10/22/2022 - 4:00pm to 10/31/2022 - 12:00pm
The Annual Fantasy Fest is a 10-day celebration that is scheduled to take place October 21 to 30, 2022 in Key West, Florida. This iconic event started simply as a way to draw attention to the tiny island in the middle of October when tourism was notoriously slow. What started as a small parade grew into a massive event drawing nearly 75,000 people to Key West. Each year the theme changes, and this year it is "Cult Classics and Cartoon Chaos"
The Event Planners of Fantasy Fest are asking participants to follow specific protocols which you can read on FantasyFest.com.
Fantasy Fest History
The first Fantasy Fest was held in 1979 when two local businessmen organized a party to stimulate business during a typically slow time of year. The amount of people that join this festival every year ranges from 25,000 to 75,000 -- twice the population of the island.
Since then the event has escalated to a ten-day celebration that includes balls, a parade, costume competitions, AIDS fundraisers, body painting, drag queen contests, and pet and neighborhood parades for the whole family. Fantasy Fest has grown to rival New Orleans Mardi Gras as an event drawing out-of-towners.
View the Fantasy Fest Schedule
Four-Legged Friends Take Part in the Fun
Fantasy Fest is pet-friendly and even features a pet masquerade! This parade of costumed pups is a competition for pets and humans alike to strut their stuff. Bring along your four-legged friend to stay in one of our pet-friendly vacation rentals and take part, or just enjoy watching the show for free!
Browse All Pet-Friendly Rentals
Book Your Rental for 2022 Fantasy Fest
We are happy to offer these great vacation rentals particularly close by to all festivities. If these three don't suit your needs, we have plenty more vacation rentals around Key West. Don't hesitate to contact our local team for further help and recommendations for booking your stay.
Where to Eat During Fantasy Fest
There are plenty of great places to eat close to the festival venues so you can quickly and easily get between them. Good restaurants in Key West are easy to come by, and you'll find ample bars and pubs to kill some time. Fuel up with a great breakfast or grab a margarita between festivities.
A few of our favorite Key West dining options include:
- La Trattoria
- Onlywood Pizzeria Trattoria
- Antonia’s
- The Café
- 7 Fish
- Jack Flats
- Mangoe’s
- Fogarty’s
- Firefly Key West
- La Te Da
- Santiagos Bodega
- Blue Haven
- DJ Clam’s Shack
- Caroline’s Café
Fantasy Fest Parking Tips
Since the events are located in areas with very limited parking we do recommend the most popular way of transportation in Key West, which is by bike. We now also have Uber and Taxis are always available as well. If you still decide to drive, there are plenty of spots with metered parking close by.
Get more details about Fantasy Fest in Key West.