fest isn't what it used to be. Honestly, every year it gets more predictable and uniform. I think the problem is the hotels have priced out the younger crowd, and believe me, this event needs an injection of younger visitors. This year is so boring I can't believe it. Even Dante's pool party was virtually devoid of anything crazy or unexpected from the contestants. The crowd in the pool actually added more fun than usual so it wasn't a complete waste of time. Unfortunately, I'm not sure Key West cares if Fantasy Fest survives more than a few more years. read more

Crazy! If you get a chance to go.... go! Very interesting and fun. Costumes are funny and a little perverted. Plenty of naked and painted people. Vibe is great though. Fun, laid back and celebratory atmosphere. Not ghetto and your not on edge about fighting. Just a bunch of people coming together and enjoying the holiday. read more

If you have not experience this, what are you waiting for. I highly recommend reserving a room way in advance for the last week of October and start the party off with Goombay. It is the ultimate adult party that last a week that ends with a great parade. I was very fortunate to walk in the parade for the time I lived there and always love the experience. When watching the parade and don't want to deal with all the chaos, I highly recommend sitting near United Street and Duval. The floats all stop in front of the Southernmost Hotel and it is less crowded. read more

Go. Get a big house with all of your friends and be Hunter S. Thompson for a week. Just be sure to bring a very open mind, a very liberal attitude, and a whole hell of a lot of costumes and/or body paint. read more

Loads of fun, costumes,beads, drinks and body paint. The earlier part of the week is not quite as crazy as the days leading up to the parade day on Saturday. Saturday you can expect it to be very crowded in town with 10's of thousands of party people in one place. Get body painted by body painter Jennifer Montgomery www.jennifermontgomery.net/body_painting read more

A really fun week for adults. If you are offended by sex, nudity, kinky sex references, or old ugly people getting naked, just don't go. For everyone else it is great fun. We were able to get out 3 nights when it was not raining. There were some fabulous costumes, very creative. Yes, you will see some things you wish you hadn't, but these are easily overlooked. This is one of Key West's most popular events and it is easy to see why. We had a great time. read more

We went to Key West for my birthday vacation and it just happened to be FF weekend, I was thinking it would be fun to see and be a part of: a celebration of all sexuality: gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, queer, and everyone in between! I was also expecting a diverse crowd: young, old, etc. It turned out to be mostly a older, straight crowd and was not so much a celebration as it was an excuse for old people to get naked and drink. The nudity was also 90% women without tops the can easily be my grandma - no cool costumes, no playful ideas, no ingenuity. Where is your creativity, people?! Disappointed. read more