Fantasy Fest in key West is probably the biggest event of the year. What started out as a way to drum up business in the off season of Key West has become a nationally known event that's famous for good times, outlandish behavior, and zany adult antics that feature body paint, elaborate costumes, and lots of nudity. What more could you ask for? Like Mardis Gras, Fantasy Fest has beads and topless women, but it's better. That's because Fantasy Fest is smaller and less famous, so it hasn't been overrun by problems such as crime waves and a disproportionate number of loutish drunken people who spoil the fun. Yes, Fantasy Fest is partly fueled by drugs and alchohol, but you can still feel safe at night, even the final Saturday night when the crowds swell and out of towners flood the city and things get raucous. It's still fun and safe and probably nobody will pick your pocket or mug you.
Fantasy Fest starts out on a Tuesday night, with the Plaid Party at Captain Tony's Saloon, just of Duval Street. Even if you don't plan on paying to get into Captain Tony's, and you just want to hang out in the street and enjoy the fun, my advice is to wear plaid. Once you get downtown and see the great sexy costumes people come up with, you'll want to get into the spirit of things. Even if it's just a plaid pair of shorts or a plain bikini. One of the most popular plaid outfits for girls was a micro mini skirt with pleats, as short as can be. One of the coolest outfits was a plaid corset, worn with a white mile-high Louis XIV wig. Awesome! Another good one was a woman body builder who wore just an itsy bitsy plaid bikini.
Around 9pm or so, the Key West Police block off the side street where Captain Tony's Saloon is located, off Duval Street, so the Plaid Party can spill out into the street area. People in plaid mill about, comment on each others' costumes, take pictures with each other, have some drinks or some vendor food, and it's a great atmosphere. You can't help but feel the energy. As the night wears on, more and more plaid people come out and the costumes get more daring.
