Events of the Season
October 25, 2024
Key West Fantasy Fest 2024 was a rousing success, with thousands of folks on hand to partake of a myriad of special events and enjoy the generally jubilant party vibe that Key West always delivers. Now Halloween is creeping up on the Island City as another Key West winter holiday season gets underway.
Fantasy Becomes Reality
On the evening of October 26, an incredible diversity of dazzling dancing day-glo made up the 45th annual Key West Fantasy Fest Neon Cosmic Carnival Parade. The 2024 edition was a standout, even for an event that is legendary for being crazy colorful. When the glitter dust settled, Jamie Gwidt and the Key West Kreatives Team took home the $6,000 Grand Prize for Best Overall with their “Flagler’s 1890s Fantasy”. The Kreatives, backed up by around 50 walkers, trike bikers, and float riders geared up in neon steampunk-styled garb, rolled out a retro railroad-themed tribute to Henry Flagler’s amazing Overseas Railroad.
Nineteenth-century railroad baron Henry Flagler had a vision of extending his Florida East Coast Railway from Miami down to Key West. At first thought impossible and derided as “Flagler’s Folly”, when this engineering wonder was finally completed, the spectacularly scenic line became known as the 8th wonder of the world and was instrumental in opening and promoting the Florida Keys as a tourist destination.
Flagler’s railway was a very appropriate theme choice by the Kreatives. It was truly a fantasy become reality, and even though the Overseas Railroad only operated from 1912 until the track was damaged by the disastrous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, the rail bed and bridges provided a foundation for the construction of the Overseas Highway. Flagler’s Folly put Key West on the map as America’s Caribbean Paradise and the fun destination that drew somewhere around 60,000 people down to Duval Street to watch the 2024 Fantasy Fest Parade.
Over 100 events went off citywide throughout the October 18–27 Fantasy Fest run. By all reports, a fantastic time was had by all beginning with an exciting if a bit damp Goombay Festival and carrying on through a schedule of special activities and all-around partying that would challenge even the most dedicated bacchanalians. The next edition of Fantasy Fest is already on the launch pad, with the winning 2025 theme, “Bedtime Stories & Magical Monsters” submitted by Key West local Ellen LaMoia. Pencil in the dates October 17–26, 2025 for what is sure to be another amazing expedition into the beating creative heart of one of America’s most amazing small cities.
Home for the Tropical Holiday Season
Even though Fantasy Fest 2024 is now in the rearview mirror, the typically busy Key West fall and winter holiday season is loading up and rolling forward at high speed. Events of all sorts are cropping up in multitudes that will pack our local calendar from now until New Years Day.
Of course, Halloween is massive on an island that is reputed to be one of America’s most haunted places. Family-friendly fun is plentiful, with costumed kids canvassing for treats the old-fashioned way around New Town neighborhoods or heading for the Trick or Treat Party at Truman Waterfront Market.
Then there are the genuinely creepy realms scattered around Key West. Robert the Doll is now kept safely behind plexiglass at the East Martello Fort, but his former home at 534 Eaton Street has been converted to a lovely Victorian guest house. Stay if you dare. Enjoy a few cold chills with your cold drinks at the former city morgue building and site of many tragedies that is now Captain Tony’s Saloon. Explore behind the massive, forbidding brick walls of Fort Zachary Taylor, a well-known site of paranormal activity. It is easy to find the true Halloween spirit on a tiny, remote island that was named Cayo Hueso—Bone Island—by 16th century Spanish explorers.
As November comes in, the Key West holiday season kicks off with the unmatched excitement of championship offshore powerboat racing coming to the Key West Outer Mole from Nov. 3 to Nov. 10, and the seasonal onset of pleasantly cool evenings perfect for unwinding with free movies under the stars put on by our own Tropic Cinema. Before you know it, it will be time to cook or book a tropical Thanksgiving feast, then gear up for the official City Tree Lighting and the take off into the full Key West Christmas extravaganza that always features lots to do in both the nostalgic old and exciting new categories.
The Tax Man Cometh
As if thousands of bike-riding zombies, a haunted 120-year-old doll, and all the other quirky creepiness that goes with Halloween in Key West were not terrifying enough, it is time to begin considering the real stuff of nightmares. Yes, tax season rears its ugly head with Monroe County property taxes due on November 1st. Discounts are offered for early payment and the full bill is due by March 31, 2025.
As we have described a number of times in these pages, the Florida Homestead Exemption can provide Key West and Florida Keys property owners with substantial tax savings. If you are new to the neighborhood, there is now an online portal to make filing for the Exemption easy. Alternatively, you can always stop by the Monroe County Property Appraiser Office to get more information. The office is downtown at 500 Whitehead Street (305-292-3420).
Live Out the Fantasy
Fall is a fantastic time to visit Key West, and the winter holidays are the traditional busy season on the island. There is always a lot to see and do this time of year, the weather is pleasant, the fishing is great, and just strolling around in shorts and a t-shirt can do a lot to fortify you against the winter freeze that is already setting in up north.
A holiday trip to Key West also offers the opportunity to get a look at some of the delightful island homes available around Key West and along the Lower Keys. Drop us a line and arrange for one of our Bascom Grooms Real Estate team members to show you around. Our handy mailing list will keep you abreast of the ever-changing selection of Key West and Lower Keys properties, and we are always here as your local Key West real estate resource.
Bascom Grooms Real Estate—1110 Truman Avenue, Key West Florida—(305) 748-2057—info@bascomgrooms.com
