2019 Tybee Island Pirate Festival
Avast ye, scurvy dogs! An event of seismic proportion is drawing nearer, and it ain’t for the faint of heart. Now in its 15th year, the 2019 Tybee Island Pirate Festival will sail in on Thursday, October 10th, and the seaworthy celebration will continue all weekend long. Pirate parties, parades and pub crawl will fill the four-day fest, so come rowdy and ready to have a blimey good time. Here’s just a wee taste of the treasure that awaits you at the Pirate Fest.
Buccaneer Ball
Thursday, October 10th
Tradition holds that the festivities always commence at The Crab Shack with the annual Buccaneer Ball. Hosted by the BlackHarts, Dungeon Dan, and Kruel Kathy, and the buccaneer beauty Lady Lindsey Lee, this year’s ball will rival all others. Open to pirates and wenches 18 and up, the Buccaneer Ball is a time to eat, drink and be merry. Don your best coats and frocks and enjoy a sumptuous bounty of seafarers and spirits amid The Crab Shack’s spectacular marina views. Raise your rum to toast the crowned 2019 festival King and Queen. And look forward to new entertainment, a costume contest and so much more. Tickets are on sale now.
2019 Tybee Island Pirate Festival
Friday, October 11th
The festival really sets sail on Friday with the opening ceremony. At the Strand Parking Lot from 5 to 11 pm, pirates and their seafaring families can look forward to a flurry of activity. Discover endless treasures from all corners of the earth at the Thieves Market. Enchant the young ones with a trip to Little Matey’s Cove, with rides and games, an exotic menagerie, magician and more, It’s sure to shiver yer timbers. Friday festival tickets are just $12 per person, and kids 12 can get onboard for free!
Saturday, October 12th
Saturday is the big day to attend the Pirate Fest because there’s so much in store. Little Matey’s Cove, the Thieves Market will continue through the weekend, but several highlight events are limited to Saturday only. Sea chanteys will blast from the main stage from 11 am to 11 pm, courtesy of some of our favorite bands. The Children and Pets Costumes Contest will captivate crowds with cuteness from 1 to 1:30 pm in eager anticipation of the main event: the annual Pirate Victory Parade. Watch seaworthy vessels fly the Jolly Roger throughout Tybee’s streets as they toss out treasures to the crowd. Famous – or perhaps infamous – for spectacular ships and bold, brazen buccaneers, this year’s parade will sail from 3 to 5 pm. Right after the parade make your way to the main stage for the Adult Pirate, Wench and Krew costume contest, be warned this one gets a bit rowdy. After the contests, grab some grub and prepare for the headlining performers, Lez Zepplin & Great White.
Sunday, October 13th
The 2019 Tybee Island Pirate Festival will close with a special treasure, a free festival day. It’s your last chance to have one final jig with the hardiest pirates in all the Atlantic before the fest packs up and sets out on the sea once more. The Pirate Festival won’t land on Tybee’s shores again for another year, so be sure to be there this time around.
Escape the Ordinary… If only for a Weekend!
About the Author:
Chantel Baul
Chantel Baul is a Savannah native with a knack for writing and an ever-growing curiosity. She received her BA in English and Professional Communications from Armstrong State University, and when she’s not writing she’s serving the country as a US Army Reserve Officer. She’s an NPR nerd/foodie with a deep passion for all things travel, sustainable living and fun.
