Key West Real Estate Sales Activity Picks up During Fantasy Fest
October 21 to 30 is when Key West Florida puts on or takes off party clothes! Fantasy Fest is not your kids Halloween Parade. Key West is at it's rowdiest. People dance in the streets and party hardy. This was not always the case. The end of October was a slow time for merchants. In 1978 I had a clothing store on Front St. across from the main Conch Train Station. Business was bad in September but by the time October rolled around merchants were broke and hungry. A bunch of us merchants got together and thought up this public relations event, a big costume party and parade. Money was collected for advertising and off we went. Fantasy Fest was a success from the inception.
We had "big" business behind us, Sloppy Joe's, Key West Aloe, Key West Hand Print, Fast Buck Freddie's and Onyin Skins. My store was Onyin Skins. All our staff dressed up in rented Disney Characters suits and pushed grocery baskets from Faustos Food Palace full of huge onions. The onions had srickers on them that said "Put an Onyin in your Life". We gave them out to the crowd (the crowd was different back then). They ate them up!
As the years went by Fantasy Fest became an adult event. It has grown from a small time event to an internationally famous party.
Fantasy Fest has become a way not only to promote tourism and support local business but also a way of supporting many charitable organizations. One close to me is the Key West Woman's Club "Bar" and paid seating on Duval Street (up front and center for viewing the Parade). As a club member I work my tail off serving drinks to the masses. It is fun but a lot of work. People watching is worth the hard work.
The parade is not just the floats is the people, (dressed or undressed as the case may be) in fantastic, gross,clever,beautiful, silly,and plain costumes. In other words it is people watching at its finest. I can not possibly describe this event. Event should be plural. There are many different types of events going on all week. Some of my favorite are the Pet Parade at the Casa Marina Hotel (pets and their owners are dressed up in some incredible costumes) and the Masquerade March. The Masquerade March is hosted by the some of the guest houses in old town. IT happens to come down my street and stop in front of my house in Old Town Key West. I watch from my balcony.
I can take credit for having the first air brush face painting booth. An employee Glenda's husband Ralph painted faces in front on Onyin Skins. Face and body painting has become an event The 11th annual living art airbrush expo). Some of the body painting is risque to say the least and has made the event adults only. A well it started out on the stoop of my store as extra money for Glenda and Ralph.
Enough reminising. 40 years of living and being in Key West I have seen a lot of changes. Most are good some are iffy.
Fantasy Fest is the best and worst of Key West, Florida, but It is MY KEY WEST and I have had a love affair with the town since I came to visit from Miami, Florida as a child. I can not imagine my life without the Key West infusion. Come join the madness, the perfect weather, the creative people, the wonderful restaurants, the Historic Architecture, my town Key West Florida.
Comments(0)