Costumes, Creatures, & Creativity Go Full Tilt in Key West! 10-Days of Festivities Kick Off at Fantasy Fest 2025

FL KEYS VIDEO ADVISORY   October 16, 2025 

Contacts:  Mary B. Haban, Mary@fla-keys.com (813) 210-8585 or Chad Newman, Chad@fla-keys.com (310) 283-8441  

Story: Costumes, Creatures, & Creativity Go Full Tilt in Key West! 10-Days of Festivities Kick Off at Fantasy Fest 2025.

Locator: Key West, Fla. 

Video Link: Click here  

Photo Link: Click here  

Photo Captions Below 

Video: B-roll of Key West residents preparing for Fantasy Fest, building floats and costumes. Include a few sound bites with Fantasy Fest Event Director Liz Love, along with file footage from 2024 Fantasy Fest events. 

TRT: 2:52 

Filename: FantasyFestBegins.mp4 

Video Source: Florida Keys News Bureau

Photos & Captions: Below 

KEY WEST, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Ever have one of those days where you’ve got absolutely nothing to wear? In Key West, Florida, that’s never the case! In fact, they wear creativity to a tee!  

Costume designers and float creators are putting the finishing touches on their epic creations just in time for Fantasy Fest 2025. Starting this Friday, the streets of Key West will transform into their makeshift runway. Showcasing their creative, innovative and sometimes outlandish designs! 

The ten-day costuming and masking celebration kicks off this Friday, October 17, and will fill the island with masquerade parties, street fairs, and spectacular costumed creativity inspired by this year’s whimsical theme. It’s a tradition that’s been going strong for more than four decades.  

“This is our 46th annual Fantasy Fest,” said Fantasy Fest Event Director Liz Love. “This year’s theme is Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.”  

What started as a local idea to boost tourism during the fall, has blossomed into an internationally known festival that celebrates freedom, artistry, and Key West’s one-of-a-kind spirit. 

“Fantasy Fest is ten days of costumed creative fun that was originally started by four residents who wanted to really increase tourism during some of our slower months,” Love said. 

The festival opens with the Bahama Village Goombay Festival — a two-day, family-friendly celebration of island culture, art, and food. By Sunday, the streets of Key West belong to the undead. The annual Zombie Bike Ride brings thousands of painted and costumed riders rolling from Fort East Martello through Old Town, creating a ghoulishly fun spectacle as the sun sets. 

Throughout the week, the island of Key West transforms into a stage of music, art, and imagination. On October 21, Tutu Tuesday fills the Caroline Street district with dancing and colorful tutus. On Wednesday, October 22, the Pet Masquerade at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater brings out the furry and feathered stars in costumes that are anything but ordinary. Thursday night, October 23, the 42nd Annual Headdress Ball lights up the stage with extravagant, hand-crafted creations and some of Key West’s best performers. 

Friday, October 24, one of Fantasy Fest’s most beloved traditions, the Captain Morgan Masquerade March, brings costumed revelers parading through Old Town. That same day, Duval Street welcomes back the Fantasy Fest Street Fair for the first time since 2019, filling the island’s main drag with art, food, drinks, and laughter. 

On Saturday night, October 25, all eyes turn to the grand finale — the Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade. More than 60,000 spectators are expected to line the streets as massive floats, marching groups, and fantasy characters bring “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” to life. Leading the way this year is Key West’s iconic red high-heeled shoe — a longtime local symbol made famous by its starring role in the island’s New Year’s Eve “shoe drop.” 

For Love, Fantasy Fest is all about imagination and individuality.  

“We want people to feel free to explore their creative side. And so having that outlet, having a theme to help guide you, but then making your own interpretation of that theme is what really resonates with me and what I love to see out on the streets,” she said. 

And for anyone still thinking about joining the fun, there’s good news. “The good news is it's not too late. If you have not booked your hotel room yet, there are still rooms available. Hop on to FantasyFest.com and check out our lodging partners for some last-minute deals,” said Love. 

For complete event schedules, contest entry details, and a downloadable app, visit FantasyFest.com. 

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NOTE TO EDITORS/PRODUCERS 

The following rundown outlines the Florida Keys News Bureau’s planned video coverage of upcoming Fantasy Fest 2025 events, with feed dates and approximate delivery times. Separate advisories with download details will be transmitted prior to each feed. 

Planned Coverage and Feed Schedule 

Monday, Oct. 20 — by 11 a.m. Zombie Bike Ride from Sunday evening, Oct. 19. Thousands of costumed and body-painted “zombies” gather at Fort East Martello for pre-ride festivities before pedaling through Key West at sunset. The event combines spooky fun and creative artistry, with participants ranging from families to elaborately costumed groups. 

Thursday, Oct. 23 — by 11 a.m. Fantasy Fest Pet Masquerade from Wednesday evening, Oct. 22. A fan-favorite event at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, the Pet Masquerade features costumed dogs, cats, and other domestic companions on stage with their owners. Entries include pet-and-person duos and themed group skits that highlight Key West’s playful spirit. 

Friday, Oct. 24 — by 11 a.m. 42nd Annual Headdress Ball from Thursday night, Oct. 23. An iconic Fantasy Fest showcase at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, the Headdress Ball features stunning, hand-crafted headdresses modeled by their creators and accompanied by high-energy performances from some of the island’s top entertainers. 

Saturday, Oct. 25 — by 11 a.m. Captain Morgan Masquerade March from Friday evening, Oct. 24. This exuberant walking parade through Key West’s historic Old Town draws several thousand merrymakers wearing glittering masks, body paint, and costumes inspired by the “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” theme. Revelers stop along the route at guest houses for music, photos, and refreshments. 

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.