Traffic was a nightmare in Key West Sunday night. But the drivers weren’t the problem.
Thousands of zombies took to the streets for the annual Zombie Bike Ride — a four-mile spectacle of creepy costumes, creative contraptions and characters straight out of the crypt.
The undead rolled down the streets of Key West on bicycles. Scooters. And just about anything else with wheels.
Their route? A leisurely ride by the Atlantic Ocean. Past Smathers Beach. Through Old Town. And straight into the heart of Key West.
This year, the zombies added music to the madness.
With Fantasy Fest celebrating its theme of “Musical Icons and Iconic Musicals,” the zombie invasion took on a new cast of characters.
From “Little Shop of Horrors” to “Grease” and a tribute to AC/DC, there was no shortage of creative costumes. Others kept it old-school: tattered clothes, ghastly makeup, fake blood — and faces only a zombie mother could love.
Throngs of spectators lined the route to cheer and celebrate with the riders.
An estimated 7,000 two-wheeling zombies bike from Key West’s East Martello Museum, down the beach road and into Old Town on Oct. 18. Photos by LARRY BLACKBURN and MARK HEDDEN
The ride ended downtown, but nobody was ready to call it a night. The zombies kept the party rolling at ZombieFest, taking over Duval Street for an after-party that was anything but dead.
What began more than 15 years ago as a homegrown collaboration between WeCycle Bike Shop and Wonderdog Studios has grown into a Fantasy Fest week tradition all its own.
Fantasy Fest keeps the party going through Sunday, Oct. 25. Ten days of masquerade parties, outrageous costumes, street fairs and only-in-Key-West revelry.
The 43rd annual Headdress Ball is Thursday, Oct. 22 and Friday features Captain Morgan’s Masquerade March, known as the Locals’ Parade.
The grand finale hits Saturday night, Oct. 24, with the Deep Eddy Vodka Fantasy Fest Parade. Elaborate floats. Eye-popping costumes. And tens of thousands of spectators expected to pack Duval Street.
More information is at fantasyfest.com.
