On Friday night, for the first time since 2019, a new Fantasy Fest royal court has been crowned, with Fran Decker, center right, crowned Queen, and Carlos Home, center left, crowned King. Vicky Shields, left, and DJ Sanaris, right, won the Duchess and Duke titles, respectively. Together, the 2022 royal court candidates raised an impressive $305,637.00 for AH Monroe, Inc. (Photo: Carol Tedesco/Fantasy Fest.com)

New Fantasy Fest Royal Court Crowned on Friday night

Some 500 loyal subjects and a cadre of Fantasy Fest royalty spanning decades celebrated with uniquely Key West pomp and circumstance at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Friday night as Carlos Home and Fran Decker were crowned the new reigning King and Queen of Fantasy Fest, with all of the title’s associated power, glory, and responsibilities. The 2022 royal court inauguration was completed with Vicky Shields and DJ Sanaris installed as Duchess and Duke.

Fantasy Fest royal courts, rather than gaining their crowns via coup, earn them through heroic fundraising efforts, with tireless and often outrageously imaginative campaigns that take place over about eight weeks each year, culminating in a grand coronation and the official kick off of the annual Key West Fantasy Fest celebration. The two who raise the most dollars win the coveted Queen and King titles; runners up serve as Duke and Duchess. Together, this year’s candidates raised an impressive $305,637.00.

Since the competition’s inception more than 30 years ago, 64 Queen and King pairings have been crowned, along with a vast plethora of Dukes and Duchesses, and in those years, more than $5 million has been raised, traditionally for the benefit of AH Monroe, Inc., formerly AIDS Help.

This year, AH Monroe executive director Scott Pridgen and Fantasy Fest board chair Steve Robbins announced to the audience that the time has come to pass the fundraising/beneficiary torch, and that the Tourist Development Association has selected the Florida Keys SPCA as the new Royal Campaign organizers and beneficiaries.

“On behalf of all of us at the Florida Keys SPCA — the humans and the animals alike — I want to profoundly thank the Key West Tourism Development Association for passing the mantle of the Royal Campaign over to us. We are honored and humbled by this opportunity, and we thank AH Monroe, Inc., for building a program of such epic proportions and for giving so much to the community for so many years. Thank you for your support; we will strive to make you proud. And I look forward to seeing you all back here again next year,” said FKSPCA board president Jeffrey Johnson from the stage.

The evening’s revelry included a sit down dinner, and was rounded out with a two-hour stage show of entertainment hosted by Bria Ansara and Erin McKenna, which included a performance of “So Long, Farewell,” from the musical “The Sound of Music,” in a comic sendup to the previous King and Queen, Ryan Acker and Karen Frank-Noll, who’d held their titles for an unprecedented three years due to the pandemic.

This year’s “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos” themed Fantasy Fest features more than 80 events including Goombay Festival, a Heroes & Villains 5K Run/Walk, the wildly enchanting Pet Masquerade, the Captain Morgan Masquerade March (aka local’s parade), and the world famous Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade,

Fantasy Fest 2022 is presented in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For a full calendar of events and contests visit http://www.fantasyfest.com.

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