As repeat visitors have come to know, there is a party in Key West for just about anyone. Adorable pets in costumes strutting before a live audience? That’s the pet masquerade. Into skulls, monsters, and Day of the Dead tributes? Check out the Zombie Bike Ride. Colorful floats with enough hurled beads to trigger Mardi Gras flashbacks? Watch the Fantasy Fest parade.
Amidst all the returning choices are three that bring surrealism, music, and glowing dreams.
LUV2GLOW — VIVID DREAMS
The most electric glow party of Fantasy Fest returns Wednesday, October 22 at 8 p.m. upstairs at Rick’s with a set design and track-list that conjures floating in the clouds, pajama parties, and sweet (candy) dreams.
DJ Jevne, one of the event founders, said, “From my perspective, Fantasy Fest is always fun and amazing. At least for my events, we work very hard on creating atmospheres for people to be creative, free, dance, have fun, and meet other like-minded people to get silly with.”
The music will be played by a mix of new and returning DJs including DJ Top Jimmy (playing with his son for the first time), DJ Harley from Denver, DJ DRE a Key West conch, and of course, DJ Jevne who has been collecting music all year for his sets.
Wildest Dreams: A Taylor Swift Tribute
Musician Meghan Barter, like all Swifties, had a lot of exciting updates this summer from musical icon Taylor Swift. News of Swift’s engagement and the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” meant that Barter had a lot of new material to work with for her upcoming Swift-themed concert at Sunset Pier (Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m.). On top of which, she had her own debut EP “Human Jukebox.”
Listeners attending the seaside tribute can expect references to many of Swift’s eras. In particular, Barter felt a connection to Swift’s album “Speak Now” given its references to fairytales and explosive endings. The more recent album “Midnights” with its “sparkly and hazy, almost like a dream-walk sleep-state,” according to Barter, will also make a heavy appearance.
Past Your Bedtime: A Surreal Extravaganza
The experimental Hush Hush Theater will put forward a local cast performing live music, burlesque, drag, and a bit of cirque on Wednesday, October 22.
The roving theater’s new show is titled “Past Your Bedtime” and described as a “surreal extravaganza.”
The multi-performative show at 801 Bourbon will transform the space into something of a dreamscape featuring art, music, and a new cabaret upstairs inspired by “Where the Wild Things Are.”
“Surrealism has always moved me and I think it’s played a part in every show the Hush Hush Theater has created to date,” theater founder Nina Pilar explained.
As with prior shows, many of the biggest spectacles will remain a secret up till showtime. One cryptic message of hinted at the following. “You’re tuning into a future that is already calling you … from a lobster telephone.”
