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Key West's Fantasy Fest Draws To An End

KEY WEST (CBSMiami/AP) - Key West's annual Fantasy Fest comes to a close Sunday with a carnival for the kids.

Playing off this year's theme of "Aquatic Afrolic" floats and bands in Saturday night's parade included a purple octopus with scantily clad women in its tentacles, a ship carrying King Neptune surrounded by mermaids and a "splash park" float with functioning water slides.

Slideshow: Fantasy Fest 2011

More than 50,000 revelers attended the parade down the city's famously raucous Duval Street.

Fantasy Fest debuted in 1979 to bolster tourism during a slow period. Tourism officials say the festival pumps some $30 million into the Florida Keys economy each year.

Next year's Fantasy Fest opens Oct. 19 with the theme "A-Conch-Alypse."

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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