Key Largo Florida’s Pirate Festival To Offer Revelry And Re-Enactments Oct. 17-19

KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — According to history and legend, the pirate Black Caesar roved Florida’s coastal waters in the early 19th century. According to the organizers of the Key Largo Pirate Festival, set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 17-19, the notorious pirate will make a comeback during the festival.

The festivities are to kick off Friday with a parade down U.S. Highway 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Tiki Bar, mile marker (MM) 100 oceanside — just miles from the place where Black Caesar is thought to have maintained a harem and buried treasure worth millions.

The parade continues to Bayside Grill at 6:30 p.m. for float judging and a costume contest. The Pirate Bash on the Bay starts at 8:00 p.m. with live music by Jimmy Ray, Grub and Grog. Tickets for the bash are $20 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Pirate aficionados eager to come face-to-face with the fearsome pirate — or at least his modern-day stand-in — are likely to do so Saturday, Oct. 18, from noon to 11 p.m. at MM 104 bayside. He and his buccaneer brethren might be spotted haunting the Pirate Bazaar and Thieves’ Market, set to begin at noon at the Big Chill, Sundowners, Cactus Jacks & SeГѓВ±or Frijoles. Pirate paraphernalia, memorabilia and art are to be among the attractions for attendees.

At 2 p.m., scallywags take to the high seas for the Underwater Pirates’ Poker Tournament hosted by Sun Cruz Casinos. Along with an above-water contest open to the public, the underwater action is part of a three-day Pirates’ Poker Challenge that coincides with the festival.

For nongambling types, a concert on the water on Blackwater Sound also commences at 2 p.m. off Sundowners and the Big Chill bayside complex.

The pillaging and plundering is to intensify at 6 p.m. as pirates invade Key Largo in a professionally choreographed re-enactment of Black Caesar’s return — complete with artillery line, encampments, battles and skits on Blackwater Sound. Like the concert, these can be viewed from Sundowners and the Big Chill.

Grog, grooves and golden treasure abound as the bazaar continues well past the blasts of festive fireworks set for 9 p.m.

The action Sunday, Oct. 19, is to include Black Caesar’s By-Land-or-Sea Booty Hunt beginning at Sundowners, MM 104, at 11 a.m. Pirates are expected to hit ports of call such as Bayside Grille, Snappers, Mandalay, Pilot House, Coconuts and Gilbert’s Resort.

Key Largo Pirate Festival organizers also plan to host The Good, The Bad & The Ugly costume contest at a location yet to be determined. Prizes up for grabs are to reward the sexiest and scariest pirates, best buccaneer and best wench. In addition, revelers can enter conveyances including bikes, cars and boats in the contest for best-decorated transportation.

The Pirate Festival is to culminate in a Buccaneer Finale at Gilbert’s Resort and Marina, MM 108 bayside. Attendees can expect to find wild-eyed pirates jiving to live music and imbibing the island’s grub and grog before the climactic handing over of the loot.

For festival information, visit www.keylargopiratesfest.com or call (305) 394-3736.

For information on area accommodations, call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at (800) 822-1088 or (305) 451-4747, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com

September 24, 2008   Posted in: United States SouthEast