Pets strike a pose on the Key West catwalk
Key West is again injecting some animal magnetism into its famed Fantasy Fest celebration later this month.
It comprises dozens of masquerade contests and themed parties to challenge the creativity of mask and costume designers.
Also taking place during Key West’s Oct. 20-29 Fantasy Fest celebration is a unique and eagerly anticipated Pet Masquerade.
Scheduled for Oct. 25, the family-friendly costume competition is designed for dogs, cats, birds and other domestic animals accompanied by their human companions.
The offbeat event typically draws entries ranging from pet-and-person duos to groups of animals and people staging choreographed performances.
The 2023 Fantasy Fest theme is “Uniforms and Unicorns … 200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy,”
This honors Florida Keys’ bicentennial and the U.S. Navy’s two centuries in Key West.
For more than 25 years, the Pet Masquerade has been produced by QuePasa KW Inc. to benefit the Lower Keys Friends of Animals.
QuePasa’s Nancy D’Amato will emcee the quirky contest with local radio personality “Rude Girl.”
The competition begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater at Key West’s Truman Waterfront Park.
Each year, several dozen people and pets prance across the amphitheater stage as spectators applaud.
Judges traditionally award prizes for the top junior contestants, most exotic attire, best theme adaptation, best pet-owner look-alikes and an overall winner.
Highlights of past years’ masquerades have included a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” ensemble featuring four basset hounds, a lion tamer with a canine ‘lion,’ and an Italian greyhound costumed as late rock star Prince.
General admission for spectators is free.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026