40th anniversary of the Headdress Ball
Presented Thursday Evening October 26, 2023 at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater,
Truman Waterfront Park Gates open 6:30 PM, Performance is at 8:00 PM. Free Parking.
4 Top Tables $320, $270. Chair seating, $32, grass $30. Tickets available online at www.keystix.com.
Presentation of Headdress creations vying for cash prizes: first place $3,000, 2nd $1.000, Third $500.
Welcome by Key West Mayor Teri Johnson. The newly elected King and Queen of Fantasy Fest officially open the show.
Performances by ten top Key West Talents. Emcee Laurie Thibaud. Opening act. Randy Roberts. All talent has given their time free.
Food and Beverage Service by Margaritaville and Michael Gagliardi.
Primary sponsors: First Horizon Bank and Destination Florida Keys and Key West magazine.
Meet and greet following the performance at Mangoes restaurant, 700 Dural Street. Free Entry, cash bar.
Cori Convirtito curator of the Key West Art and Historical Society, announces an exhibit of the entered headdresses to celebrated the 40th anniversary the Customs House Museum, 201 Front Street, from November 10-December 3, 2023.
Monies received from the Headdress Bal are combined with Tourist Development Association grants to advertise Key West as a primary LGBTQ+ destination in the US and Europe.
History: The Headdress Ball was one of the first events of the newly organized Fantasy Fest celebration in the early 1980s. First one held at the old Monster Bar (Now the Hog’s Breath) on Front Street. The Headdress Ball presented the Headdresses and Pretenders in Paradise, presented by the Pier House two days later, presented the full elaborate costumes.
As it grew, the Headdress Ball was moved to the Copa Dance Club when it opened in 1985 at 623 Duval Street. (now the Wyland Gallery.) Bleachers were put on Duval Street so people could watch the elaborate Headdresses entries arrive. This was the disco era, so the Headdress Ball consisted of an elaborate disco dance with Miami’s top DJs and the Headdress entries….hence the name “Headdress Ball.”
When the Copa burned down, the ball moved to the Bourbon Street Pub, The Eaton Street Theater (Now Key West Theater) and then was produced under at tent at the Atlantic Shore Resort. Table seating was added. When the Shores closed the Southernmost Hotel hosted the event in their parking lot. The Headdress Ball outgrew that location and was moved to a bigger tent at the Truman Waterfront Park. In 2017 Key West Mayor Craig Cates and the City of Key West afforded the Headdress Ball the honor of first to perform at the new Coffee Butler Amphitheater (right after Hurricane Irma.) Since the full food and beverage service has been added, together with the event’s own playbill in 2019. The cover photo on the playbill is the last year’s first place winner.
Covid eliminated the 2020 and 2021 performances of Headdress. Because the Guild had collected ticket money in advance, they presented a makeup Headdress Bal at Mardi gras in 2022 Followed by the regular Fantasy Fest edition in the fall.
Key West Business Guild’s Community Liaison Pete Arnow has organized the Headdress Ball for the past 30 years assisted by Fringe Theater’s Rebecca Tomlinson as Stage Manager and WEOW/92.7’s morning personality Rude Girl for the music.
For more information: Pete Arnow: 305-923-9645
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