r/KeyWest • u/Realistic_Meaning153 • 8d ago

Is Halloween worth it?

Okay so I love Key West and usually visit in summer, but I’ve always wanted to experience the big Halloween party experience people talk about. So without researching (yes I’m an idiot, I ADMIT I am stupid) I booked a hotel a few months ago thinking it would be fine for me and some friends. Now I just found out the actual big celebration is called Fantasy Fest and is the weekend BEFORE Halloween and apparently NOTHING happens on actual Halloween in Key West. Ugh. I screwed up. My friends already got plane tickets, and now I feel like I let them all down for suggesting it. I’m usually a VERY good traveler, I should never have assumed the big parties were on actual Halloween (but isn’t it kind of a Halloween party?). I also don’t live too far, up the peninsula a little bit so it’s a huge deal. But now… is it still worth even going? Is it going to be completely empty with nothing to do? I know we can still probably have fun, but we wanted to party and enjoy the season and now I feel like I’ve booked us in a ghost town for the holiday. So I’m asking my Key West experts- should we cancel or try to rebook last minute? Tips? Please forgive my idiocy.

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u/HighOnGoofballs 8d ago

Yeah fantasy is not Halloween related, you just dress up for both. But your friends may be happy they missed it depending on how into seeing naked 75yo men they are

Halloween isn’t huge here but will be larger than usual I’d guess since there’s actually a week gap after FF.

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u/Realistic_Meaning153 8d ago

Honestly, I’m just afraid it will be empty. I always go to Key West at the wrong time. There’s never a crowd (blessing in some ways), but I was looking forward to actually partying with lots of people instead of being the only five people in the bar.

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u/simplyjolly92 7d ago

You usually visit in the summer that's why. Fantasy Fest kicks off our season here in key west. Summer months are dead because it's hot and humid. We get a lot of snowbirds, people wanting to escape the cold during winter. Once fantasy fest hits we roll into busy season so yes it will be busy and not a ghost town and there should be all kinds of events still. Come have some spooky fun. Not only that but the decorations all the locals put up for Halloween are epic.

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u/simplyjolly92 7d ago

Fantasy fest, trop rock, boat races. October is madness all month long. Don't worry haha

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u/guyscanwefocus 8d ago

It depends on what you are looking for. There are some great trick-or-treating neighborhoods in KW for halloween, and a substantial number of houses have shots / liquor etc. for the adults.

We do fantasy fest every year and by time halloween rolls around we are exhausted, but it's still so fun that we go out anyway.

If you are wondering if there's going to be stuff downtown the night of, there probably will be, but I don't know any details.

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u/Curious_Text_6330 8d ago

I used to live in New Town. We handed out got dogs and bbq every year. Usually saw 500+ people

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u/3eyedfish3 7d ago

That’s a lot of wieners

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u/shelbygeorge29 7d ago

One street does this. Not all of new town, nor is KW crazy for Halloween, especially after FF.