Magical Mischief Awaits as Key West Fantasy Fest 2025 Conjures Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters

Dreamers, night creatures and storybook stars are invited to adorn themselves in their most inspired themed attire and immerse in 10 days and nights of stellar revelry for Key West Fantasy Fest 2025, set to run October 17-26.
This year’s theme, “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” celebrates the full spectrum of imagination – those tales that tucked us in at night and the monsters that lurked in the dark. Here’s a sampling of just some of this year’s highlights. Complete information for events, times, locations, and contest entry links can be found at http://www.fantasyfest.com:

• Fantasy Façades Contest: Transform your home or business in to a storybook scene or monster’s lair for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $100-$1000. Reflect this year’s theme or channel traditional Halloween ghoulishness! Entry form available Sept. 1; deadline to enter Oct 13.
• Oct. 17: The Royal Coronation event to crown Fantasy Fest’s 2025 King and Queen is a dazzling 2-hour stage show at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater that features performances by the intrepid competitors along with local celebrities. Proceeds benefit the Florida Keys SPCA.
• Oct. 17 and 18: The Bahama Village Goombay Festival is a two-day, family friendly celebration of island arts and crafts, culture, music and food held throughout Key West’s historic Bahama Village neighborhood.
• Oct. 19: The annual Zombie Bike Ride invites undead of all ages to immerse in ghoulish revelry. Zombies descend on Fort East Martello in the afternoon for fun and entertainment including body painting, refreshment vendors and a kids’ zone. Come evening, thousands of zombies on wheels take to the streets of Key West.
• Oct. 20: Sloppy Joe’s Comic Book Cape-ers Party: Suit up as your favorite caped superhero or villain, groove on the dance floor to live music, and compete in a costume contest with prizes for 1st-3rd place winners.
• Oct. 20: Mrs. Roper’s Romp: Break out your colorful caftan and signature curly red wig for a groovy “Three’s Company” inspired party at Sunset Pier filled with music, photo ops, dancing, games, and prizes.
• Oct. 21: Florida Keys Council of the Arts Fantasy Fest poster-signing party at the La Concha Hotel: Meet the artist, get your poster signed, and stock up on other collectable Fantasy Fest 2025 t-shirts and swag.
• Oct. 21: Tutu Tuesday with its annual epic dance party featuring a plethora of dynamic DJ’s happens across multiple Caroline St. district area venues. Tutu’s required!
• Oct. 22: Pet Masquerade, presented by Florida Keys Media at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater: Costume up with your favorite critter friends at this over the top competition or cheer them on from the audience. Prizes in multiple categories; registration fees benefit the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm.
• Oct. 23: The 42nd Annual Key West Headdress Ball, presented by the Key West Business Guild at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater reveals a dreamscape of out-of-this-world headdresses modeled by their creators along with high energy entertainment by some of the island’s best talent.
• Oct. 24: Paparazzi Row is the place to get warmed up and strut your stuff for the camera’s ahead of the Captain Morgan Masquerade March. Dance music will play and local paparazzi, photo booths and selfie stations will be set up to record epic costumed crews.
• Oct. 24: The Captain Morgan Masquerade March (aka “Local’s Parade”) brings all creative hands on deck as costumed revelers parade through Old Town Key West, stopping along the route for adult beverage samples provided by selected guest houses.
• Oct. 24 and 25: The magnificent mile-long Fantasy Fest Street Fair and Costume Promenade returns to Duval Street this year, offering a mile-long party of arts, eats, and island beats. Shop whimsical crafts, feast on Caribbean flavors, sip tropical drinks, and strut your costume down Key West’s most magical mile. Friday brings arts, crafts, and food; Saturday is all about the food — served up late into the night. Arts and Crafts: Noon – 10:00pm | Food: Noon – 1:00am.
• Oct. 25: The world famous Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade in Old Town Key West presents a dazzling array of fabulous floats, magnificent marching groups, and cool kinetic contraptions to bring this year’s “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” theme to life. An awesome island tradition since 1979!
•  Oct. 26: Children’s Day at Bayview Park offers a daytime fest from noon to 5:00pm with games, food, rides, entertainment, arts & crafts, and a costume contest for the kids.
• Oct. 26: Don your fabulous feathers for “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance at La Te Da on Duval Street—the final official Fantasy Fest celebration.
• Oct 27: The 2026 Fantasy Fest theme will be announced.

‘“Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters” invites everyone to tap into the dreams and whimsy of childhood, and yes, even the wild things that once lived under our beds,” said Fantasy Fest Director Nadene Grossman Orr. “It’s a playground for the imagination and all of us behind the Fest can’t wait to see how this year’s celebrators bring it to life.”
Fantasy Fest 2025 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.