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It's an 'A-Conch-Alypse' in Key West as annual 10-day Fantasy Fest begins

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A participant in the Zombie Bike Ride makes her way down a street in Key West, Fla. (AP)

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    Oct. 19, 2012: Jessica Marzulla, right, adjusts the fit of a mask on Mark Marien in Key West, Fla., during the first day of Fantasy Fest, the island city's 10-day masking and costuming festival, set to continue through Oct. 28. (AP)

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    John McBride, owner of the Maskerville mask store in Key West, fitting Marty Lambeth with one of his creations. (AP)

KEY WEST, Fla. – The masked balls, parties and costume competitions of Fantasy Fest are underway in Key West.

The 10-day festival began Friday night at a coronation ball where locals Mark Patterson and Liz Ketcham were crowned king and queen. Aspiring royals campaigned by raising money for the Florida Keys' AIDS Help organization. They collected nearly $142,000.

Fantasy Fest culminates Oct. 27 with a nighttime parade featuring costumed marching groups, Caribbean bands and floats.

This year's theme, "A-Conch-Alypse," spoofs an ancient apocalypse prophecy. The Florida Keys island chain was nicknamed the "Conch Republic" after a tongue-in-cheek secession from the U.S. in 1982.

Officials say the colorful annual event has a $30 million impact in the Keys. The first Fantasy Fest was in 1979.

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