The Official Tourism Council Web Site for the Florida Keys! Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West

he internationally renowned gay and lesbian resort destination of Key West is to celebrate its exuberant diversity Saturday, June 7, through Sunday, June 15, during PrideFest 2008.

Themed "Stand Proud Together," PrideFest is presented by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West and encompasses more than 20 events.

A kick-off party is scheduled Saturday evening, June 7, in the Crystal Room at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St.

From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8, visitors can tour several appealing homes and gardens — discovering tropical chic, island style, lush gardens and a warm welcome.

Competitions for the Mr., Ms. and Miss PrideFest titles are among the
festival's annual highlights. The Mr. PrideFest contest is set for 8 p.m.
Sunday at the Bourbon St. Pub,
724 Duval St. The Ms. PrideFest
title is to be awarded at an 8 p.m.
event Tuesday, June 10, at Aqua,
711 Duval St. while the battle for the
Miss PrideFest crown begins at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 11, at La Te Da.

The Gay and Lesbian Community
Center and the Key West Business
Guild, America's oldest gay and
lesbian business organization,
are planning a PrideFest mixer
Wednesday to welcome revelers.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at
Island House, 1129 Fleming St.

PrideFest attendees also can view a hilarious performance of "Naked Boys Singing." The musical revue, whose 16 songs salute male nudity, is set for 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Waterfront Playhouse beside Mallory Square.

The PrideFest Street Fair is to unfold in the 700 through 900 blocks of legendary Duval Street Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14 — and Saturday's highlight is the 7 p.m. Pride Parade down Duval. Everyone is invited to join in the lively procession — whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight or transgendered. A Pride Ball is to follow at Aqua.

Other PrideFest standouts include an Equality Florida forum emphasizing legislation regarding gay marriage and gay adoption, the Celebrating Achievements in Pride awards and galas for "bad boys" and "bad girls."

The final event is a farewell tea dance set for 4 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at La Te Da.

PrideFest is a fundraiser for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West. For a schedule of events and admission costs, visit pridefestkeywest.com or call (305) 292-3223.

ore than 100 value-added Florida Keys & Key West vacation offers are now available on the Keys tourism council's official Web site at fla-keys.com. Coupons can be downloaded and printed from any personal computer.

KeysKash values are being offered by historic and nature attractions,
museums, water-sports operators, dive and snorkel centers, restaurants
and bars, bed-and-breakfast accommo-
dations, full-service resorts and other
enterprises throughout the Keys.

Offerings range from additional nights at
lodging properties such as the women-
only Pearl's Rainbow to special prices at
the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conser-
vatory — and even free admission to a
drag cabaret performance at Key West's renowned 801 Bar.

The KeysKash program should help visitors maximize their spring and summer vacation dollars.

ey West is set to reach fever pitch during Tropical Heat, a long weekend of adventurous adult fun for gay men and their friends scheduled Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 7-10. Sultry temperatures make August the perfect month for the planned events including those that are clothing optional.

Tropical Heat is coordinated by the Key West Business Guild, the island city's GLBT and allied chamber of commerce–type organization since 1978. It includes four days of revelry and a packed schedule of lightheartedly decadent events on America's best-known subtropical island.

Business participants typically include bars and clubs, restaurants, scuba and excursion boat operators. Together, their offerings combine into an intriguing, exotic weekend designed to make the mercury jump dramatically.

In fact, organizers advise Tropical Heat attendees to bring along some powerful sunscreen to ward off burns — because a sizzling good time is virtually guaranteed.

For more fever-inducing details, including an event schedule and purchase information for all-access passes, visit the event's Web site at tropicalheatkw.com.

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The 22nd annual Womenfest, a celebration of all things female designed for lesbians and their friends, is set for Tuesday through Sunday, Sept. 2-7. Typically attracting several thousand women, the festival takes place on America's southernmost island of Key West, renowned for its enthusiastic diversity — and women eager to experience the revelry are encouraged to make plans now to attend. Each year, the Womenfest schedule overflows with events for sports-loving, party-loving attendees. Planned activities include women-only watersports excursions, clothing-optional pool parties, lively dance-club evenings and even sexy and competitive bull riding. Those seeking a quieter pace can enjoy the film, art, live music, theater and comedic offerings that typically characterize Womenfest — and the unique cultural scene of Key West. Womenfest is presented by the Key West Business Guild. For festival details and lodging information, visit womenfest.com or call the guild at (305) 294-4603. Key West's wildest party turns bipartisan when Fantasy Fest, the island city's outrageous annual costuming and masking festival, takes aim at America's upcoming presidential elections. Set for Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 26, the rowdy revel is themed "Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals." Fantasy Fest offers 10 days of masquerade balls, quirky costume contests and other delicious delights — topped by a glittering grand parade with floats as elaborate as candidates' pre-election promises. The action begins with a Royal Coronation Ball, where voters help elect the festival king and queen. Scheduled Friday, Oct. 17, the coronation caps a two-month fundraising campaign to benefit the Keys' AIDS Help Inc. Political glory undoubtedly goes to some candidates' heads — ideal for Tuesday's Headdress Ball, one of the festival's premier gay and lesbian events. Participants can earn big prizes for decorated headgear like rogues' tricorns, wizards' cowls or flamboyant feathered creations. Saturday, Oct. 25, tens of thousands of spectators will view the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade of feather- bedecked marching groups, Caribbean bands and enormous, lavishly decorated motorized floats. Many are likely to feature a pre-election political focus ... spiced with a characteristic Key West twist. For more details, visit fantasyfest.net. In a tradition that began in the late 1970s, fans of Sunday Tea Dance can find it at La Te Da, Key West's legendary boutique hotel that stands at 1125 Duval St. The infamous poolside dance party was started by La Te Da's founder, Lawrence Formica, and was held on the property well into the 1990s. Though it later migrated to other venues, tradition prevailed in the summer of 2006 and Sunday Tea Dance "came home." A great place for locals and visitors to meet, the Sunday soiree takes place poolside from 4-6 p.m. each week. DJ Junior spins tunes, specialty drinks abound and the theme changes weekly, with giveaways and costuming opportunities to match. Admission to the tantalizing tea dance is free. For more information about La Te Da, visit lateda.com.		he internationally renowned gay and lesbian resort destination of Key West is to celebrate its exuberant diversity Saturday, June 7, through Sunday, June 15, during PrideFest 2008. Themed "Stand Proud Together," PrideFest is presented by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West and encompasses more than 20 events. A kick-off party is scheduled Saturday evening, June 7, in the Crystal Room at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St. From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8, visitors can tour several appealing homes and gardens — discovering tropical chic, island style, lush gardens and a warm welcome. Competitions for the Mr., Ms. and Miss PrideFest titles are among the festival's annual highlights. The Mr. PrideFest contest is set for 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bourbon St. Pub, 724 Duval St. The Ms. PrideFest title is to be awarded at an 8 p.m. event Tuesday, June 10, at Aqua, 711 Duval St. while the battle for the Miss PrideFest crown begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at La Te Da. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center and the Key West Business Guild, America's oldest gay and lesbian business organization, are planning a PrideFest mixer Wednesday to welcome revelers. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. PrideFest attendees also can view a hilarious performance of "Naked Boys Singing." The musical revue, whose 16 songs salute male nudity, is set for 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Waterfront Playhouse beside Mallory Square. The PrideFest Street Fair is to unfold in the 700 through 900 blocks of legendary Duval Street Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14 — and Saturday's highlight is the 7 p.m. Pride Parade down Duval. Everyone is invited to join in the lively procession — whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight or transgendered. A Pride Ball is to follow at Aqua. Other PrideFest standouts include an Equality Florida forum emphasizing legislation regarding gay marriage and gay adoption, the Celebrating Achievements in Pride awards and galas for "bad boys" and "bad girls." The final event is a farewell tea dance set for 4 p.m. Sunday, June 15, at La Te Da. PrideFest is a fundraiser for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West. For a schedule of events and admission costs, visit pridefestkeywest.com or call (305) 292-3223. ore than 100 value-added Florida Keys & Key West vacation offers are now available on the Keys tourism council's official Web site at fla-keys.com. Coupons can be downloaded and printed from any personal computer. KeysKash values are being offered by historic and nature attractions, museums, water-sports operators, dive and snorkel centers, restaurants and bars, bed-and-breakfast accommo- dations, full-service resorts and other enterprises throughout the Keys. Offerings range from additional nights at lodging properties such as the women- only Pearl's Rainbow to special prices at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conser- vatory — and even free admission to a drag cabaret performance at Key West's renowned 801 Bar. The KeysKash program should help visitors maximize their spring and summer vacation dollars. ey West is set to reach fever pitch during Tropical Heat, a long weekend of adventurous adult fun for gay men and their friends scheduled Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 7-10. Sultry temperatures make August the perfect month for the planned events including those that are clothing optional. Tropical Heat is coordinated by the Key West Business Guild, the island city's GLBT and allied chamber of commerce–type organization since 1978. It includes four days of revelry and a packed schedule of lightheartedly decadent events on America's best-known subtropical island. Business participants typically include bars and clubs, restaurants, scuba and excursion boat operators. Together, their offerings combine into an intriguing, exotic weekend designed to make the mercury jump dramatically. In fact, organizers advise Tropical Heat attendees to bring along some powerful sunscreen to ward off burns — because a sizzling good time is virtually guaranteed. For more fever-inducing details, including an event schedule and purchase information for all-access passes, visit the event's Web site at tropicalheatkw.com.


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Florida Keys Tourist Development Council 1201 White Street, Key West, FL 33040 1-800-FLA-KEYS This e-mail address was subscribed to this newsletter by the recipient on fla-keys.com. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.