The end of time is party time in Key West when Fantasy Fest 2012 takes a lighthearted look at the ancient apocalypse prophecy stating the world will end in December 2012. The outrageous annual masking and costuming festival, set for Oct. 19-28 and themed “A-Conch-Alypse,” features 10 days of revelry on the subtropical island whose natives are called “conchs.”More than 40 masquerade balls, costume contests and celebrations are scheduled, culminating in a decadent grand parade designed to banish the gloom from “doomsday.”Participants are encouraged to draw costume and float concepts from the festival theme, portraying apocalyptic ambassadors, zany zombies, dastardly doomsayers or uninhibited utopians.
Events
begin Friday, Oct. 19, with the “Mayan Empire” Royal Coronation
Ball to crown the festival king and queen. Also that weekend, Key
West’s Caribbean roots are celebrated with Friday and Saturday’s
Goombay street party in historic Bahama Village.
Subsequent
festival highlights include Tuesday’s “Salacious Unveiling: End of
Time” Headdress Ball, featuring prizes for the best masks and
headdresses. Wednesday brings the quirky Pet Masquerade and Parade
with animal antics from costumed dogs, cats, exotic birds and more on
an oceanfront stage.
The
lavish water’s-edge Pretenders in Paradise costume competition is
scheduled Thursday, Oct. 25, under the stars.
Themed “Zombie Nation
Vacation,” it stars entrants in dazzling large-scale costumes who
present performances complete with lights and music.
Key
West’s Duval Street becomes a partier’s utopia Friday, Oct. 26,
during the Fantasy Fest Street Fair, where vendors offer masks and
costumes, artistry, food and libations. Just before sunset, the
Masquerade March of exotically costumed characters parades through
historic Old Town.
Other
festival standouts include the Battle of Bone Island burlesque
showcase, a “Mayan State of Mind” poolside party, sensual
after-dark soirees and exuberant themed costume contests.
Rapturous
revelry and revelations are predicted Saturday, Oct. 27, as tens of
thousands of spectators gather for the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest
Parade in Key West’s historic downtown. The spectacle typically
includes feather-bedecked marching groups, Caribbean bands and
elaborate motorized floats, showing the “end of time” just might be
the best of times.
