Zombie Bike Ride Key West in Florida: A Perfect Halloween Event
Last Updated: October 24th 2024.
On our Florida road trip back in 2014 we stumbled upon the zombie bike ride in Key West by accident. We had never heard of it before. We just saw some zombies on bikes riding by and then found out more about it. It was such a fun event. We enjoyed all the colorful zombies and different bikes they were riding on. A road trip is perfect for exploring local events and parts of a country. On a Florida road trip, Key West, Disney World Orlando and Everglades National Park are must-see stops.
What Is the Zombie Bike Ride Key West?
The Key West zombie bike ride is an event that’s part of Fantasy Fest. Fantasy Fest is a series of events in the lead up to Halloween. All the events take place in Key West. They’re all connected to Halloween. Fantasy Fest has over 60 parties, costumed marches, balls, street fairs and a parade. Each year has a different theme. The festival had its first edition in 1979. Since 2010 the bike ride is one of the events. This is one of the family friendly events of Fantasy Fest.
People dressed up as zombies on bikes participate in a 4-mile bike ride. Before the bike ride starts there’s Zombieland, a warm up to the bike ride with face painting and food trucks. After the bike ride there’s a DJ after party with food trucks.
So in other words if you want to see a plethora of different zombies riding on all sorts of bikes head over to Key West. If you want to dress up like a zombie and ride a bike, then you’ll also have to be at Key West in October.
When Is the Zombie Bike Ride Key West?
The zombie bike ride is each year in October. The event was created in 2010. The full name is We Cycle’s Zombie Bike Ride.
This year (2024) the event is happening on October 20th. Back in 2014 when we visited it was on October 19th. The ride starts at 6pm, at sunset. Zombieland starts at 2pm and is till 6pm, when the ride starts. The free DJ after party is from 6.30pm till 11pm. The ride has a $10 registration fee. The fee is to pay for needed insurance for each rider, cone rentals, street closures, permits and police officers.
Where Is It?
Zombieland is at the historic Fort East Martello. This is also where the ride starts. From the fort the ride goes down A1A, along the Atlantic Ocean, making it possible to witness the sunset. The ride passes the Zombie Beach Bash at Salute! On The Beach. Then it goes down to Duval Street. Duval Street is so to speak the main street of Key West’s downtown, with lots of stores, restaurants and bars. The after party is happening at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, also known as The Key West Amphitheater, on 21 Quay Road.
A police escort accompanies the ride along A1A towards Duval Street. The ride is 4 miles long in total. Bikes can be rented in Key West through the organization. Or you can bring your own bike. The ride started small in 2010, but now attracts some 7500 riders each year. Plus lots of spectators, who come to look at the ride and party. Lots of people stay on Duval Street, either to party or to keep on riding their bikes. So zombies, spectators and tourists mix on Duval Street. It’s crowded on Duval Street in the evening, with a good atmosphere.
Our Experience
We experienced part of the Fantasy Fest bike ride back in 2014 and loved it. When we arrived at our hotel in Key West we saw groups of zombie bike riders. They were probably on their way to the fort for the start of the ride. After checking in to our hotel we went to Mallory Square and enjoyed the sunset celebration there. The sunset at Key West truly belongs to the top of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. There’s lots of acts on the boulevard before, during and after the sunset that are fun to watch. We entered Duval Street around 7.30pm and the zombie bike parade was still going on. So we wandered among the zombie bikers.
Where to Stay
If you’re traveling as a family, beware that lots of hotels are adult only in Key West. We stayed one night at the Best Western Key Ambassador Resort Inn, which is now the Hampton Inn Key West. It’s on South Roosevelt Boulevard, also Highway A1A, with a view on the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel accepts families, and had a breakfast included when we stayed. There’s a swimming pool at the hotel.
Where to Eat
We had dinner at Wendy’s on Duval Street. We had some popcorn at the sunset celebration on Mallory Square from a vendor.
Hiring a Car and Airports
We arrived and left from Miami Airport. We rented a car from Alamo at this airport.
The closest international airport to Key West is Key West International Airport, located 4 miles/6 kilometers from Duval Street. Miami Airport is 161 miles/259 kilometers away from Duval Street. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 190 miles/306 kilometers driving from Duval Street.
So That’s All You Need to Know on the Zombie Bike Ride Key West
This is such a fun family Halloween event, just like Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
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12 Comments
simplyjolayne
I imagine if you weren’t expecting zombies, you’d be making alot of double takes as they all rode on past!
Linda (LD Holland)
A Zombie bike ride sounds like a fun event for Halloween in Key West. We saw a similar ride in New Orleans and everyone went way out with costumes. Definitely a fun family event to plan.
Sharyn
What fun. Particularly if you celebrate Halloween.
Leah
This looks so fun! I wish the UK celebrated Halloween as much as the US!
Felicia
I have never encountered an event like this! The zombie bike ride sounds like fun and the events around it really build community. Florida always surprises me.
Hege
This looks like so much fun! I have never heard about such an event before, the “adult version” of trick and treat, hehe! Thank you so much for sharing, and for all the detailed information!
Josy A
OMG bwahahaha this would be soooooo fun! What a brilliant idea and fun way to see the area and meet fun people!
Amabel Buck
What a fun and unique way to celebrate Halloween. Do you think it’s worth the money to take part in the bike ride or are you better off just attending the free events?
Anja
THis sounds so much fun – but where do you get the costumes from? Can you hire one along with the bicycle?
Lucia
This looks like so much fun, I wish we celebrated with the same hype here in Italy like in the states.
Sonia
Looks like fun to participate or just to watch! Can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this before after living in Miami for years.
Stephanie
This looks like so much fun! Mixing exercise and celebrating Halloween is the perfect duo.