Key Wet

Bravo! The Fantasy Fest Parade last Saturday was a very nice visual. The floats, dancers and costumes looked beautiful; the tow vehicles were mostly incorporated into the fantasies and the music was superb!
The rain in the afternoon made the line-up area interesting. "Key Wet" - it's a typo I make frequently, eliding that left-hand ring finger consonant on the keyboard. Last Saturday's downpours made it the correct spelling.
The first issue I faced was evicting the homeless man from the guard shack. “But it's raining,” he pleaded after I nudged him awake. “Exactly,” I responded. “That's precisely why we need it.”
After the rain came the 25 mph winds with gusts to 48. That dried our clothes finally, but handling feathers and fringe and costumes the size of spinnakers was a bit tricky. My lengthy Mylar eyelashes were constantly aflutter.
My hair was wetter than it was in my morning shower so it got tucked up under a railroad conductor's cap - since the theme this year was "Key Weird on the Dis-Oriented Express, train paraphernalia was de rigueur.
By step-off time, the evening was delightful and all we had to do was lever a few of the floats out of holes in the terrain at the unexpected line-up area (we had no notice we couldn't use our familiar grounds) and look pretty and happy for the crowds. As the choreographer for the Philadelphia Mummers parade entry, Dennis Quaile, said, “That's the 'Biz' part of 'Show Biz'!”
The Key West PD and FD report one fire on the parade route and one fight.
Overall, it was delightful.
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Thanks to all! --Judi

GET READY, GET SET...

We're almost there! As you add the final touches to your entries, float designers, think about pulling out some elements for the other costume competitions during the festival. See the official schedule at www.fantasyfest.net or the event contact list in your entrant packet for ideas. Best bet is PRETENDERS IN PARADISE, at the Pier House on Thursday, the 26th. Contact Kirsten or Liane in the FF office (296-5334) if you are interested in competing in this dramatic event.

Meanwhile, all else is running according to schedule so far.

AMBASSADORS are still needed. If you know someone who would make a good (sober, responsible) ambassador, call me.

In the PICTURE from the 2005 line-up area here, guess where the beer cooler is concealed in this Cayman Smith-Martin creation.

Well, it's amazing how easy this goes when we don't have to evacuate every three weeks!

AMBASSADORS and entrants who aren't completely burnt out after Fantasy Fest:
Market Share, the company that produces Fantasy Fest, is handling credentials and parking for the Super Boats in November. They will need some workers. Here's the flyer for it, if you are interested.