Waiting for the March at the Chelsea House

One of our favorite events of the week of Fantasy Fest is the Masquerade March which happened on Friday. The March is a walking parade for anyone who wants to join, either in costume or not. The parade starts at the cemetery and takes two different routes to Duval Street. Luckily, we have hotels on both routes! The southern route goes past Chelsea House and the northern one goes past the Merlin Guesthouse. At both hotels we set up a bar that served our coveted rum punch. At Chelsea House, Andy made his version with a British twist and at Merlin Guesthouse Abby made hers with Jamaican spices. We tell them both “theirs is best”.   We also hired D.J.’s to get everyone dancing. Our guests joined in the fun too and joined the parade as it continued down to Duval.  Some Chelsea House guests cooled off in the pool after the parade.  We were very impressed with their concern for their costumes….. noting the neat piles of clothing left by the pool steps.

Here comes the March at Chelsea House	Entrance of the Merlin Guesthouse
Fun-loving creature couple at Merlin Guesthouse	Dancing at Merlin Guesthouse at the outdoor bar
Abby's Jamaican rum punch is going fast at Merlin Guesthouse	Aggy dancing while serving rum punch at Chelsea House
Amelia the piratetress at Chelsea House	A flamingo and bellydancer at the Merlin Guesthouse
A 'political pair' at Merlin Guesthouse	Having fun posing for pics at the Merlin Guesthouse

Do you have a need for speed? Get ready for the Super Boat International Offshore race. The annual race descends upon Key West with fast and furious racing as the World Championship Race takes the green flag for an exciting week-long event from November 5 - 9, 2008.

The mood that permeates this spectacular Florida destination accelerates into a highly fueled liquid speed zone as the world’s top offshore contenders compete for the ultimate title. From start to finish, it promises to deliver a full throttle schedule of sizzling in-your-face competition and high-octane parties.

Key West is a dynamic magnet that has lured competitors, high performance aficionados and an entourage of party players for a record-breaking 28 years. A super-charged race week kicks-off with a parade of awesome racing machines down Duval Street. The epic event delivers three days of thrilling deck-to-deck competition along a 6.5-mile triangular liquid track that races along the outer mole, past Mallory Square into Key West Harbor and turns back out to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lighthouse Court, part of Historic Key West Inns is hosting live entertainment Wednesdays through Sundays. From 2 - 5pm, guests from all of our properties are invited to enjoy a variety of food and entertainment. This year, we have added a special Sunday jam session from noon to 3pm. The lounge at Lighthouse Court will be brewing up special hangover cures, including Bloody Marys, Cheeseburgers in Paradise and Key Lime Margaritas.

Located just one block from famous Duval Street, Lighthouse Court offers instant access to some of our favorite things to do in Key West including the Mallory Square sunset celebration, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Margaritaville, the Conch Train, the Harry Truman Little Whitehouse, and the Southernmost Point marker.  Lighthouse Court is best suited to couples, and most rooms have one bed. Rooms and suites are available with a range of amenities from budget to luxurious. Amenities at this Key West hotel include great old town location, short walk to Key West beaches, a large heated pool, continental breakfast, pool bar, free WiFi access, and 40 comfortable rooms and suites.

With over 200 chapters in the US, Australia, Canada and Europe, the Parrot Head Club’s purpose is to assist in community and environmental issues and provide a variety of social events for those interested in the music of Jimmy Buffett and the tropical way of life he stands for. Each year the Parrot Head Club holds a “Meeting of the Mi nds” in Key West, Florida, open to all members of this charitable, educational organization. Starting on Wednesday October 29th through Sunday November 2nd, members are invited to attend the scheduled events. This year, the “Meeting of the Minds” offers the chance to enjoy a variety of great musicians, attend charitable events including an auction, join celebrations on the beach, and participate in the Margaritaville Street Festival.

 Lighthouse Court, part of Historic Key West Inns features a daily jam session hosted by   Kelly McGuire.  This unofficial Parrot Head event is free to all guests of Historic Key West Inns. Lighthouse Court is a historic hotel located next door to the Key West Lighthouse Museum and across the street from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.  Just one block from famous Duval Street, our location offers instant access to some of the fabulous attractions in Key West, including the Mallory Square sunset celebration, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Margaritaville, the Conch Train, the Harry Truman Little Whitehouse, and the Southernmost Point marker. The Lighthouse Court hotel is best suited to couples, and most rooms provide one guest bed. Rooms and suites are available with a range of amenities from budget to luxurious.

KEY WEST / October 17 to October 26

Fantasy Fest 2008 in Key West starts on Friday, October 17th with the Goombay Celebration and Royal Coronation Ball. 70,000 costumed revelers from all over the world will be treated to ten days of great events, entertainment and food.

Adults and Couples, come stay at one of our Historic Key West Inns, the Key Lime Inn, Budget Key West or Albury Court for Fantasy Fest. This annual event is an outrageous, 10-day celebration featuring costume competitions, promenades, street fairs and a grand parade with marching groups and lavish floats. This year, Fantasy Fest takes aim at America’s upcoming presidential election. The highlight of Fantasy Fest is a parade featuring amusing floats, including one carrying the annually elected Conch King and Queen. In recent years, attendance at Fantasy Fest has surpassed 100,000 people, or more than three times the population of the island itself. Fantasy Fest has grown to rival New Orleans’ Mardi Gras as an event drawing out-of-towners.

Fantasy Fest Events include;
•Goombay - a street party held in Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood.
•The Royal Coronation Ball - where the Conch King and Queen are crowned.
•The annual Headdress Ball.
•The Pet Masquerade - a costume contest for pets.
•Pretenders in Paradise - an annual costume contest.
•The Masquerade March - a daytime procession through the streets of Key West.
•The Street Fair.
•The Fantasy Fest parade - the culmination of the festival.