Fantasy Fest Events Rocked Key West in 2005
We were booked to go in November and we were listening radio and watching television to see if we could still go but no way, hurricane Wilma was far stronger than expected and all of the plans had to be changed. Fantasy Fest is delayed to December. We debated a little whether we should still go in December, whether it will be as fun as previous years but in the end we hit the road.
Magical monsters, cyber techies, literary nerds and celestial beings were among the carnival characters. Each year the festival was getting better almost. People masked their cares in outlandish attire and lived their fantasies for 3-4 days. All the crowd, jam packed streets dressed up and celebrated Fantasy Fest 2005!
Captain Morgan was as the official parade sponsor, swaggering down Duval Street, leading the cavalcade of floats, bands and beads.
Some of the activities we attended were all amazing. We met with Freaks, Geeks & Goddesses. 22nd Annual Toga party at Sloppy Joe’s Bar was a hit. Originally we did not plan to be there and we did not have any toga costumes but this did not stop us. We used the bath towels from our hotel to make ourselves toga costumes. We knew nobody would think we are freaks anyway.
Green Parrot’s annual costume party was also very different. Sea serpents, mermaids and other bizarre creatures of the deep continue the search for what lurks in the dark and deep blue sea! Who’s dancing on the reef? On that party we found out at the Mysteries of the undersea world are revealed! We felt like we were diving into some surreal fantasies and some-too-real fantasies that should perhaps remain submerged!
The guesthouse we stayed during Fantasy Fest asked us if we want to help them to give out free beer for the parade on Friday night. They told us that an odd squad of costumed Freaks, Geeks and Goddesses were going to parade through Old Town with music and noisemakers. The guesthouses along the route were providing free drinks to thirst quenchers. That parade began at the Key West Cemetery Frances Street entrance; two routes meet on Duval Street.
The red nights and fantasy flights party that we attended was on Friday night after nine o’clock. Red attire strongly encouraged for that night and I was a Santa in red hat with green and red elf socks and my husband was a red clown with his funny hat. Fogarty’s “Red Party” celebrated its 4th year with cool drinks, live music and red-hot contests! “Best Use of Red” costume contest was extremely fun.
The final of the parade was on Saturday night. For Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade more than 70,000 exuberant partygoers joined. People started to stand to have a good place to see the parade around 6 pm but the parade started around 8pm and continued till around 11 pm. This was a fantastic parade of dreams and screams featuring glittering floats, marching bands and dancing groups!
We will be there next year as well. Now, it is time to start dreaming up your weird costumes for Freaks, Geeks and Goddesses 2006 and book your hotel for next year’s Fantasy Fest.
