So as a recent resident of Miami, I keep hearing about this legendary Fantasy Fest that takes place every year for Halloween. Have any of you Doper’s ever attended? ** Flander** and I really want to go, but worry we may be way too late to make hotel arrangements. It sounds like a great time and would make for a memorable Halloween. Hopefully we’ll figure out a way to make it down there to check it out. If any one has gone please fill me in with all the fun details, or tips if you have any.
I’ve been twice. That I remember. I was there in '91 and '93, and it was a great time all around (despite getting thrown out of Sloppy Joes in '91). Lots of drinking, public nudity, drinking - that sort of thing. Everyone was very relaxed; I didn’t see any trouble or fights or anything along those lines. Except for the occasional moped crash - those are always entertaining. If you’ve never been to Key West, I’d recommend you go, even if it’s not Fantasy Fest. It really is a fun place.
If you can swing a boat - the Columbus Day Regatta is similiar, only it’s on Biscayne Bay. Much more public sex and nudity if that’s your thing. Much closer for you and just as much fun.
UncleBill and I went when we still lived in Miami. I definitely recommend going if you can swing it, because it is a crapload of fun.
I think we stayed in Marathon that time, since hotel rates in KW for FF are out of sight, if you can even find an available room. So staying further up the Keys may be an option if one of you is willing and able to refrain from drinking way too much to make the drive up there at the end of the night. 
Or you can camp in the KOA Sugarloaf Key for quick access. The weather should be perfectly cool by then.
Who says you gotta go back at the end of the night? 
Now that I’m thinking about it, I was there in 91 and 92, not in 93. Not that it makes any difference. Anyway, I second Geobabe’s recommendation about staying further north. Last time the wife and I vacationed in the Keys (not FF), we stayed at a hotel in Big Pine Key and had a wonderful time. Don’t know what those rates will be during Fantasy Fest; both my trips to the fest were courtesy of Uncle Sam.
If you do go - get crazy costumes. I mean - crazy.
Ooh yeah, that’s a good suggestion. We tried camping there once in August, which I definitely don’t recommend (we ended up bailing in the middle of the night for a hotel, it was that hot and buggy), but in late October the weather is usually delightful.
Then you didn’t drink enough. I’ve camped there in July and survived thanks to copious amounts of alcohol.
WHAT in Og’s name did you DO to get thrown out of Sloppy Joe’s?
Sacrifice a goat?
Jeez!
Now you all have me so excited to go! I may have to start calling some hotels further north in the keys and see what I can find. I hear a lot of them are really expensive and strict about how many people there are per room so it’s not easy to jus split it with a group of people. We’ll see.
I was looking online yesterday at some of the body paintings and they look so cool. I may have to get really daring and sign up for that, as long as it’s not outrageously expensive. I have dressed up as a fairy a couple of times so it’d be cool to get wings on my back and some fairyish coverup for the front. Would that be a crazy enough costume?
I was a tad inebriated having spent the better part of the day there, when in the early evening I got up to use the bathroom. There were two large men standing at the entrance to mens room who said I couldn’t go in because women were in there. (Unbeknownst to me - there was a problem with the ladies room) Figuring that these were just drunken tourists, like me, screwing around, I proceeded to walk in saying something like “yeah, right”. It was only after these gentlemen picked me up off the ground and started to literally carry me to the door did I notice the big “STAFF” marked on their “Sloppy Joes” t-shirts. :rolleyes: In what must have been 3 seconds they carried me past the stage, past the cheering packed house, and threw me right out the door.
To be fair, my buddies and I were getting a bit rowdy, and I think I gave them the reason they were looking for to get rid of (at least one of) us.
I was so mad I didn’t go back to Sloppy Joes until the very next time I was in Key West. I love that place.
About a thousand years ago, I was editor of Florida Keys Magazine, which I think is now defunct.
I can’t really make any better recommendations beyond what’s already been given here. Just wanted to say that the Conch Republic festival is also well worth attending. I particularly enjoyed the food fight with the Coast Guard . . .
Enjoy.
Dogzilla, who actually owns a Conch Republic passport.
my 'rents have a timeshare condo in key west. welllllllllllllll it just so happens to fall during the week of fantasy fest.
wanna get it? lemme know.
daddy can hook you up