Key West Fantasy Fest 2020Get your calendars out and mark the dates and book your reservations early – October 15th through the 25th is Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest and the theme is the Roarin 2020’s! Although it IS a wildly popular event, many travelers may not have heard of Fantasy Fest, Key West’s 10-day annual celebration of fun and nonconformity that occurs each year in October and dates back to 1978. Over the years, this street festival has grown in popularity to rival the New Orleans Mardi Gras.  However, be warned if you’re easily shocked or faint of heart.  Fantasy Fest is billed an “adult festival” with few rules to constrain the exuberance. Only a few of the events are reliably “family friendly.”

History of Fantasy Fest

In 1978, Key West businessmen noticed the lull in visitors that came to the city during the month of October. They presented their ideas for an October festival to fill the lull in business, and the next year, the locals put together the first Key West Fantasy Fest. Word of the autumn celebration spread, and before long, it became a popular event for residents from all over the state, as well as for travelers from around the country. As the years passed, Fantasy Fest has increased in size and attendance to upwards of 75,000 attendees. New events are constantly being added, and the proceeds for many events were raised for AIDS research and assistance. Today, Fantasy Fest attracts visitors from all over the world who come to enjoy the fantastic sights, sounds and sensations of this yearly celebration.

Popular Fantasy Fest Events

  • Fantasy Fest offers ten days of activities for visitors to enjoy. These events are scheduled at various times throughout the period. A look at the Family Fest website will provide the schedule for this year’s event.
  • The Fantasy Fest Parade is the most popular event of the festival. Themed floats and walking groups create a spectacular visual display.
  • The Pet Parade is another favorite event with both pets and their owners dressed in costume for the public to enjoy.
  • The Bahama Village Goombay Festival features Caribbean arts and crafts, music and food in Key West’s historic Bahama Village neighborhood.
  • The Royal Coronation Ball is held to vote for the Festival’s Conch King and Queen. The proceeds from the event go to the AIDS Help website.
  • The Heroes and Villains 5K Run/Walk is a race in costume of your favorite superhero or super-villain with prizes for the winners.
  • Other events include the bra-decorating event, body painting events, tighty-whitey party and pig roast.

See a list of ALL of the Official 2020 Key West Fantasy Fest Events!

Tips For Fantasy Fest

  • Each year is a different theme! This year its the ROARING 2020’s!
  • Travelers who wish to visit Key West during Fantasy Fest should keep a number of tips in mind in order to fully enjoy this unique festival:
  • Although Fantasy Fest is now sponsoring a few events suitable for children, most of the evening events feature uninhibited behavior, nudity and liberal consumption of alcohol. Parents should limit attendance to the daytime events listed as family-friendly.
  • Because Fantasy Fest has become an extremely popular Key West event, you must make your reservations for lodging and events several months in advance.
  • Leave your inhibitions and judgments at home. Fantasy Fest was designed to be free-spirited and no-holds-barred. If you are easily shocked, stick to events scheduled for the daylight hours. Nudity, public drunkenness and lascivious acts are all illegal. However, you may witness a variety of startling sights and actions.
  • Attendance is heavy, and parking is difficult. Check the official Fantasy Fest website for parking availability. Park-and-shuttle buses are often the best opportunities for attending events.
  • In October, Florida can be extremely hot and sunny. Bring sunscreen, hat and cover-up to protect you from the sun. Bring water liberally throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

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Newest Key West Commercial Properties on the Market

Very unique Marina & Resort in Islamorada, FL. Manager on site handles responsibilities with oversight from the absentee owner. Rare 1+ Acre Oceanside Lot with many uses possible. Deep water protected harbor with 18 large boat slips that can accommodate 50+ ft. yachts. Approach depth approximately 6 ft.+ at high tide with a clearly marked channel. Features include water, new 30 Amp and 50 Amp electric at each slip, fuel dock, concrete building with office, ship store, workshop, and garage/storage. 2 outdoor showers, 2 bath houses with indoor showers, stalls, and dressing area. New waste/pump-out station and fuel station. New Concrete In-ground Pool, Deck and Fence just completed. An additional separate concrete building used for storage on the North side of the property. Private marina, must call for an appointment and sign an NDA/CA for more information. $6,995,000 Active

200 Treasure Harbor Drive ISLAMORADA, Florida

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Rare Mixed-Use Investment Opportunity in the Heart of Key Largo! Discover a truly unique and versatile property that seamlessly blends commercial potential with comfortable residential living in one of the most sought-after locations in the Florida Keys. Positioned in a high-traffic area with exceptional visibility, this mixed-use asset offers an outstanding investment opportunity for entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors alike. The first floor boasts a spacious 1,026 sq. ft. commercial space, perfect for a business. Complementing this indoor space is an additional 672 sq. ft. covered outdoor work area with a convenient ramp, ideal for expanded operations, storage, or creative use. Whether you envision a thriving business or a workshop with high visibility, this space offers endless possibilities. Above the commercial space, the second floor features two charming one-bedroom, one-bathroom residential apartments, each spanning 750 sq. ft. These well-appointed units provide a comfortable and private living space, perfect for on-site business owners, rental income, or employee housing. With its prime Key Largo location, this property is surrounded by local shops, restaurants, and attractions, ensuring a steady stream of foot traffic and exposure. Whether you're looking to establish a business, generate rental income, or both, this versatile property is a rare gem that offers the perfect blend of work and living in the heart of the Keys. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity. Contact us today to explore the endless potential of this unique mixed-use property! $1,399,000 Active

100693 Overseas Highway KEY LARGO, Florida

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Prime commercial property in the heart of downtown Key Largo. 5,457 sqft commercial space available immediately for lease! Access inside via private Elevator or Staircase. Large windows for natural lighting. Current floor plan includes many individual offices but could be reconfigured. Ample parking in front and side. $12 sqft gross lease. The unit has it's own bathrooms and kitchenette area. Great visibility on US 1! Zoned Urban Commercial with many possibilities. $5,457 Active

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This is the price for one lot. Total of three contiguous, commercial dry lots at the end of 20th St. Oceanside. Big bonus, each lot includes a deeded and assigned deep water wet slip! Each lot may be purchased individually or together. Each lot is 94.5' wide by 110' deep and has its own water & electric meters. Three addresses are 351 20th St. Ocean, 361 20th St. Ocean and 371 20th St. Ocean as the end lot. Each lot is part of a Fisherman's Pointe HOA with fees of $1,200 per year per lot. Lots are currently being used by Fisherman for trap repair and storage. Favorable Mixed Use- Maritime Zoning allows for many commercial uses.The MU-M zoning district is intended to establish areas suitable for uses which are essential to the commercial maritime industry, including sales and service of fishing equipment and supplies, seafood processing, fishing equipment manufacture and treatment, boat storage, restaurants, retail and affordable housing residential uses.The MU district is designated within the Mixed-use Commercial (MUC) future land use category on the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). $749,900 Active

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