Welcome to the Minions of Key West How to join The Minions extends an open invitation to anyone with an interest in participating in the Fantasy Fest parade. 1). To become a member, first see the costume dress code requirements and guidelines page. This will familiarize you with the theme of the float and what kind of costume you will need to be in the crew. 2). Download and sign a Release Form. These are required by the Fantasy Fest office. That's it. The Minions does not charge a fee to be a member but all crew must comply with the mandatory costume and dress code guidelines. A suggested donation of $25 is appreciated but not required. Members are encouraged to contribute whatever talents, skills or resources they have to help make the float a success. Questions about all other donations in the form of sponsorship, volunteers, building supplies, drinks, beads, can be directed to the email address. minions@islandalien.com Keep reading below to learn more about the Minions and the fun, exciting, and often tumultuous behind the scenes world of the Fantasy Fest Parade. About the Minions The Minions is an award winning team of artists, designers, engineers and craftsmen specializing in floats, costumes and media for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade. Some of our founding members have been producing floats and costumes for the Headdress Ball, Pretenders in Paradise show, and the Masquerade March since 1987, and have consistently placed within the top 10 best floats in the Fantasy Fest Parade. What makes the Minions different? The Minions is not a "Krewe" in the traditional sense of the word. We do not have secret identities, wear masks, have dues, fees or eligibility requirements. This is why we refer to ourselves as a "crew", or simply a float building team. The Minions does not charge a fee to be a member. A contribution of $25 is appreciated but not required. We invite anyone to join our group free of charge as long as they have the correct costume. The Minions is not a reused, rental or party barge float. Although we can party just as hard as any other float in the parade, (sometimes harder) our primary focus is to present a float that is first and foremost "artistic" and "original", unique, poignant, inspiring, visually appealing, and just fun to be on. We strive to offer a one-of-a-kind 'signature float', where the theme is threaded through every aspect of the presentation, from the costumes and music, posters and swag, down to the simplest throws. Each component is tailored to provide a unique and memorable experience. The Minions design and build a new float every year. We never use the same float or costumes twice. Every float we make is designed to conform with the theme of Fantasy Fest and the specific theme or title of our entry. We are one of the few remaining crews in Key West that still builds their own floats from scratch. The Fantasy Fest Parade itself is unique and different from any other festival of its kind. Smaller and more intimate than Mardi Gras or Carnival, Fantasy Fest just has a more personal, artistic, home made "kitschy" feel to it which is sometimes described as 'a satire of a real home town parade'. It is the goal of the Minions to produce an entry that takes the theme of the parade and puts a Key West spin on it. Interpretations that are funny, clever, relevant, topical, whimsical, colorful, fun, a little sexy, erotic, provocative, mischievous, but not at the expense of being offensive or vulgar. This is what we believe Fantasy Fest is meant to be. Fantasy Fest is one of the most fun colorful creative events of its kind anywhere in the world and we are lucky to have it. The Minions is an established, dedicated and passionate team. We are grateful and honored for the privilege to participate in showing there is still a bit of magic in the world, and it can be found in Key West.