Unleash your inner dreamer, night creature or storybook star—Key West Fantasy Fest 2025 invites you to dress the part. The internationally renowned costuming and masking festival, themed “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” this year is set for Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 26. Fantasy Fest 2025 will feature masquerade parties, costume competitions, street fairs, performance art, glamorous galas and an over-the-top grand parade.
The festival will kick off on Friday, October 17 with The Bahama Village Goombay Festival, a two-day, family friendly celebration of island arts and crafts, culture, music and food held throughout Key West’s historic Bahama Village neighborhood. Also, on the same day, The Royal Coronation event will be held to crown Fantasy Fest’s 2025 King and Queen at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
A ghoulish good time will take over at the annual Zombie Bike Ride on Sunday, October 19. Zombies of all ages are invited to descend on Fort East Martello for fun and entertainment including body painting, refreshment vendors and a kids’ zone. In the evening, thousands of zombies on wheels take to the streets of Key West.
On Tutu Tuesday, October 21, an annual epic dance party featuring dynamic DJs will get underway at night with multiple Caroline St. district area venues.
A round of “a paws” is sure to fill the Coffee Butler Amphitheater during the Pet Masquerade on Wednesday, October 22. Costume up with your favorite critter friends at this over-the-top competition or cheer them on from the audience.
The 42nd annual Key West Headdress Ball on Thursday, October 23 at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater reveals a dreamscape of out-of-this-world headdresses modeled by their creators along with high energy entertainment by some of the island’s best talent.
The Captain Morgan Masquerade March, a lively walking parade, on Friday, Oct. 24 brings all creative hands-on deck as costumed revelers parade through Old Town Key West, stopping along the route for adult beverage samples provided by selected guest houses. That same day, the mile-long Fantasy Fest Street Fair returns to Duval Street this year for the first time since 2019, offering revelers an extravaganza of food, lively libations, arts, crafts and costumes.
On Saturday night, October 26, spectators will line Whitehead and Duval streets for the spectacular Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade. The event typically attracts more than 60,000 people. A procession of large-scale floats and costumed marching groups will bring this year’s “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters” theme to life. Key West’s famous red high-heeled shoe has been named 2025 Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Marshal. A decades-long fixture in local celebrations, the red shoe made its first appearance in 1997. Since then, it has become an enduring icon, particularly known for its role in the island’s New Year’s Eve “shoe drop.”
Complete information for events, times, locations, contest entry links, and a downloadable app can be found at www.fantasyfest.com.
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