CELEBRATE OUR 11th YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN KEY WEST!

Set sail for Pirates in Paradise in Key West, Nov. 26 - Dec. 5, 2010

The Fort Taylor Pirate Fest is scheduled for Dec. 2-5, 2010

10 Days of Pure Piratical Escapades Celebrating Key West's Rich & Colorful Maritime Heritage

Raise Yer Flag, Grab Yer Mate and Join Us in Celebrating the Golden Age of Sail
& Seafaring Adventure!

Avast, me Hearties! It's time to chart yer course for the Isle of Bones...Cayo Hueso as Key West and the Conch Republic welcome the 11th Annual Pirates in Paradise Festival. Pack up yer cutlass, don yer garb, grab yer mate and join us for a full week of mischief and merrymaking that features a host of swashbuckling events for buccaneers and wenches of all ages!

Top-name quality entertainment and historic re-enactors, improvisational actors, and combative stunt men from around the country are set to invade the island for a host of pure piratical escapades. As you stroll the streets of Old Town's colorful seaport taverns and pirate pubs such as Schooner Wharf Bar, Pat Croce's Rum Barrel at Pirate Soul, El Meson de Pepe and the Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery; and visit Fort Zachary Taylor's Pyrate Invasion (Thursday thru Sunday, December 2 - 5), don't be surprised if you run into the likes of Calico Jack, Ann Bonny, Captain Morgan, Blackbeard and other nefarious Brethren of the Coast.

When the sea is finally in your veins and you want to take to the sea, the Schooner WOLF, the flagship of the Conch Republic, is ready to take you out on the water. Aboard the WOLF, you'll be able to experience life upon the sea, complete with pirates, cannon fire and small arms fire. Sailing with Captain Finbar is a true Key West experience and during the festival, the public can join his scurvy crew of pirates aboard the Schooner WOLF for Tall Ship Sails and Pirate Attacks (the WOLF will be docked at Safe Harbour Marina on Stock Island November 26-30 and then will be docked at the Historic Seaport through Sunday, December 5.)

Pirates in Paradise is more than just pirates! Celebrating the city's rich and colorful maritime history and heritage, you can learn more about the ghosts that once walked these streets, tour the historic submarine hunter --the USS Mohawk, which signaled the start of the D-Day Invasion (we'll be celebrating the Official End of America's Hurricane Season at the Key West Maritime Holiday Party aboard the Mohawk on Tuesday, November 30, with the traditional burning of the hurricane warning flags. Each evening, the public can join the Buccaneers of Key West for a salty pirate tour or pub stroll along the Historic Seaport in Old Town.

The Key West Maritime Historical Society invites one and all to join them for author & historian Robert N. Macomber's Key West Reader Rendezvous (November 29-December 3.) The public is invited to join Macomber for cocktails and a spectacular view of Key West's fabulous sunset at the top of the Crown Plaza La Concha. On Tuesday, November 30, Bob will lead a Walking Tour of Historic Old Town Key West (highlighting those locations visited by Honor Series hero, Peter Wake), followed by Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery Literature & the Sea Author's Luncheon and the Key West Maritime Holiday Party & Official End of America's Hurricane Season Ceremony at the USCGC Memorial ships, the Mohawk & Ingham at Truman Waterfront Annex.

Throughout the week you can also mingle with other well known artists, writers and entertainers who have helped create and keep alive the pirate lore of days gone by and the mystique of Key West, including John Viele, Christine Lampe, Don Maitz, Janny Wurts and the 'Queen of Swing' Norma Miller.

If you're in the mood to test your own piratical skills, participate in the 5th Annual Pyrates of the Coast National Walk the Plank Championships on Thursday, December 2 at Schooner Wharf, where the you are forced to walk the plank of the WOLF. Or...compete in the Most Buxom Wench Contest and Bad Ass Pirate Party at Schooner Wharf Bar on Wednesday, December 1. Both events are hilarious fun, whether you're participating or simply enjoying the competition.

Don't miss the re-enactment of the historical trial of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the two most famous women pirates in history. The tryal, which will take place at the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion on Saturday, December 4, lets you step back in time to experience a real tryal of pirates. Based on the orginal transcripts provided by Tamara Eastman, the ending will surprise you, to be sure.

At Fort Taylor's Pyrate Invasion (December 2-5), pull up a seat inside the Fort ruins to hear tales of the seas and spirited chanteys. It'll seem so real to you that you'll be sure you've been transported back some 350 years to the time when pirates ruled the Caribbean. Throughout the weekend, there will be daily Pirate Skirmishes (1:30pm & 4:30pm), Village Thieves' Market featuring period arts and crafts and Living History Period Pirate Encampments.

Our dear friend, 'Queen of Swing' Norma Miller (the Conch Republic Navy's own USO Girl - and one of the stars of the Pyrate Tryal of Anne Bonny & Mary Read) is turning 91 and everyone is invited to join her she returns to Key West to celebrate her birthday with the pirates. In her honor, we will host a Birthday Brunch at La Te Da on December 2 and will celebrate with a scrumptious cake from Croissants de France.

Looking for lodging accommodations and reservations for our nautical excursions? We can help. Just give us a call at 305-296-9694.

Courtesy of Conch Republic Media Group

The Pirates in Paradise Festival has its many swashbuckling sponsors to thank, including Callahan Digital Art, CommuniCreations.com, Pirate’s of the Treasure Coast, Friends of Fort Taylor, Schooner Wharf Bar, Pat Croce's Rum Barrel and Pirate Soul, El Meson de Pepe, Ambrosia Key West, Cypress House Historic Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, The Reach Resort, Fairvilla Megastore, Sunlion Jewelry, Pepsi Refreshment Services, the Conch Republic Group (including ConchTV.com and KeysTV.com), the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Double Tree Grand Key, The Event Network, Fort Zachary Historic State Park and the Florida Park Service.

To all our volunteers, pirate entertainers and crew...THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A TRUE PIRATE GATHERING!

Our annual Key West Pirates in Paradise Festival would not be the success it has become without your support and ‘behind the scenes’ hard work.

A special thanks to our volunteer event organizers and marketing gurus, including members of Friends of Fort Taylor and the crew at Fort Taylor Historic State Park; Fayma & Tony Callahan and their Crew of the Sacred Heart, Robb 'Hurricane' Zerr and his crew of Pyrates of the Coast; Michelle ‘Diosa’ Murillo, Kathy & Mike of Pirates of the Treasure Coast, the Buccaneers of Key West and Dead Eye and the Captains of the Devil's Triangle.

Kudos to our marketing & media partners, including Robb "Hurricane Zerr, CommuniCreations for website management and marketing; Fayma & Tony Callahan, Callahan Digital Art for the awesome posters and flyers; Don Maitz and Michael Noles for the beautiful pirate artwork; and to Michelle Murrillo, No Quarter Given, Pyrates Magazine, The Conch Republic Group (ConchTV.com and KeysTV.com;) and our other media sponsors for helping us get the word out.

A special thanks to my guy, Admiral Finbar (his ugliness himself) and our wonderful crew of the the Schooner WOLF for providing adventure on the high seas! We also thank our pirate performers and tall ship crews who will be providing swashbuckling entertainment and adventure on the high seas and on land, including The Pyrates of the Coast, Cascabel, Cutter’s Crew, Braze, Bawdy Be, Dead Eye Rick the Greek & the Captain's of the Devil's Triangle, the crew of the Archangel, Liberte' Sparrow, Captain Crudbeard & Lady Barbara, The Mercury crew and the rest of the re-enactors who have gathered from around the world.

We also wish to express our gratitude to His Ugliness Admiral Finbar and the scurvy crew of our Flagship WOLF, as well as the other crews of Key West's historic sailing vessels.

We have plenty of fun-filled piratical activities lined up...so mark your calendars for Nov. 26 through Dec. 5 and plan to set sail for Key West and the 2010 Pirates in Paradise Festival!

-- Julie McEnroe, The Event Network and Festival Director