Party Still On For Halloween-Style Celebration & Jimmy Buffett Parrothead Clubs
The bars are open, the hotels are reopening, the town is welcoming back cruise ships and tourists, and two of the biggest fall events in Key West will take place as scheduled.
Hurricane Irma could dampen the roads and buildings of Key West, but not the spirit of the place or its people. It also did not cancel the Conch Republic’s prime events. Fantasy Fest will take place from Oct. 20-29 and Meeting of the Minds is set for Nov. 1-4.
“Irma is not invited,” Fantasy Fest officials have proclaimed.
Meeting of the Minds organizers have not made any such statements, tho they might be more included to borrow from the Buffett song “Tryin’ To Reason With A Hurricane Season.”
In the immediate aftermath of Irma in early to mid-September, Keys officials had an eye on making sure the Keys and Key West was able to accept visitors beginning with Fantasy Fest. Thousands of people fill up the Conch Republic for this annual event, which involves a series of events and parties and is highlighted by a parade down Duval Street on Saturday, Oct. 28.
They surpassed that objective when Key West welcomed its first cruise ship to the dock at Mallory Square on Sunday, Sept. xxx. The Keys and Key West have officially been declared open to all tourists beginning Sunday, Oct. 1.
“We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover,” Monroe County Mayor George Neugent said in announcing the return of visitors to the Keys. “But because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents’ livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.”
And return they will for these two traditional Key West events.
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