Florida annual Fantasy Fest costume celebration in full swing

Pink wigs, tutus, risque body painting - it is the signs of Fantasy Fest costume celebration.

Photo: Florida annual Fantasy Fest costume celebration in full swing

More than 60,000 revelers are expected Saturday night for a decadent parade that is the highlight of the festival.

The 10-day festival ends Sunday and features more than 30 masked balls, street parties and costume contests for attendees eager to dress up, dress down or bare whatever they dare. However, festival and local law enforcement officials point out that those sensitive areas have to be covered up with something opaque.

Not all events are racy. Wednesday's pet masquerade and parade drew dozens of costumed dogs, cats and exotic animals including a python, an Australian bearded dragon nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) long and a year-old duck costumed as Elvis Presley.

Mark Friga of Rochester, New York, dressed in a bright pink wig, tutu and fishnet stockings and carried his dog Olivia, who also wore a frilled tutu.

"We are ballerinas," said Friga, a 60-year-old accountant. "It's amazing what a grown man will do for his dog."

Lisa McGann, of Tampa, brought her 25-pound (11.3-kilogram) tortoise Gammerita and a terrier dressed as a crustacean to accessorize her pirate wench costume.

"Our group consists of a Scottish terrier as a lobster, my husband is a pirate, I'm a pirate and this one here is turtle soup," said McGann as she pointed to Gammerita.