It's A Pirate's Life For Me: Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival

by Alisha Diaz

One of my favorite local events to attend every year is the Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival! (Link: http://www.fmbpiratefest.com/) My sister and I will wake up early, put on our intricate pirate costumes, grab a coffee, and make our way down to Fort Myers Beach. We like to go in the morning while it's not so hot, and we can actually find a parking spot. It's a family-friendly event in the morning, and towards the night it becomes more of a party. Since we are more from the family-friendly crowd, we usually leave after a late lunch.

 

Once you have parked and entered the festival location, you will see tons of shops. Besides parking money, I would suggest bringing cash. These mini-shops are located in tents in the center of the road. Most of them will be selling pirate goodies, but some of them will just have crafty items or just local advertisements.

 

The photo opportunities are great! So many people put time and money into their pirate costumes. Many of these people travel around the country and sell pirate goods for their living. They will even stay in character the whole day. I love it! I did make my costume myself, but I could never do this full time. The Captain Jack Sparrow professional impersonator was my favorite. He even complimented my costume and was pleased to hear that I made it myself. It totally made my day!]

There is no lack of entertainment at this pirate festival. There is a whole children's section available. They have a few games and activities set up just for them. They have a scavenger hunt where the kids have to find certain pirates and get their autograph. The first few that get them all get a prize. There may be small prizes for completing the mission as well. Every year is different, and one time they had animals! I was too scared to hold the huge snake, but I was ok with holding the alligator. There is usually a performance of some type every year. Pictured below is a "shootout" play. Though the play may change, what you can count on is the pirate ship. It will load up with a crew and "shoot cannons." Of course, they are blanks, but they are so loud that they will echo throughout the town.

The live music is also my favorite. They will have fiddles, drums, bagpipes, and more. It's hard to explain what type of music it is as well. It has sort of a mix of Celtic, pirate, and a Viking sound.  The performers do a great job, and they stay in character as well. They do only perform for part of the day, so you do want to keep track of time so you don't miss it. Seating is limited, but there is plenty of standing room.

The pirate festival comes around every October. Though October is considered Autumn, it is always so hot on Fort Myers Beach. We usually like to end our adventure with pizza! Right down the way is a delicious pizza place. It has airconditioning, so it is very nice to sit down and relax after a long, hot day. I can't remember the name of the place for the life of me. Next time I go to Fort Myers Beach, I will check it out and update the blog. For being in a touristy area, the prices are very reasonable. The pizza is amazing as well. I would get their pizza more often if I did not live so far away. 

I get super excited about going to the Pirate Fest every year. I haven't been able to bring Moises yet, but I'm looking forward to next October for another chance to bring him. I also love the excuse to put on my pirate costume! If you aren't an avid Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival attendee, I hope you give it a shot this year. Have fun dressing up, or just come in your regular clothes. I'm sure you'll have tons of fun.