Costumed Crowds Pack Key West Streets for Fantasy Fest Masquerade March
FLORIDA KEYS VIDEO ADVISORY October 25, 2025
Contacts: Mary B. Haban, Mary@fla-keys.com (813) 210-8585 or Chad Newman, Chad@fla-keys.com (310) 283-8441
Story: Costumed Crowds Pack Key West Streets for Fantasy Fest Masquerade March
Locator: Key West, Fla.
Video Link: Click here
Photo Link: Click here
Photo Captions Below
Video: B-roll of costumed marchers parading through Key West’s Old Town during the annual Fantasy Fest Masquerade March.
TRT: 1:40
Filename: KeyWestFantasyMarch.mp4
Video Source: Florida Keys News Bureau
Photos & Captions: Below
Costumed Crowds Pack Key West Streets for Fantasy Fest Masquerade March
KEY WEST, Fla. (Oct. 25, 2025) — It may not be Halloween, but don’t tell the thousands of costumed characters who strolled the streets in Key West Friday evening. This free-spirited procession, known as the Captain Morgan Masquerade March, is an annual prelude to Fantasy Fest’s biggest night — the grand parade!
The lively walk (or should we say “wobble”) was another epic event of Fantasy Fest 2025. Participants rocked glittering masks as they sipped and strolled through Key West’s historic district while channeling their favorite whimsical fairy-tale creatures.
If you long for the books you read as a child, fear not! Characters from some of your favorite children’s stories, nursery rhymes and fairy tales, showed up in full force, mixing and mingling with mythical creatures and whimsical monsters, embodying this year’s incredible Fantasy Fest theme of “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.”
Friends and families were all smiles as this never-ending procession had an added benefit...the chance to stop at guest houses along the route for refreshments and photo ops in classic Key West style.
The Captain Morgan Masquerade March is one of the festivals beloved and wildly popular traditions — a colorful, walking celebration of artistry and individuality that captures the heart of Fantasy Fest’s creative culture.
Fantasy Fest 2025 continues through Sunday, Oct. 26, with Saturday night’s spectacular Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators to downtown Key West for an evening of dazzling floats, performers, and pageantry.
###
NOTE TO EDITORS/PRODUCERS
Below is the lineup of Florida Keys News Bureau video coverage for the rest of this weekend, with corresponding feed dates and delivery times. Separate advisories will be distributed before each feed.
Sunday, Oct. 26 — by 11 a.m. Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade from Saturday night, Oct. 25. The festival’s grand finale features dazzling floats, marching groups, and costumed participants bringing the “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” theme to life before tens of thousands of spectators along Duval and Whitehead streets. Leading the parade as 2025 Grand Marshal is Key West’s iconic red high-heeled shoe, a beloved island symbol since 1997.
Monday, Oct. 27 — by 11 a.m. Mondays Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest in Key Largo has been canceled due to weather.
Dressed as colorful chickens, these creatively costumed participants joined the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The festive parade through Old Town was among the highlights of Fantasy Fest 2025. Themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters,” thousands of revelers in imaginative attire filled the streets of Key West for the free-spirited procession, a prelude to Saturday night’s grand parade that caps the annual 10-day festival. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Inspired by Game of Thrones, a couple brings a dragon-themed bike float and an Iron Throne on three wheels to life during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The spectacle was part of Fantasy Fest 2025, whose theme was “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” Thousands of creatively costumed participants paraded through Old Town in the spirited march leading up to Saturday night’s Fantasy Fest Parade. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Costumed crowds packed the streets of Old Town for the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The annual celebration was among the highlights of Fantasy Fest 2025, themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” Thousands of participants in fanciful attire joined the strolling parade ahead of Saturday night’s grand finale. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Thousands of revelers in imaginative costumes dazzle during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The beloved street celebration served as a joyful prelude to Saturday night’s grand parade, part of Fantasy Fest 2025 themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Inspired by the classic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are, participants parade through Old Town during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The playful procession was among the highlights of Fantasy Fest 2025, themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” Thousands of giddy revelers in creative costumes joined in the march, a cherished prelude to Saturday night’s Fantasy Fest Parade. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Costumed participants dressed as fierce warrior women show their spirited side during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The energetic procession through Old Town was a standout event of Fantasy Fest 2025, themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
A costumed duo and their hairless cat, inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar children’s book, stroll through Old Town Key West during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March in Key West, Fla., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. This event was among the highlights of Fantasy Fest 2025, themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Tricia Coyne, left, portrays Medusa, and Kenya Yerkes, right, appears as a Siren, shimmering among a sea of revelers during Friday’s Captain Morgan Masquerade March through Old Town Key West. The exuberant “locals’ parade” draws thousands of costumed participants each year, who wind their way through the island’s historic streets, pausing at guest houses for libations and cheers. The free-spirited procession serves as a prelude to Saturday’s spectacular Fantasy Fest grand parade, part of the 10-day costuming and masking celebration themed this year “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” (Carol Tedesco/Florida Keys News Bureau)