Key West Fantasy Fest

[rsetterlund]

Has anyone ever attended this event, I am looking for your comments? Is it worth traveling to Key West and if you did go where did you stay?

[Taltarzac]

Has anyone ever attended this event, I am looking for your comments? Is it worth traveling to Key West and if you did go where did you stay?


This looks like it is usually in late October each year? http://www.fantasyfest.net/schedule.cfm

[t fields]

i've never been, but i live in the keys 6 months out of the year, they say it's wild and fun, if you like to get full body paint, had a friend here go and go half body paint, said hilarious, { ok, well i'll try and go to see for myself next year, she said it was a "hoot" if you know what i mean?

[punkpup]

I lived in Key West in the '80s. Fantasy Fest is at the end of October and there are a lot of fabulous events all during the week then a very colorfu[b]l parade with parties everywhere. If you've been to Mardi Gras and enjoyed it then you'll probably enjoy Fantasy Fest. The Parade is meant to be a family event; I'd probably rate it PG-13 and events afterward R.

I enjoyed many of the events including the parade. I'm no stranger to wild events but I don't really enjoy watching people get "stupid, falling down drunk" so I would pick my events and locales very carefully. As for accommodations I would suggest that you look into Guest Houses in the "Old Town" section of the island where you will experience the charm of "Old Key West" and be given a lot of personal attention in an intimate setting. Being in "Old Town" means that you can walk to a lot of fun locations and events. You will want to rent bikes, mopeds or scooters as travel by car is 1. tough to navigate through the narrow, crowded little streets, 2. parking is impossible and 3. you will definitely enjoy your Key West experience much more by foot and/or two wheeled conveyance.

Remember Fantasy Fest is an incredibly popular event that is attended by thousands of people from the world over so be prepared for intense crowds and some in various states of undress. If you truly plan to attend you'd better make your reservations SOON!

[cakey]

We are new to TV and always looking for day trips and such. So is this a gay festival, like the parade and such in San Francisco?

[punkpup]

:joke: Fantasy Fest is an event for everyone. :joke: Key West's PRIDE celebration is in June. Neither event is exclusive to any particular segment of the population.

:welcome: All are welcome at both events. :welcome:

BTW this would definitely not be a day trip! It is approximately 441.15 miles from TV and would take you about 8 hours to drive there.

[Ooper]

Before you go to Fantasy Fest, you should probably google it and also google body painting. If you have any hangups on what you see, better think twice. If you are pretty open minded... then by all means, have a ball and hang out with the best of them!!!

[Hope2b]

Next year I want to go to Meeting of the minds. I believe it is just after the fest.

[redwitch]

Here's a link for some photos. I thought it was interesting that they had two sets of pics -- one for over 18 and one for under.

http://www.brianzajac.com/fantasy_fests.cfm

[rsetterlund]

Thanks to everyone for all the information.

Maybe we can get a group from TV to go in 2009. From what I have heard we need to make room reservations now, 2008 is probably already sold out.

[DDoug]

Used to live in Marathon on our boat and if you want to go to KW see if Hawks Cay or any of the other resorts have buses that go down for the parade that is the most fin and by staying up the road about 50 or so miles it is not a bad and alot cheaper. If you do go down just remain open minded and remember you dont have to stay. Lived there for about 10 years and we do miss it but not the cost of living there . Have and go for it, and yeah go ahead and do the body paint you can tell you have nothing on.

[tckam]

hey rsetterlund, where do we sign up? We've never been there, but it sounds and looks like fun.

[funinthesun59]

I'm going. Can't wait.

Thanks to everyone for all the information.

Maybe we can get a group from TV to go in 2009. From what I have heard we need to make room reservations now, 2008 is probably already sold out.

[graciegirl]

Due to Punkpup's very enlightening summary, it sounds a lot like something I would like to miss. Driving eight hours to see a naked painted parade of a lot of drunks just somehow doesn't seem as nice as driving down to Havana and watching Kathie dance. Or just trying to get my ball to sail over the the out of bounds at Pelican, or sigh, taking my art class.

It takes all kinds of people to make a world and I think I am boring.

You all go and have a good time, but don't come runnin' to me with your headaches! Been there. Done that.:a040:

[OpusX1]

we have ben to four FF in a row. Great time We plan on going next year again.

[chuckinca]

Due to Punkpup's very enlightening summary, it sounds a lot like something I would like to miss. Driving eight hours to see a naked painted parade of a lot of drunks just somehow doesn't seem as nice as driving down to Havana and watching Kathie dance. Or just trying to get my ball to sail over the the out of bounds at Pelican, or sigh, taking my art class.

It takes all kinds of people to make a world and I think I am boring.

You all go and have a good time, but don't come runnin' to me with your headaches! Been there. Done that.:a040:


Need further info on "Been there, Done that" (Maybe a Cheer Leader thing?)


.

[DDoug]

We lived in the Keys for about 10 years and yes go to Fantasy Fest. Just remember one thing, the last night for the big parade there will be arund 50000 people on the side walk on Duval street.Now that means you dont walk you are packed in like sardines.I took my wife and I 1and a half hours to walk 1and a half blocks.I am not kidding. And it was a blast just go with an open mind or dont go.Dont let any thing surprise you or scare you or offend you just have a good time.One last thought in 2000 the kast year we went they closed Key West about 3:00pm on the last day no more room for cars or people book your res now and stay down town so you can walk every where and again have fun you will never forget it or regret it

[cglenhar]

We like to take the RV and scooters to the festivities the week before. The last weekend is more for college kids but we have had a great time! The accomidations are easier to get for the first weekend also. Good advice to avoid parking a car if you can and to bring an open mind!

[BritParrothead]

Next year I want to go to Meeting of the minds. I believe it is just after the fest.

Have you contacted The Village Parrothead club? They go every year.

[JUREK]

Used to live in Marathon on our boat and if you want to go to KW see if Hawks Cay or any of the other resorts have buses that go down for the parade that is the most fin and by staying up the road about 50 or so miles it is not a bad and alot cheaper. If you do go down just remain open minded and remember you dont have to stay. Lived there for about 10 years and we do miss it but not the cost of living there . Have and go for it, and yeah go ahead and do the body paint you can tell you have nothing on.

DDoug: Do you have any idea how much it cost for an average body paint job ? Sure looks like a fun time.

[homey]

DDoug: Do you have any idea how much it cost for an average body paint job ? Sure looks like a fun time.

Have heard they go from about $50 and up depending on artist and what you want done, wanted wife to get one and she would, but must be able to walk around with nothing on but paint, also best to get it done early if you plan on paying that much for the work, these people are good so ashame to let it go to waste, once you wash it off its gone so if you plan on it might as well enjoy the moment, a lot of people will be taking pictures so that is another consideration. Rule is I understand "You can look, But do not touch" - you will see people in all states of undress, so that would not bother us at all. Just got to be in a Party mood

[JUREK]

Have heard they go from about $50 and up depending on artist and what you want done, wanted wife to get one and she would, but must be able to walk around with nothing on but paint, also best to get it done early if you plan on paying that much for the work, these people are good so ashame to let it go to waste, once you wash it off its gone so if you plan on it might as well enjoy the moment, a lot of people will be taking pictures so that is another consideration. Rule is I understand "You can look, But do not touch" - you will see people in all states of undress, so that would not bother us at all. Just got to be in a Party mood

Homey . Thanks for the info. I showed the wife pictures from the parade and some of the parties. It took her about one hour but just out of the blue she said this is something she'd like to do. I still can't believe it but what the heck.
Looking at women in different phases of undress is nice but I can't believe how elaborate some of the body work is. Hey we only live once.
Thanks again.

[homey]

The body work is great, and the artist take pride in their work, do not think wife would bark at all if I paid for it, prefer the state of undress so she would be comfortable enough, she has two very nice tats that she got several years ago and surprised me, this is FL, were here for the party.... LOL - I do have some FF pictures if you are interested? - when we went to Vegas to see my son/grandson, saw a guy that totally did wonders with cans of spray paint was totally amazing.

[funinthesun59]

How do I get in touch with the parrotheads?

[funinthesun59]

Let's go

[BritParrothead]

How do I get in touch with the parrotheads?

This is the villages Parrothead club website: www.thevillagesparrotheads.com/

All contact details are listed on here.

Have phun!!

[funinthesun59]

Thank You, I'm sure we will

[funinthesun59]

How is Duval Street?