The Florida Keys wildly creative cosmic character was on full display in an out-of-this-universe moving pageant Saturday night as the world famous Key West Fantasy Fest parade made its way down Duval Street, celebrating its 45th year and the 2024 theme, “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!”

Each year, following the parade, prizes are awarded by a panel of judges to multiple “Best Of” entries in a variety of categories, followed by announcement of the following year’s Fantasy Fest theme.

This year, nearly 50 entries competed for $20,000 in prizes, and the winners are:  

• $3000 Best in Entertainment: “Cosmic Neon Lambada—90s and Forever!” by Pamela Stephenson Connolly’s Key West International Dance Company.
• $3000 Best in Costume: “Cosmic Vortex” by Daniel Bitnar.
• $2500 Best Interpretation of Theme: “Fantasy Quest” by the Lower Keys Fluffers.
• $2000 Best Walking Group: “DJ Time Warp and the Power Ravers” by Guy Hermelin.
• $1500 The Green Parrot’s Best Live Music Award: “Space Force X” by Stan Shaw.
• $1000 Best Bicycle Award: “Cosmic Carnival” by Southernmost Slow Riders.
• $1000 Directors Choice Award: “Grand Marshal” by David Sloan.

​The $6000 Key West Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Prize for Best Overall, presented by The Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West, is awarded to Jaimie Gwidt’s Key West Kreatives with their entry “Flagler’s 1890s Fantasy.”

The winning theme for Key West Fantasy Fest 2025, which is scheduled for Oct. 17-26, is “Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters.” Ellen LaMoia of Key West, Fla., has scored Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Stand seats where she will enjoy the 2025 spectacle seated among the parade’s judges and organizers for her contribution to the theme.
“The Monroe County Tourist Development Association Board of Directors all agreed that “Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters” elicits wonderfully enchanting and deliciously scary imaginings—from fresh twists on historic fables to new takes on mythical beasts—such as the ones that might be found hiding under beds,” said Nadene Grossman Orr, Fantasy Fest Director and President/CEO of We’ve Got the Keys.

Fantasy Fest events and happenings wrap up on Sunday with a slate of happenings, including Children’s Day at Bayview Park, a “Fantasy Pickleball Tournament” at Higgs Beach Courts, “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance at La Te Da Hotel, Restaurant, Cabaret and Bars, Fest finale’ pool parties held at Island House Resort, the Southernmost Beach Resort, and a pool party/concert at The Marker. 

Fantasy Fest 2024 featured more than 100 events citywide and was presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. Visit http://www.fantasyfest.com for photo galleries of 2024 highlights and advance 2025 festival news and information.  

The Captain Morgan Masquerade March, called “The Local’s Parade” on account of being one of Key West Fantasy Fest’s most loved events among locals, is set to take place Friday, Oct. 25, in the island’s Old Town district.

It’s a moving mosaic of creativity where revelers of all ages, and a variety of species, costume up and sashay, strut, and perambulate in community through Old Town, taking and posing for photos and stopping at intervals for cocktail samples and thirst quenchers offered at select guesthouses along the route. 

This year, rather than one official starting point there will be two:

Starting Point One will be at the usual gathering place and time: 5:30pm on Frances St. in proximity to Old Town Wine & Spirits at the corner of Truman Ave. This route will follow Frances St. to Fleming St., hang left, and then head up Fleming to Duval St.

Starting Point Two is the newly hatched “Paparazzi Row,” where dance music will play and local paparazzi, photo booths and selfie stations will be set up to record epic costumed crews. The Paparazzi Row pre-party starts at 4:00pm on Fleming St. in proximity to Island House and Alexander’s Guest House and then will proceed up Fleming to Duval St.

Once at Duval St., those of legal age who want to continue the party can proceed to Captain Morgan’s Official Pirate After Party at Kaya Empourium, and Hog’s Breath Saloon’s Surf’s Up Party.
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Fantasy Fest 2024 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. For more information visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.

Fantasy Fest 2024, with its theme, “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” doesn’t kick off until Oct. 18, but costume fabricators like Guy Hermelin have been immersed in the creative realms for many weeks, conceptualizing and crafting their designs. We recently caught up with Guy for some insights into his creative life and a peek into what he’s planning for this year.

Where were you born, and what brought you to the Keys?
I’m the oldest of five kids, all born and raised in Key West and home schooled by our parents. My dad moved here in the 70s and kind of loved the hippie lifestyle. He made these hand-painted candles and had a candle shop on Duval St.
 
Can you tell us a bit about your artistic background and how you developed your creative chops?
I started drawing as a child and at six or seven started painting lessons with Rick Worth, continuing with him every summer into my teens. I’ve loved virtual games since childhood; loved the fashion and design elements that go into creating them, so when I discovered it was actually a field of study I applied to a conceptual design school in L.A. and was one of 17 students accepted into their program, which encompassed numerous areas of design, including costuming, creating characters and environments – whole worlds.

Following school I was hired to do 3D engineering at a foundry in L.A., working as a “ghost artist” on monumental bronze sculptures that are on display all over the world. After that I attended the Italian fashion school in L.A. where I learned bespoke tailoring and patterning. I’d begun integrating my 3D knowledge into my designs, and was working on my brand and building up to the release of my first collection when the pandemic hit.

What brought you back to Key West and what year did you first bring your talents to Fantasy Fest costume creation?
I was feeling homesick, so came back in Feb. of 2022 and that was the first year I created for Fantasy Fest. The theme was “Cult Classics and Cartoon Chaos” and I made a Glinda from “The Wizard of Oz” costume for the Key West Business Guild Headdress Ball competition. I didn’t place that year, but I learned a lot.
 
What did you make for 2023?
2023 was a disco unicorn creation called the Derby Dazzler for the “Uniforms & Unicorns” theme, and it won the Headdress Ball second place prize.
 
Any particular challenges or memorable mishaps from past years?
Yes, the two “w’s” - walking and wind. For the Derby Dazzler’s hooves I used big paint buckets with industrial Velcro covered with glitter fabric and strapped them onto my shoes. I walked in those massive hooves through the whole Masquerade March and the Fantasy Fest Parade; five hours of walking each day. It took time to recover from that! And during the Parade, because of the size and shape of the headdress, the mane kept catching the wind like a sail and I needed two people to hold me down at some points!
The most memorable mishap occurred at the 2022 Headdress Ball. I was standing backstage, waiting to go on and trying not to be in anyone’s way, when I felt someone yanking me from behind. But it wasn’t someone. There was this big industrial fan that had pulled in the ribbons from the back of my costume and was twirling them around like spaghetti on a fork! I thought that was going to be my “Final Destination” moment. Thankfully, production host Erin McKenna pulled the plug and saved the day!

Will you share with us what you’re cooking up for 2024?
I love all the elements of this year’s theme! I'm a big sci-fi nerd, was born in the 90s, and carnival outfits are really fun. So currently work-in-progress is DJ Time Warp, a time-traveling DJ and his band of Power Ravers. People can actually come and watch me working on it at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St., from now until the start of Fantasy Fest. The public construction is a component of my new exhibit that just launched at TSKW, called “Cosmic Colors and Costumes,” which is open Tuesday’s through Saturday’s through Oct. 31. The exhibit features a fusion of my work, including abstract paintings, fashion illustrations, and elaborate carnival costumes.
 
Favorite thing about Fantasy Fest?
I love that so many people get involved and into the spirit of the themes for their costuming. I feel very lucky to come from a place that's so creative and fun.
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, and a downloadable mobile APP visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.

Robert the Doll, Key West’s world-renowned haunted historic toy, dares Key West and Stock Island residents and business owners to decorate your digs and enter Fantasy Fest 2024’s “Robert the Doll’s Frightful Façade Contest” for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $100-$1000, along with everlasting glory.

Creep out your crib or businesses façade ghoulishly, roll with this year’s “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” Fantasy Fest theme, go full-out “Tribute to Robert,” or create a mish-mash of all the above. The choice is yours, with Robert’s permission! Final day to register is Mon. Oct. 14; judging will take place Mon. Oct. 21.

And, beginning on Oct. 24, the living public is invited to select a “Community Favorite” by casting a vote. Community voting will be open from Oct. 24-29 with the locations that garner the most votes scoring a special gift package of treats and services. Winners will be announced on Oct. 30.
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Fantasy Fest 2024 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. “Robert the Doll’s Frightful Façade Contest” is sponsored by Ghost Key West’s Robert the Doll Experience Ghost Tour and Key West Art & Historical Society. Get your competition entry form, plus viewing and voting information, at http://www.fantasyfest.com where you can also download the Fantasy Fest mobile app to view an interactive GPS map of the entries, a complete Fantasy Fest schedule, and more. 

It’s madcap antics have entertained devoted fans worldwide for more than 25 years, and now thanks to a community minded media organization’s commitment, the Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade will continue to enchant audiences this year and into the future.
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It’s tradition. Each year, people of all ages bedeck themselves and their pets in creative costuming in order to strut, waddle, prance, and trot across a brilliantly lit stage before a live audience and a panel of judges, competing for fame, fortune and prizes. From 1996 until last year the event was owned by QuePasa KW, Inc., and produced and co-emcee’d by Nancy D’Amato as a fundraiser for an animal rescue organization. In 2023 D’Amato announced her retirement, and it looked like the beloved event may have seen its final curtain.

Recognizing its value as a community joy, fund and fun-raiser, as well as an international attraction, Fantasy Fest director Nadene Grossman Orr and the team at Florida Keys Media came together to explore potential avenues to preserve the event. Ultimately, the Tourist Development Association made the decision to purchase the entity, and Florida Keys Media signed on as producer.

“As Fantasy Fest’s premier family event and a fantastic charity fundraiser, none of us at Florida Keys Media wanted to see the Pet Masquerade go away,” commented Rick Lopez, FKM General Manager, “so our team made the decision pick up the producer torch. As far as choosing the beneficiary, there wasn’t a whole lot of discussion needed for that. With all the wonderful work they do, everyone involved agreed that the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm felt like the perfect match for this event.”

For anyone who may not be acquainted with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, it is an animal sanctuary and petting zoo situated at the Stock Island Detention Center, which is where people who are awaiting trial or sentenced to less than one year are incarcerated. Founded 30 years ago, for the past 18 years the farm has been supervised and lovingly cultivated by Jeanne Selander, with “low-risk” inmates helping to tend to the animals and their habitats.

“We currently have about 120 animals at the farm, which is 100 more than when I started,” said Selandar. “Albert the tortoise is the oldest at about 75-80 years old, and Simon the capybara is the youngest, at three-years-old. Visitors to our community days, from 1:00-3:00pm on the second and forth Sunday of each month, can meet and interact with all kinds of animals, including horses, pigs, bunnies, tropical birds, reptiles, an emu, an ostrich, a kinkajou and more. About 100 inmates per year are involved with their care and it’s such meaningful work for them that many volunteer to work on their days off and continue to check in on some of their favorite animals even after they’ve been released from the jail,” she said.  

“We’re thrilled to have succeeded in preserving this beloved event that benefits the animals, the detention center inmates, and the community, and brings so much joy to so many people,” Fantasy Fest producer Nadene Grossman Orr commented. “And we can’t wait to see this year’s spectacle!”

The 2024 Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade is set for 6:30pm, Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, 21 Quay Rd., Key West, FL. Registration begins at 5:00pm; pets and their people take the stage beginning at 6:30pm. Prize categories include Junior, Pet/Owner Lookalike, Most Exotic, Overall Winner/Best in Show, and Best Adaptation of the 2024 Fantasy Fest Theme, “It’s a 90s NEON Cosmic Carnival!” Cost to register per category is $25.00.

General admission is free with free seating available. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on site.
Fantasy Fest 2024 runs from October 18-27 and 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 downloadable mobile APP, visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.