Decorate your digs to win big! The Key West Chamber of Commerce Fantasy Façades Competition offers awesomely decorated Key West homes and businesses the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and glory. Think ghoulishly magical, think Conch Republic, and think this year’s “Uniforms & Unicorns—200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy” Fantasy Fest theme. Final day to enter your home or business is Oct. 16; judging is Monday, Oct. 23, with winners to be announced on Oct. 24.
 
And, beginning on Oct. 24, this year for the very first time, the living public (not open to vampires or the “undead”) is invited to select a “Community Favorite” by casting a vote. Community voting will be open from Oct 24-29, with the decorated digs that garner the most votes scoring a special gift package of treats and services from Key West Chamber of Commerce members.
 
Fantasy Fest 2023 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. Get your Key West Chamber of Commerce Fantasy Facades Competition entry form at http://www.fantasyfest.com and download the new Fantasy Fest mobile app to view an interactive GPS map of all the entries, a complete Fantasy Fest schedule, and more.

​Keys creativity and resilience were brilliantly displayed in a pageantry of glitter, feathers, flowers and incandescent imagination Saturday night, as Key West’s Fantasy Fest parade made its way down Duval Street for the first time since 2019 and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Some three-dozen entries—with one stretching almost a full city block— competed for $20,000 in prizes, and the winners are: 

• Best in Entertainment and Best in Costume: Lower Keys Fluffers with “The Birdcage at 801 Sesame Street.”
• Best Interpretation of Theme: Mystic Crew of Key West with “Sleepy Saturday Morning.”
• Best Walking Group: “Mother Nature Celebration” by Daniel Bitnar.
• Best Conch Style: “Willy Wonka” presented by the 40ft Sharpie Crew.
• The Green Parrot’s Best Live Music Award: Grand Marshall Tony Baltimore – “Let’s all go Insane!”
• The We Cycle Best Bike Award: Virginia Wark with the Southernmost Slow Riders: “Lost @ SEE.”
• Directors Choice Award: Stanley Shaw Construction’s “Madder than Mad Max.”

The $5000 Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Prize For Best Overall, presented this year by The Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West, is awarded to Fifer’s Follies with “Alice’s Excellent Adventure,” whose elaborate three-float entry stretched nearly a full Duval Street block and included one float devoted entirely to an imposing queen of hearts scene, and another to an elaborate tea-party set overseen by a giant Cheshire Cat with an articulating head. Street marchers included a plentitude of dancing teacups, suits of playing cards attired in voluminous skirts on wheels, and an eccentric cast of “Crazy Alice’s” bringing up the rear.
 
The Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade is traditionally followed with announcement of the following year’s theme, which is selected through a “Call for Themes” contest. This year, Izzy Weaver of Nashville, TN, scored two seats in the judge’s stand at next year’s parade with the submission, “Uniforms & Unicorns.”
 
“2023 marks the 200-year anniversary of establishment of both Monroe County and Key West’s first Naval base, so our panel of judges agreed that “Uniforms & Unicorns—200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy” captured the Bicentennial of these historic events and the Keys effervescent spirit perfectly,” said Nadene Grossman Orr, Fantasy Fest Director and President/CEO of We’ve Got the Keys.
 
Fantasy Fest events and happenings wrapped up on Sunday with a slate of events, including Children’s Day at Bayview Park, “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance at La Te Da Hotel, Restaurant, Cabaret and Bars, and several Fest finale’ pool parties held at Southernmost Beach Resort’s Pineapple Pool, the Marker Key West Harbor Resort, and Island House Key West Resort.
 
Fantasy Fest 2022 featured more than 80 events citywide and was presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Visit http://www.fantasyfest.com for photo galleries of 2022 highlights and advance 2023 festival news and information.  

​Each year Key West guesthouses, businesses and private homes compete for cash prizes in the Fantasy Façade Competition. This year the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce has awarded $2000 in prize dollars to be shared among these 2022 winners:
 
Grand Prize goes to Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty, located at 1075 Duval Street, Suite 15, for their “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” inspired Fantasy Façade. Sloppy Joe’s, 201 Duval Street, won the best Big Business prize for their kinetic “Sloppy’s Pandemonium” Fantasy Façade. The best Small Business prize goes to Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, 4 Charles Street, for their “Revenge of the Kraken” Fantasy Façade. Jamie Gwidt, 807 Truman Ave., won Best Residence prize for her “Funky Pumpkin Patch.”
 
2022 Honorable Mentions go to the following participants for all of their spooky Façades creativity for this year’s “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos” themed Fantasy Fest: Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Company, 1201 White Street; Mickey and Ed Kimiecik, 809 Whitehead Street; Artist House Bed and Breakfast, 534 Eaton Street; WeBeFit Personal Training, 1277 1st Street, Ste.1; Lisa Roper, 813 Whitehead Street; Olivia by Duval, 511 Olivia Street; An Island Oasis, 630 South Street; Wicker Guesthouse, 913 Duval Street; the Lucas family, 635 United Street; Key West Aloe, 416 Greene Street; Misty Weech, 1008 18th Terrace; Lee and Jody Clark, 1406 Olivia Street; Key West Women’s Club, 319 Duval Street; The Duval House, 815 Duval Street; and Duck and Dolphin Antiques, 601 Fleming Street.
 
Façade viewers are invited to visit all of the locations – especially at night to experience them from the spookiest perspective. To see an interactive map showing locations of all participating entries, visit https://fantasyfest.com/fantasy-façade.
 
Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For a full calendar of events and schedule updates visit https://fantasyfest.com.

The famous Zombie Bike Ride is scheduled for Sunday, October 23rd. Motorists can expect it to affect traffic from East Martello Tower on South Roosevelt Blvd to the Amphitheater on Sunday evening. Although the ride has just a rolling street closure which follows the riders, motorists can expect some serious delays because thousands of cyclists will be participating.

The ride leaves East Martello at 6 p.m. and heads to the Key West Amphitheater at the Truman Waterfront Park. Key West International Airport will be accessible from the east end of South Roosevelt during this time.
There will be no bus service from 6-8 p.m. on South Roosevelt Blvd west of Oceanwalk Apartments. Bus service on South Street, Whitehead Street, and in Bahama Village will also be temporarily suspended during those hours as well.
​
Buses will provide service on Simonton Street and Flagler on that evening.

​Decorate your digs to win big! The Key West Chamber of Commerce Fantasy Façade contest offers fantastically decorated Key West homes and businesses the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and glory. Think ghoulish and think this year’s “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos” Fantasy Fest theme. Final day to enter is Oct. 17; judging is Monday, Oct. 24. Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For a full calendar of events, schedule updates, and Fantasy Façade registration, visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.
 

​It’s time for clever cats and sagacious souls far and wide to put on your thinking caps and submit your Key West Fantasy Fest theme ideas for 2023! The winning theme composer and a guest will find themselves fabulously seated in the 2023 Bud Light Fantasy Fest parade Grand Stand among the parade judges and organizers. (Helpful hint: 2023 marks the 200-year anniversary of establishment of both Monroe County and Key West’s first Naval base, so think Bicentennial!) In the case of duplicate winning submissions, a drawing will determine one winner. Some past year’s Fantasy Fest themes include: “Secrets of the Zodiac Revealed (2001),” “Habitat for Insanity (2010),” and “Time Travel Unravels (2017).” Email submissions to info@FantasyFest.com; deadline to enter is October 14, 2022. Fantasy Fest is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For a full calendar of events and schedule updates  visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.
 

​Extraordinary artists, colorful creators, sashayers, strollers, and rollers – it’s time to fill out and submit your 2022 Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade entry forms and prepare to put your playful genius on display in this year’s “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos!” themed moving party down Duval Street, set to take place Saturday, October 29, in Key West, Florida.
 
The world-famous parade is open to entries large and small, from fabulous floats, wild walking groups, bicycle brigades, and even human-powered kinetic machines that entertain tens of thousands of spectators in this premier Fantasy Fest event. Cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded in numerous categories, including “Interpretation of Theme,” “Best in Entertainment,” “Best in Costume,” “Best Walking Group,” “Best Bike,” and more. Entry fees are discounted for Monroe County residents through September 23; final deadline to apply is October 14.
 
Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For complete information and to fill out a Parade application form, visit www.FantasyFest.com/Parade.

​“Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos” is the official theme setting the stage for Fantasy Fest 2022 – Key West’s annual 10-day costuming extravaganza in Paradise. From October 21-30, revelers can experience and participate in several dozen exciting events, including the world-famous Bud Light Fantasy Fest parade, the all-hands-on-deck Captain Morgan Masquerade March (aka “Locals Parade”), the exuberant Goombay Festival in the streets, Royal Coronation of the 2022 Fantasy Fest King, Queen, and royal court, plus concerts, theater productions, a “Heroes and Villains” 5K run/walk, the enchanting Key West Pet Masquerade, the 39th annual Headdress Ball pageant, and more. Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For a full calendar of events, visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.
 

​Extraordinary artists, colorful creators, sashayers, strollers, and rollers – it’s time to fill out and submit your 2022 Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade entry forms and prepare to put your playful genius on display in this year’s “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos!” themed moving party down Duval Street, set to take place Saturday, October 29, in Key West, Florida.
 
The world-famous parade is open to entries large and small, from fabulous floats, wild walking groups, bicycle brigades, and even human-powered kinetic machines that entertain tens of thousands of spectators in this premier Fantasy Fest event. Cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded in numerous categories, including “Interpretation of Theme,” “Best in Entertainment,” “Best in Costume,” “Best Walking Group,” “Best Bike,” and more. Entry fees are discounted for Monroe County residents through September 23; final deadline to apply is October 14.
 
Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For complete information and to fill out an Ambassador volunteer form, visit www.FantasyFest.com/Parade.