Pirates in Paradise

PIRATES TO DROP ANCHOR IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA for the 11th Annual Pirates in Paradise Festival -- November 26 thru December 5, 2010 KEY WEST, FLORIDA KEYS-The 11th annual Pirates in Paradise Festival, set for Friday, November 26, through Sunday, December 5, 2010, will draw hundreds of buccaneer aficionados and re-enactors to the island city renowned for its adventurous maritime history. Swashbucklers of all ages are invited to unleash their seafaring spirits at a host of piratical escapades at historic island venues throughout Old Town Key West. During Key West-s ten day Pirates in Paradise Festival 2010, sailors and land lubbers can take to the sea with tall ship pirate sails and attacks, attend swashbuckling events and receptions, view museum exhibitions, partake in nautical excursions, pirate pub strolls and historic walking tours. Key West-s Pirates in Paradise Festival also features the Village Thieves- Market, Holiday Bazaar and Pirate Pub at the Truman Waterfront Commons (December 3,4 & 5), living history pirate encampments at Civil War?era Fort Taylor (December 3,4 & 5), tall ship pirate sails & attacks aboard the topsail schooner WOLF (November 26-December 5), swashbuckling special events, museum exhibitions and nautical excursions. Scurvy pirates and winsome wenches are invited to the Conch Republic Military Holiday Extravaganza on Tuesday, November 30, at the Truman Waterfront Commons. Festivities include a Sneak Preview of the Village Thieves- Market, Key West Maritime Sunset Reception and Holiday Feast. The Official End of America-s Hurricane Season Concert features the tropic rock of Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, the big band tunes of the Mike Emerson Southernmost Brass Swing Band, piratical antics of Pyrates of the Coast and island sounds of Rich in Spirit, Mary Spear,. This salty maritime holiday celebration takes place 3-10pm (with the ceremonial burning of the hurricane flags at 4:30pm) at the USS MOHAWK and INGHAM Coast Guard Cutters, now military museums docked at Key West-s Truman Waterfront Commons. General Admission is FREE to the public and includes a Sneak Preview of the Festival-s Village Thieves- Market and the Concert. Key West Maritime Sunset Reception tickets are $15/$20 at the door and include seating in the VIP Hospitality Area, VIP access to INGHAM and MOAHWK. Admiral-s VIP Holiday Feast tickets are $50/$75 at the door, and include Sunset Reception, scrumptious buffet catered by Croissants de France, Blackbeard-s Booty Rum Rum Tasting and a Silent Auction. The Truman Waterfront Commons can be accessed beyond the end of Southard Street past Thomas Street in Old Town Key West. Other Pirates in Paradise Festival activities include the Key West Literature and the Sea Retreat and Robert N. Macomber-s 2nd annual Key West Reader Rendezvous that offer a host of literary and maritime arts activities, including a historic walking tour with author & historian Robert N. Macomber on Tuesday, November 30, Pirate Pub Strolls and Historic Pirate Walking Tours of Old Town with Pirate Tours of Key West (nightly), Kelly- Authors, Artists and Historians Luncheon on Wednesday, December 1 and the WOLF-s Artists, Authors and Historians Sail and El Meson de Pepe-s Caribbean Pirate-s Buffet (both on Thursday, December 2.) There-s even a buccaneer Birthday Brunch for ?Queen of Swing? Norma Miller, a longtime friend of the festival who will be celebrating her 91st birthday with a special brunch on Thursday, Dec. 2at 10:30am at La Te Da, 1125 Duval Street. The Festival-s Village Thieves- Market, Holiday Bazaar and Pirate Pub will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 3, 4 & 5 at the Truman Waterfront Commons, end of Southard in Old Town Key West and will be open daily, 10am-Sunset (noon on Sunday, December 5.) Free to the public, non-stop entertainment and piratical antics include Pyrates of the Coast, No Quarter Given-s Jamaica Rose and Michael McCloud and a host of other pirate re-enactors and their scurvy crews recalling the Golden Age of Piracy. Ideal for families of all ages, activities include pirate parades, kids- pirate games and vendors selling period arts and crafts, leather & lace, pirate booty, wooden swords and fine crafted handmade wares. The Village Thieves- Market & Holiday Bazaar at the Truman Waterfront Commons offers many FREE special events, including the staged historic re-creation of the trial of notorious female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read on Friday & Saturday, December 3 & 4 at 11am, Pirate Art 101 Color Along with Don Maitz, Saturday, December 4 at 10am, the Pyrates of the Coast-s Tall Tales Storytelling Competitions on Saturday and Sunday, December 4 & 5 at Noon and and Kid-s Pirate Costume Contest at 1pm on Sunday, December 5. PIP VIP (VERY IMPORTANT PIRATE) Passports are available at the PIP Information Booth at the Village Market beginning Tuesday, November 30 and each proceeds from each $20 PIP VIP Passport will help fund the Festival and these WWII museum ships. PIP VIP Passports include FREE admission to the daily Historic Glimpses from the Golden Age of Sail presentation and the Conch Republic Military Historic & Antique Weapons Expo (December 3) aboard the INGHAM, VIP tours and access aboard the USCGC INGHAM & USS MOHAWK CGC, VIP access to the PIP VIP Hospitality Area, discounts in the PIP Pub, on Conch Republic B.U.B.B.A. Homebrew Competition Cards (December 4) and on Festival & Conch Republic Navy merchandise sold at the Village Thieves- Market & Holiday Bazaar and for Pirate Tours of Key West. Pirates to Drop ?anchor in Key West Press Release - October 30, 2010 Page 2 On Friday, December 3, history buffs visiting the Village Thieves- Market & Holiday Bazaar will enjoy the Conch Republic Military Historic and Antique Gun Expo & Black Powder Orientation (Noon-3pm,) and the Festival-s Historic Glimpses Lecture Series (10am-4:30pm) aboard the stern deck of the INGHAM. Presenters include No Quarter Given-s Christine Lampe aka Jamaica Rose (10am), ?Ancient Mariner- John Lohr (noon), Arthur Whittem aka Cascabel (2pm) and Pirate Tours of Key West-s Chris Liddle aka Cristobal Colon (4pm) and is $12/FREE with PIP VIP Passport, and includes tour of museum ships. Like beer? If so, don-t- miss the Festival-s Village Thieves- Market Pirate Pub, set up along the waterfront between the museum ships INGHAM & MOHAWK. Center stage for all piratical events at the Truman Waterfront Commons, the Pirate Pub is open daily, Tuesday, November 30 thru Sunday, December 5 (non-alcoholic beverages will also be served!) On Saturday, December 5 Noon-3pm, you can vote for your favorite beer at the Conch Republic B.U.B.B.A. Homemade Brew Competition which will feature pilsners, ales, lagers and other types of beer. Other Pirates in Paradise Festival highlights include the 6th annual Pyrates of the Coast National Walk the Plank Championships aboard the WOLF where bold buccaneers and daredevil damsels can vie for supremacy in this waterlogged event beginning at 4 p.m. Plank-walkers will take the plunge from the topsail Schooner WOLF, docked at the Truman Waterfront Commons, end of Southard. Competitors are to be judged on their costumed attire, overall style, pleas for mercy and splash. Spectators are invited to view the marine mayhem and applaud their favorite contestants from the stern deck of the MOHAWK. Throughout the festival, aspiring seafarers can experience tall ship sailing excursions aboard the Schooner WOLF and join Captain Finbar in pirate attacks on ?land forces? and unsuspecting vessels plying Key West waters. Specialty sails include a 2 day Sail Training Intensive on Saturday and Sunday, November 27 & 28 (10am-4pm), a Conch Republic Military Shoot & Sail on Monday, November 29 (noon-4pm) and an Afternoon Artists, Authors and Historians Sail on Thursday, December 2 at 1:30pm. The Schooner WOLF departs from Safe Harbour Marina, 6810 Front Street, Downtown Stock Island Thanksgiving Weekend (thru Sunday, November 28) and then moves to the Truman Waterfront Commons on Monday, November 29 and will be offering Tall Ship Pirate Sails through Sunday, December 5. Pirate and wench wannabes can set sail for $50 per adult and $25 per child under age 12. Reservations are required and can be made by email, [email protected] or by phone, 305.296.9694. Swashbucklers are invited to unleash their seafaring spirits at Fort Taylor-s Pirate Invasion, scheduled 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, December 3-5, at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Organized by Friends of Fort Taylor, the Callahan Crew of the Sacred Heart and host of others, the Fort-s Pirate Invasion features living history pirate encampments at the 19th-century fort, pirate skirmishes and fight circles. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is located at the end of Southard Street through Truman Annex. A festival pass is $6 per adult and $4 for children under 12 with park admission. For more information, call 305.292.6713. Beginning Wednesday, December 1, the public can stop by the Pirates in Paradise Festival VIP Area inside the lobby bar, at the Double Tree Grand Key Resort, South Roosevelt Blvd. The Double Tree Grand Key Resort (and other island resorts, inns and bed and breakfasts) are offering special rates for Festival attendees. For more information on lodging accommodations, visit PiratesInParadise.com, email [email protected], or call 305.296.9694. Sponsored in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Cypress House, Courtyard by Marriott, Crowne Plaza La Concha, La Te Da Hotel, The Reach Resort, SIK Promotions, Schooner WOLF, Kermit-s Key Lime Pie Shoppe, The Event Network, Ambrosia Key West, Conch Republic Group, ConchTV.com, KeysTV.com, Pirate Tours of Key West, Pepsi Refreshment Services, Communicreations.com, Double Tree Grand Key Resort, Propeller Club of the United States ? Port of Key West, Key West Maritime Historical Society of the Florida Keys, Key West Keynoter, Pirates Magazine, No Quarter Given, Blackbeard-s Booty Rum, El Meson de Pepe, Kelly-s Caribbean Bar & Grille, Fairvilla Megastore, Voltaire Books, Four Star Rental, Croissants de France, Goldman-s Bagel-s & Deli, Cubanitos Key West Hardware and Home Depot. For more information about the festival and a complete schedule of events, lodging information and sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, visit www.piratesinparadise.com. # # #