In the original Star Trek television series, there was an episode called 'The Return of the Archons,' wherein the crew of the Enterprise find a culture that is utterly placid and somewhat mechanical. </p><p>Once each year, the inhabitants change from normal, peaceful people to a mob at the coming of what is called the Red Hour. The crowd screams, "Festival! Festival! Festival!" </p><p>What follows is every form of undisciplined debauchery one can imagine. This 'Festival' is the society's only outlet for the tyrannical hold their leader has over them at all other times of the year. </p><p>At the end of Red Hour, everybody suddenly becomes peacefully calm and socially appropriate again...</p><p>- Clinical psychologist, Florida Keys resident Dr. Stephen A. Ragusea, and avowed fan on how he sometimes thinks of Fantasy Fest.</p><p>Regardless of whether you consider yourself among the liberated, the repressed or somewhere in between, Key West's Fantasy Fest offers a cascade of all-out shenanigans that make the spirit soar. </p><p>This year's theme - "Villains, Vixens and Vampires" - promises to free the kinds of deliciously wicked and bawdy qualities that tend to lurk quietly within even the most well-tamed hearts. </p><p>From the crowning of Fantasy Fest's King and Queen at the Royal Coronation Ball Friday night until "The Fat Lady Sings" Sunday, Nov. 1, this year's 30th annual extravaganza has scheduled an astonishing array of fun, frolic, frivolity and more.</p><p>Among the most popular of the events are the Pretenders in Paradise costume contest, the 27th Annual Headdress ball, a host of fetish parties, the WKEY Pet Masquerade and Parade, The Fairvilla Megastore Masquerade March through Old Town and the Duval Street Fair and Promenade. </p><p>Excitement reaches its peak on Halloween night, Oct. 31, during the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, a wildly exuberant spectacle packed with floats, marching bands, costumed walking groups and dancers. This 23-block tour of Whitehead, Front and Duval Streets kicks off at 7 p.m. </p><p>The parade, meticulously coordinated by Judi Bradford, is ushered along, in part, by scores of Madness Ambassadors, a corps of volunteers primarily tasked with keeping the procession rolling smoothly and safely. </p><p>Dr. Ragusea, himself a veteran Ambassador, considers the effort a good turn for the community and a great chance to add to his ever-growing cache of wacky Keys lore. "My favorite moment occurred one year when a guy suddenly jumped over the curb barrier wearing nothing but his shorts. He dropped his pants and stood there on Duval Street, stark naked while his friends took photos. A police officer walked over, looked him up and down very slowly and carefully, and then, looking him straight in the eye, said, 'Well, you've destroyed the myth and mystique for ME...put your pants on, buster!' He did, and she went back to her station. Most people in the crowd are just great and no problem at all."</p><p>Founded 30 years ago by members of the island's business community including Joe Liszka, Tony Falcone, Bill Conkle and Frank Romano, the original intent was to promote tourism during what had traditionally been Key West's slowest season. The festival grew, then flourished amid a wave of international publicity. </p><p>Fantasy Fest has reshaped late October into the "peak" season for Key West's tourism economy, producing more revenue that one week than any other. And the variety of opportunities the festival offers for adult play continues to attract those who transform themselves for an escape from everyday doldrums.</p><p>"Sometimes," Dr. Ragusea says, "people require the protection of a mask to do even innocent things that are beyond the limits of their normal daily personas and, in those cases, I think costumes are a good thing." </p><p>But villains, vixens and vampires of all varieties are advised to choose their attire carefully-and legally-so that when it's time to resume normal life once again, you'll be able to do so without having destroyed human myth and mystique for hard-working law enforcement personnel. </p><p>“Officers will be warning people that even within the Fantasy Zone, opaque body paint is not considered sufficient covering for areas below the waist,” says KWPD spokesperson Alyson Crean. “But with good cooperation on everyone’s part, this year’s Fantasy Fest will be the fun, peaceful event it always has been.”