Fantasy Fest 2024 – Are you ready for an out-of-this-world extravaganza?

August 19th, 2024

Neon celebrators and cosmic co-creators are invited to adorn themselves in their most inspired themed attire and immerse in 10 days and nights of kaleidoscopically stellar retro revelry for this year’s officially themed “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” Fantasy Fest, set to run October 18-27, 2024.

Following are some of this year’s highlights. Complete information for events, times, locations, and contest entry links can be found at http://www.fantasyfest.com:

• Robert the Doll’s Frightful Façade Contest: Robert the Doll, Key West’s world-renowned haunted historic toy, dares Key West residents and business owners to decorate your digs for a chance to win cash prizes and everlasting glory. Go ghoulish, go “Tribute to Robert,” or roll with this year’s “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” Fantasy Fest theme. The choice is yours, with Robert’s permission! Final day to enter is Mon. Oct. 14; judging will take place Oct. 21.
• Oct. 15-25: Don’t dream it – be it! “The Rocky Horror Show – The Musical” brings the infamous cult favorite to the Waterfront Playhouse stage.
• Oct. 18: The Royal Coronation event to crown Fantasy Fest’s 2024 King and Queen at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater is a fabulous 2-hour stage show that features entertainment by the competitors along with a line-up of local celebrities. Benefits the Florida Keys SPCA.
• Oct. 18 and 19: The Bahama Village Goombay Festival welcomes revelers of all ages to celebrate island arts and crafts, music and food in Key West’s historic Bahama Village neighborhood.
• Oct. 18-24: “Star Wars Strips: A Burlesque Parody” at the Key West Theater offers light-sabers and laughs with a cheeky twist on some of the “space opera’s” most popular story episodes.
• Oct. 20: Brain food anyone? The annual Zombie Bike Ride kicks off at Fort East Martello in the afternoon with fun and entertainment, including body painting, food and beverage vendors and a kids zone. In the evening, thousands of zombies of all ages bike to the Coffee Butler Amphitheater for a free Zombiefest Dance Party presented by Rams Head Presents.

A favorite of the un-dead, the annual Zombie Bike Ride kicks off at Fort East Martello on Sunday, Oct. 20. (Photo Carol Tedesco/FantasyFest.com)

• Oct. 21: Mrs. Roper’s Romp: Break out your colorful caftan’s and that signature curly red wig for a groovy “Three’s Company” inspired party at the Sunset Pier filled with music, photo ops, dancing, games, and prizes.
• Oct. 21: Sloppy Joe’s Comic Book Cape-ers Party: Come dressed as your favorite caped superhero or villain and groove to live music, dancing, and a costume contest with prizes for 1^st-3^rd place winners.
• Oct. 22: Florida Keys Council of the Arts Fantasy Fest poster-signing event at the La Concha Hotel. Buy your poster and have it signed by winning design competition artist Theresa Chiechi, and stock up on other collectable Fantasy Fest 2024 t-shirts and swag.
• Oct. 22: It’s Tutu Tuesday with its annual epic dance party that happens across multiple Caroline St. district area venues. Tutu required!
• Oct. 23: Costume yourself and your critter(s) to compete, or applaud from the audience at the annual wild and wacky Pet Masquerade at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. Registration fees benefit the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm.
• Oct. 23: The 12^th Annual LUV2GLOW Party: Experience Rick’s Upstairs on Duval St as the LUV2GLOW team transforms it into a glowing universe. Think aliens, 90s rave gear, planets, stars, astronauts and deep space as you plan your galactic UV black-light reactive costumes around this year’s Fantasy Fest theme.

Heather May Sloan gets into the glow-mosphere during the 2023 LUV2GLOW black-light dance party. This year’s LUV2GLOW will take place Wed., Oct 23 at Rick’s Upstairs at the Rick’s Entertainment Complex. (Photo Nick Doll/FantasyFest.com)

• Oct. 24: The 41^st Annual Key West Headdress Ball, presented by the Key West Business Guild at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater showcases a galaxy of out-of-this-world headdresses modeled by their creators, along with exciting entertainment by some of the island’s best local talent.

The spectacularly creative annual Headdress Ball, considered Fantasy Fest’s premier LGBTQ+ event, is set for Thursday, Oct 24, at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. (Photo Carol Tedesco/FantasyFest.com)

• Oct. 25: All-hands-on-deck for the Captain Morgan Masquerade March, as costumed creatives parade through Old Town Key West, stopping along the route for adult beverage samples provided by selected guest houses.
• Oct. 26: It’s the world-famous Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade in Old Town Key West, featuring fabulous floats, magnificent marching groups, cool kinetic contraptions, and neon cosmic creativity. An awesome island tradition since 1979!

Revelers pump up the jam along Southard Street in Key West during the 2023 Captain Morgan Masquerade March. This year’s spectacle will take place on Fri., Oct 25. (Photo Carol Tedesco/FantasyFest.com)

•  Oct. 27: Children’s Day from noon to 5pm at Bayview Park features food, rides, games, arts and crafts, and a costume contest for the kids.
• Oct. 27: Don your fabulous feathers for “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance from 4-8pm at La Te Da on Duval Street—the final official Fantasy Fest celebration.
• Oct 28: The 2025 Fantasy Fest theme will be announced.

Each year the public gets to submit concepts for the following year’s Fantasy Fest theme. About this year’s, Fantasy Fest Director Nadene Grossman Orr said, “Key West is well known for being electrifyingly colorful and alive with celebration, as well as embracing past, present and future. So when it was time to choose, our panel of judges agreed that “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” perfectly conjured up a Carnival inspired celebration of cosmic proportions—especially since 1990 was the year the Hubble Space Telescope was launched! And don’t forget, anyone who wishes to submit a theme idea for 2025 has until October 4 to do so. There will of course be prizes, fame and glory involved for the winner.”

All manner of people and pets, from pooches to pygmy goats and even iconic celebrity BFF tributes have traversed the stage at the annual Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade. This year’s is set for Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Photo Carol Tedesco/FantasyFest.com)

Fantasy Fest 2024 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. For a full calendar of events, schedule updates, contest details, and a handy downloadable mobile APP, visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.