By Carol Tedesco
The 2023 Bud Light Fantasy Fest parade will roll down Duval Street on Saturday, Oct. 28, and for several weeks, anyone driving by the Stanley Shaw Construction property on Stock Island may have seen company president Stan Shaw, along with a team of friends and fabricators, busy at work sawing, drilling, painting and constructing what looks to be a vintage aircraft carrier. Keys Weekly was intrigued and caught up with Stan for some “behind the scenes” insider Q&As ahead of the parade.
Stan, first up, where were you born, and what brought you to the Keys? I was born in Bangor, Maine, and moved here from Saco, Maine, in 2004 because I was tired of working in the cold outdoors. I have two daughters, Eden, 14, who lives here in Key West with me, and a grown daughter Tasha, who lives in Lyman, Maine. Candy Hall has been my Stanley Shaw Construction, Inc., business partner for almost a decade.
What year did you first enter the Fantasy Fest Parade and how did it come about? We first built and entered a float in 2022, and we won the “Director’s Choice Award” with our “Madder than Mad Max” entry. Previously I’d always watched it from the post office lawn, but in 2021 I decided to purchase a 1946 Chevy 2-ton stake-bed truck with the intention of entering parades and becoming a more active member of the community.
How did you feel, being a prizewinner in your first parade? Elated! It wasn’t the top prize, though, so it inspires me to do bigger and better.
How did you and your team spend your prize money? We donated our winnings to the Key West Wildlife Center, and we’ve already decided that if we win the “big prize” this year, the money will be split equally between two excellent charities, so we are very motivated.
Any memorable mishaps, lessons learned or unforgettable moments from year one? Not preparing the ’46 Chevy for such a slow parade was a huge lesson learned. I’ve since upgraded the oil and added an electric fan in front of the radiator to keep the engine cooler. The unforgettable moment was hearing for the first time thousands of people chanting the name of your float!
Will you tell us what you’re cooking up for 2023? We’re celebrating the Navy, i.e., the “uniforms” part of this year’s theme, ‘Uniforms & Unicorns — 200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy’ theme, and are building a representation of a 1940s aircraft carrier that will carry a live USO Camp Show like the ones that entertained troops during World War II. You’ll see classic World War II and USO-style nostalgia: Rosie the Riveter, a Bob Hope-type stand-up comic, Andrews Sisters/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy inspired performers and tunes, and eight World War II style pin-up girls who will be perched on spinning platforms installed on poles that we’re building based on World War II pin-up art.
How many people do you expect to have in your group? We expect to have 30 to 40, some walking and some on board the float.
How do you select your team each year? Word of mouth and a few dedicated, awesome friends. Also a few employees get volunteered in a pinch.
What would you say are your top 5 must-have materials for float building? Plywood, framing material, paint, fasteners and of course great costumes.
Do you have any advice to offer anyone thinking about entering? Have deep pockets (or collect a participation fee from everyone on your team) to do it right. Do it for the joy of doing it, and the satisfaction of making this event memorable for everyone.
Fantasy Fest 2023 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and We’ve Got the Keys. For a full calendar of events, schedule updates, and a downloadable mobile app visit fantasyfest.com.
