ASSOCIATED PRESS
KEY WEST, FLA.. —The Florida Keys have cleaned up from the recent storms and are proceeding with plans for several events this fall, including the Halloween-themed Fantasy Fest and a party marking the end of hurricane season.
“This town knows how to clean up after a storm or a large party,” Key West City Manager Jim Scholl said. “We’re ready for visitors.”
Although the island chain was spared major damage, evacuations for Ike and Tropical Storm Fay, plus a brush with Hurricane Gustav, resulted in tourism revenue losses here of $29 million.
Fantasy Fest takes place on Key West Oct. 17-26, with 10 days of masquerade balls, costume contests and a parade. Get out your Sarah Palin glasses for the theme of this year’s festival: “Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals.”
A Pirates in Paradise Festival, scheduled for Nov. 29-Dec. 7, includes a National Walk the Plank Championship, Dec. 4, and the annual “America’s Official End of the Hurricane Season Party,” Nov. 30. Festivities include a ceremony in which Key West National Weather Service chief meteorologist Matt Strahan burns the flags used to indicate that a hurricane warning is in effect.
Other events include the Islamorada Sportfishing Festival, Sept. 26-28, and the annual family friendly Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival, also Sept. 26-28, based in Marathon at Curry Hammock State Park with field trips throughout the Keys. Divers can work alongside marine scientists on build-a-reef opportunities in the Upper Florida Keys, Sept. 24-26 at Quiescence Diving Services in Key Largo, Oct. 8-12 with Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo and Oct. 29-31 with Florida Keys Dive Center in Islamorada.
Visit www.fla-keys.com.
