Keys creativity and resilience were displayed in a pageantry of glitter, feathers, flowers and incandescent imagination on Saturday, Oct. 29, as Key West’s Fantasy Fest parade made its way down Duval Street for the first time since 2019 and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three dozen entries — one stretching nearly a full city block — competed for $20,000 in prizes. And the winners are:
Best in Entertainment and Best in Costume: Lower Keys Fluffers with “The Birdcage at 801 Sesame Street.”
Best Interpretation of Theme: Mystic Crew of Key West with “Sleepy Saturday Morning.”
Best Walking Group: “Mother Nature Celebration” by Daniel Bitnar.
Best Conch Style: “Willy Wonka” presented by the 40ft Sharpie Crew.
The Green Parrot’s Best Live Music Award: Grand Marshal Tony Baltimore – “Let’s all go Insane!”
The We Cycle Best Bike Award: Virginia Wark with the Southernmost Slow Riders: “Lost @ SEE.”
Directors Choice Award: Stanley Shaw Construction’s “Madder than Mad Max.”
Best Overall, $5,000 Grand Prize: Fifer’s Follies’ “Alice’s Excellent Adventure.” Their elaborate three-float entry stretched nearly a full Duval Street block and included one float devoted entirely to an imposing queen of hearts scene, and another to an elaborate tea party overseen by a giant Cheshire Cat with an articulating head. Street marchers included dancing teacups, suits of playing cards attired in voluminous skirts on wheels, and an eccentric cast of “Crazy Alices” bringing up the rear. The cash award was presented this year by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West.
The Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade is traditionally followed with announcement of the following year’s theme, which is selected through a “Call for Themes” contest. This year, Izzy Weaver of Nashville, Tennessee, scored two seats in the judge’s stand at next year’s parade with the submission, “Uniforms & Unicorns.”
“2023 marks the 200-year anniversary of establishment of both Monroe County and Key West’s first Naval base, so our panel of judges agreed that “Uniforms & Unicorns — 200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy” captured the Bicentennial of these historic events and the Keys’ effervescent spirit perfectly,” said Nadene Grossman Orr, Fantasy Fest director and President/CEO of We’ve Got the Keys event-planning company
Fantasy Fest events and happenings wrapped up on Sunday, Oct. 30 with Children’s Day at Bayview Park, “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance at La Te Da Hotel, Restaurant, Cabaret and Bars, and several Fest finale pool parties at Southernmost Beach Resort’s Pineapple Pool, the Marker Key West Harbor Resort and Island House Key West Resort.
Fantasy Fest 2022 featured more than 80 events citywide and was presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Visit fantasyfest.com for photo galleries of 2022 highlights and advance 2023 festival news and information.
— By Carol Tedesco
