Super-Sized Costumes & Animal Antics Star At Fantasy Fest
KEY WEST (CBS4Miami) – Fantasy Fest in Key West is famous for its Pretenders in Paradise costume competition and this year's theme, "Something's Fishy", brought out some truly amazing and unique underwater adventurers.
Costume designers showed off their most flamboyant creations at the festival's Pier House Pretenders in Paradise costume competition late Thursday night, presented on a beachfront stage beside the Gulf of Mexico.
The annual, over-the-top event, leads up to the final weekend of the 10-day Fantasy Fest.
GALLERY: Something's Fishy At Fantasy Fest
Many entrants designed their costumes around the Fantasy Fest theme of Aquatic-A-Frolic. Audience favorites ranged from huge spangled efforts to mermaid and aquarium collaborations featuring lavish feathers, thousands of sequins, brilliant color and movement.
At the Casa Marina's Pet Masquerade and Parade Wednesday, dressed-up dogs, cats and two goldfish stole the spotlight. Standouts included a Great Dane costumed as a Florida lobster, a coral reef ensemble featuring a bowl of live goldfish, and a Chihuahua "burro" whose tiny saddlebags held tequila.
GALLERY: Dog-Gone Good Time At Pet Masquerade
This weekend's Fantasy Fest events include an exuberant Masquerade March, a street fair on Key West's famed Duval Street, and Saturday night's grand parade featuring elaborate floats, costumed marching groups and Caribbean bands.
More than 50,000 revelers are expected in Key West's historic downtown to view the parade, despite a Saturday weather forecast for periods of rain from an approaching low-pressure system from the northwest.
