Pirate Festival plunders Beach
Celebrate the Columbus Day weekend by taking part in the 2009 Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival this Friday through Sunday. Presented by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, this year’s festivities begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, with a pirate welcome party at the Lani Kai Resort.
The fourth annual event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with a Pirate invasion -a parade of pirates wandering Old San Carlos Boulevard beginning at the Bayside stage (at the Town’s water fountain near Snug Harbor Restaurant). The festival will also feature a Pirate Quest treasure hunt; costume contest; fight ring; Saturday evening pub crawl; a Sunday evening pirate ball; and a ship-to-shore battle with black powder cannon and small arms fire.
There will be two stages of live entertainment -the campground stage (stationed behind Surf Pie Pizza) and the Bayside stage- on Saturday and Sunday which will involve pirate crews, actors, storytellers and musicians from across the state of Florida.
“There is so much excitement about it,” said chairperson Jessie Titus. “A lot of the volunteers, including council members, are getting involved.”
The Shipwreck Motel is the flagship sponsor of the Pirate Festival. Captain sponsors include The Beach Observer; Beach Bulletin; Lani Kai Beach Resort; Lighthouse Resort; Yucatan Beach Stand; Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise; Sunstream Hotels & Resorts; and Suzuki of Fort Myers.
Nine pirate groups are expected to attend the festival. They are:
n ARRR Ink.: Acme Rogue and Ruffian Recruiters, is a pirate crew based in the Tampa Bay area who focus on recruiting children to become pirates.
n Pieces of Eight: These local plunderers are from the life-sized, 65-foot galleon of the same name which is owned and operated by Salty Sam’s Marina.
n The Holland Days Crew: This crew was founded at the First Annual Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival and has done theater promotions for Pirates of the Caribbean II and III.
n The Skeleton Crew: Captain Robert Flood’s gang include Ship Navigator Rachael McBride, First Mate Palastyne Foote and Helmsman Kathleen “Jingles” Scott.
n The Bone Island Buccaneers; These members have appeared on PBS, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, Comcast Spotlight, NPR, CBS, Fox Television, and Clear Channel Radio with a stage show consisting of singing, dialogue, live-steel swordplay, and live-fire black powder weapons
n The Cay Sal Pyrates: These scallywags are mostly located in the Florida Keys and are a group of performers that reenact Pyrates from the “Golden Age of Pyracy in the Carribean” around the 1700’s.
n The Pirates of the Anne Gare: Led by ships captain Oarville, First Mate Groggy and right-handed right-hand man Bildgewater, these marauders are considered by most as the deadliest stage show to sink in all seven seas.
n Pirates of the Sand: A crew of professional sand sculptors, also known as the Sand Lubbers. Their specialty is creating Pirate-themed sand sculptures while dressed in authentic Pirate clothing.
n Royal Chessman: Captain Nigel Southwick’s crew includes Harpoon Abby, Becky Blackheart and Scottie O’Brien Smith (SOS).
For a complete listing of scheduling of events, go to www.beachpiratefestival.com
TERRY —–USE THIS AS BOX IF YOU HAVE SPACE—
Schedule of Events
n Friday, Oct. 9
Pirate Welcome Party – All Pirates
4 p.m. 10 p.m. Lani Kai Island Resort at 1400 Estero Blvd.
n Saturday, Oct. 10
Bayside Area Special Events – All Pirates
10 10:30 a.m. The Back Bay plays host to the Pirate Invasion
Noon 12:45 p.m. Back Bay comes to life for the Ship to Shore Sea Battle.
1:15 1:45 p.m. Join the pirates in grievance fights at the fight circle.
5:00 – ????? Closing cannons with a retreat to the Pirates Party at the Tiki Bar at The Light House Resort at 1051 Fifth Avenue
Bayside Area Stage – Featured Performers
Times – Act | Performers – Times and Acts Subject to Change.
10:30 – 11 a.m. Pirates of the Anne Gare: Comedy Show
11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Pyrates of Tortuga: Singing and Comedy
Noon – 1 p.m. Closed
1:15 – 1:45 p.m. Troupe Sahirnee: Belly Dancers
2 – 2:30 p.m. Pirates of the Anne Gare: Comedy Show
2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Pyrates of Tortuga: Singing and Comedy
3:30 – 4 p.m. Troupe Sahirnee: Belly Dancers
4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Pirates of the Anne Gare: R Rated Show
Campground Stage – Featured Performers
Times – Act | Performers
10:45 a.m.- 11:15 a.m. By the Sword: Piratical Mayhem.
11:30 a.m. – Noon ARRR. Ink: Pirate Comedy
1:30 – 2 p.m. Pirate Tales: Music and Comedy
2:15 – 2:45 p.m. By the Sword: piratical Mayhem
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. ARRR. Ink: Pirate Comedy
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Pirate Tales: Music and Comedy
n Sunday, Oct. 11
10 10:30 a.m. The Back Bay Plays host to the Pirate Invasion
Noon 12:45 p.m. Back Bay comes to life for the Ship to Shore Sea Battle.
5 – ????? Closing cannons with a retreat to the Pirates Party at the Tiki Bar at The Light House Resort at 1051 Fifth Avenue
10:30 – 11 a.m. Pyrates of Tortuga: Singing and Comedy
11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Troupe Sahirnee: Belly Dancers
3:30 – 4 p.m. Troupe Sahirnee: Belly Dancers
10:45 – 11:15 p.m. ARRR. Ink: Pirate Comedy
11:30 – Noon Pirate Tales: Music and Comedy
Noon – 1 p.m. Closed
1:30 – 2 p.m. By the Sword: piratical Mayhem
2:15 – 2:45 p.m. ARRR. Ink: Pirate Comedy
3 – 3:30 p.m. Pirate Tales: Music and Comedy
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. By the Sword: piratical Mayhem