Avast ye! A Tybee tradition returns this weekend. This highly-anticipated event is none other than the Tybee Island Pirate Fest. Dating back to 2005, the Pirate Fest is a bold celebration of buccaneers spanning three days throughout the island. It’s your invitation to escape the ordinary, if only for a weekend. This year’s festival will take place Oct. 6-8, and there’s a lot to look forward to.
The festivities kick off on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. with the Buccaneer Ball, which is held at The Crab Shack. There will be grub, grog, and great music and dancing. That evening, the King and Queen of pirates will be crowned, and they will reign over the weekend. There are only a few tickets remaining, so get yours before they’re gone.
On Friday, the 7th, festival goers can enjoy a scaled down street party with live music from 5 to 11 p.m. at the South Beach parking lot. Live acts include the Anders Thomsen Trio, The Al Gore Rhythms and Ember City. Attendance is free.
Following on Saturday, there will be more live music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the pirate parade will kick off at 3 p.m. The parade route is from 6th St. to Tybrisa St. After the parade there will be a costume contest, so don your best pirate garb and let the Jolly Roger fly. Following the contest, ye swashbucklers can enjoy more live acts, including Unifya, Thomas Claxton, 8 Mile Bend and Liquid Ginger. The festival is free on Saturday as well.
Though the festival is a little smaller than previous years, there’s still a lot of fun to be had. Landlubbers and seafarers alike are invited to come out and enjoy everything the Tybee Island Pirate Fest has to offer.
