Palm Trees, Parades & Parties, Oh My!
Key West, Florida where inhibition and exhibition collide during Fantasy Fest week. In 1979 a group of locals gathered to see how the shoulder time between Labor Day and New Year’s and its lack of visitors could be changed to entice tourists to come down and fill the void. Thus, Fantasy Fest was born, where the hearty could party for one week in late October.
Cutest knows that Key West is my Happy Place. We have stayed on the island many times, including New Year’s Eve, where Cutest was sucked into the hordes of people that night but was spit out unharmed. (One of the dangers of being short in height I fear.) This year we circled not only Fantasy Fest week on our calendar but also Halloween and the championship off-shore power boat races that occur during the following weeks. More on those adventures in upcoming blogs. Exciting, huh?
Fantasy Fest week, packed with parties and contests, culminated this past Saturday as floats, dancers, bead throwers, dancing fairies and giant human operated puppets walked, danced and rode merrily along.
Just one of 92 "floats" or conveyances of some sort.
An estimated 75,000 humans observed this lively street performance. Men, women and everything in between observed the rolling spectacular. From Halloween costumed skeletons, south seas pirates, lighted fairies, twelve-foot-tall puppets, near bare naked 20- and 60-year-olds, they were all either part of the procession or celebrating on the sidewalks.
The atmosphere was joyous and also respectful of others in the crowd. Local cops, sheriffs, highway patrolmen and a sprinkling of National Guardsmen stood in the background at intersections and on sidewalks. Cutest and I saw nary a stumbling drunk or out-of-control individual. It was fun, it was a happening. It was a mishmash of Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve and the 4th of July.
Surprisingly, a few families had junior high (and younger) aged children in tow. Perhaps these kids were being home-schooled and tonight’s lesson was the human anatomy and Woodstock.
Warning: X-rated (not in Key West) women follow > . Do not scroll through if you are easily dismayed by the female and male form in its many shapes shown with creativity - and bravery.
Equal rights: Same warning. The men, mostly. Some have taste. Some don't. (BTW, this is NOT me, Cute.)
After three hours, the parade had run its course and revelers sought out open bars or a home for the night.
For a great time with just a few thousand new acquaintances, wander down to Key West where you are only 90 miles from Cuba. There during Fantasy Fest you will see how ordinary folks, minus the politicians, have a great time and know how to get along.
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