thumb|right|250px|A float during the 2007 Fantasy Fest parade, the culminating event of the week-long event. In the background is the La Concha.
Fantasy Fest is a street party held annually in the last week of October in Key West, Florida.
History
Fantasy Fest was initiated in 1979 by Bill Conkle, Tony Falcone, Joe Liszka and Frank Romano to attract tourists during the slow season. In 1995 over 60,000 people attended and there were 70 floats, bands, costumed groups and "imprecision drill teams" in the parade. In 2001 Fantasy Fest was estimated to bring $35 million to the region each year.
The highlight of Fantasy Fest is its parade featuring humorous floats, including one carrying the annually elected Conch King and Queen. The floats can be quite elaborate; costs can be $10,000 to $15,000. The expense for the floats is borne fully by the participant groups (called krewes) and their sponsors. The theme that year was "Freaks, Geeks and Goddesses."
2020 was to be in its 42nd year. However, that year's event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and deferred to 2021.
Typical Fantasy Fest Experiences
thumb|upright|left|[[Uniform fetishism#Schoolgirl uniform|Schoolgirl uniform fetishism: A topless woman wearing pasties at Fantasy Fest]]
Fantasy Fest has been compared to New Orleans Mardi Gras and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. As with New Orleans Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Fantasy Fest tend to attract many people to the concentration of bars along Duval Street. Most of the event is adult oriented, however, there are family friendly events. Nudity is illegal in Key West, but on the last two days of Fantasy Fest the city designates a "Fantasy Zone" in the city where women may expose their breasts if they are covered with body paint. Costumes worn at Fantasy Fest often feature nudity and sexual symbolism.
- Children's Day: family-friendly event held in Bayview Park with children's festivities and contests.