fantasy fest question
 

Just had a quick question about fantasy fest.

Thinking of going next year. I noticed this year on the schedule that the "official" stuff ended on Sunday, which was Halloween, and there was more stuff going on during the week leading up to halloween. The question is with Halloween on a Monday next year, if we should stay through Halloween and leave Tuesday, or just check out on Sunday the 30th and come home and do actual Halloween here. I mean I'd love to stay as long as possible, but hotel prices are INSANE. I'm trying to book the most affordable and awesome one i can find before someone else snags it.

My wife will be there with me, but she would be going out of sheer curiosity and people watching. I'd hope to get her into some of the craziness, but who knows.

TIA for any advice. :)

We're in the Sarasota area and would love to go down but we have small kids so it's about impossible for us.

Friends of ours in New Smyrna go down frequently for FF. If it were me I'd go down Thursday and leave Sunday. Most good stuff happens Friday and Saturday night there. Closer to stay to Duval St the more expensive it's going to be.

FF schedule is the parade is on the last weekend in October. No relation to Halloween.
The party progresses during the week, culminating on Fri. & Sat.
You definitely want to stay within walking distance of the north end of Duval St. The hotels on Water St. are good. There are 2 hotels ON Duval. La Concha is for millionaires only. The other (I forget its name) is a dump. Avoid it.
The party action happens every where. The official events are generally pretty family friendly. The crazier parties go on at various bars along Duval.
For just doing the Duval Stroll, Thursday is probably best. Crowded but not unmanageable. Fri. night half the street is closed with vendors, so wall to wall people. Sat. it is all closed for the parade. After the parade, Duval is pretty packed and the party goes on (never hung around for that, too tired from marching in the parade.

HTH

DR

Over on Sunday
 

We've been to FF four times and will be going again next year. You are correct, the official festivities end on Sunday 10/30, so no reason to hang around until Tuesday unless you just want to rest, recover and chill (which is GREAT to do in Key West anytime!). But it will be quiet as of the end of Sunday, nothing going on Monday. The island settles back down to recover.

We've done a few of the official events, such as the parties hosted by the bars or whatever. We try to make it to Dantes pool party, we've done the pink party, always make sure we hit the masquerade march Thursday afternoon. But to be honest we never stay at the parties for long, its just an excuse for a themed costume and something to aim for, but the real way to do it (as another suggested on here) is to just float around Duval St and let it happen. The best thing about FF is serendipity - you just never know when you will stumble into a great bar, great crowd, great band, whatever. But I guarantee you will!

See if you can get your wife to dress up, its more fun if you participate, and it doesnt have to be naked or risque, nobody judges and its just fun. The people watching in the Fantasy Zone (corner at Sloppy Joes and extending towards Capt Tonys) is always a wild scene. Enjoy!

One more thing...
 

Its always (in my opinion) more fun a little earlier in the week like Wed-Fri. The Miami crowd shows up Fri nite, Sat Sun and it turns into more of a beauty contest, crowd def gets younger and its very crowded. Fine if you're into that but we find the experience a little more "real" and the people a little more chill and genuine (non-judgmental) earlier in the week. Just food for thought.

It's on my bucket list for next year also. Its been 10 years in the works, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! :D

Thanks!!
 

Just booked a room from Oct 25-30. Thanks for all your advice! Anyone going feel free to pm me. We should meet up!!
Fyi the room I booked has an upstairs bedroom and downstairs sleeper sofa as well as a patio hot tub, so if there's any way we can somehow figure out a way to say we've known each other forever and split it, that would be cool too lol.

Also...
 

Also if anyone is there while we're there, hit me up. I'd love to show you everything, even if she doesn't know, and be in the same place at the same time as you, with just the two of us knowing. 😉 ok that's the beer talking but whatever!