Ahoy mateys! If you’re a true swashbuckler, grab your eye patch and get your crew out to Tybee Island for Pirate Fest next weekend, October 10 – 13. The weekend festival is in its 14th year, and coming back saltier than ever. The festival was started back in 2005 by some Tybee locals looking for a way to celebrate the island’s seafaring ways and party atmosphere. Trust us, they really get into it. Saucy parrots and peg legs abound.
Break out that old three-cornered hat or whale-boned corset you have laying around in the back of the closet and join the festivities. Costumes aren’t required, but they’re strongly encouraged. Any why not? What’s more fun than swigging rum with a bunch of marauders and wenches? If you aren’t convinced, there’s a costume contest to up the ante.
This year, classic rock band Great White headlines, and what better band to bring it home at Pirate Fest than one named after the most feared beast in all of the high seas. Shiver me timbers!
Weekend Highlights
Thursday, October 10th
Raise the jolly roger to kicking off the weekend at the Buccaneer Ball. Hosted by The Crab Shack, the Buccaneer Ball plies landlubbers and seadogs alike with vittles and grog to get the party started. The shindig features a costume contest and is open to deck swabbers over 18. Get your tickets here.
Friday, October 11th
The party starts at 5 pm on Friday with the Thieves Market, Little Matey’s Cove, and live music. Check out artisan goods or upgrade your scabbard at the Thieves Market. Little Matey’s Cove features a bouncy castle, magic show, and petting zoo.
Music by Eric Culberson Band, Damon and the Shit Kickers, and the Grammy-winning Kentucky Headhunters entertain the more seasoned crews. Be there to check out the cannon firing and opening ceremony at 7 pm.
Saturday, October 12th
The Thieves Market and Little Matey’s Cove open at 11 on Saturday, but the party really gets started with the Pirate Victory Parade from 3 – 5 pm. Gather treasures along the route and try not to pillage your neighbor’s. The parade starts in the North Beach Parking Lot and runs to Tybrisa Street.
The costume contest is announced at 5:30 at the main stage before the music begins. Stick around for Draucker at 6 pm, Lez Zeppelin at 7:15 pm, and Great White at 8:45 pm. Relive your glory days to the tune of “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” their Grammy-nominated hit.
Finish the night off with fireworks at 10:15 pm.
Tickets for the whole weekend or just one day can be purchased here. Tickets for Friday night are $12 and Saturday night’s are $15. Get a whole weekend pass for $25. Tickets for Thursday’s Buccaneer Ball are sold separately.
Events and stages are located in the Strand Parking Lot.
Make sure to download the Tybee Parking App to pay for your spot in advance. Or, better yet,go ahead and batten down the hatches at a vacation rental with a mob of your marauding mates for the weekend. Yo ho ho!
