Raise Yer Flag, Grab Yer Mate and Join Us in Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Pirates in Paradise in Key West!
Key West, Florida Keys... Avast, me Hearties! It's time to chart yer course for Pirates in Paradise Festival 2009. So...don yer pirate garb, raise yer flag and join us for a week of mischief and merrymaking as Key West celebrates Pirates in Paradise Festival 2009.
Celebrating its 10th year in Key West, the Pirates in Paradise Festival will feature top-name quality entertainment and historic re-enactors, improvisational actors, and combative stunt men.
Performers from around the country will join the Florida Key’s own Captain’s of the Devil’s Triangle, Portside Tom, Bawdy Be and the Bone Island Buccaneers to invade Key West. As you stroll the streets of Old Town and visit Fort Zachary Taylor during the Festival, don't be surprised if you run into the likes of Anne Bonny, Cascabel, Braze, Sir Henry Morgan, Pyrates of the Marquesas, Pyrates of the Coast and other nefarious rogues and buccaneers.
TALL SHIP PIRATE SAILS ABOARD THE TOPSAIL SCHOONER WOLF
The public can join Captain Finbar and his scurvy crew of pirates aboard the schooner WOLF, Flagship of the Conch Republic and other Key West Tall Ships for Pirate Sails and Attacks on Fort Taylor. Cost for each 2 hour sail is $50 + tax for adults and $25 + tax for children under 12.
Thanksgiving weekend (Friday – Sunday, November 27-29) the WOLF will be docked at her homeport at Safe Harbour Marina (behind the Hogfish Restaurant), 6810 Front Street in Downtown Stock Island and will offer daily Sunset Pirate Sails at 4pm.
On Wednesday, December 2, the WOLF returns to Schooner Wharf at the Historic Seaport and will offer daily Afternoon (1-3pm) and Sunset (4-6pm) Pirate Sails and Attacks through Sunday, December 6.
OFFICIAL END OF AMERICA’S HURRICANE SEASON CEREMONY and
KEY WEST MARITIME HOLIDAY PARTY – MONDAY, 11/30 3-6pm
On Monday, November 30, the Conch Republic Navy and the community of Key West join forces with the crew of Pirates in Paradise for a Maritime Holiday Party at the USCGC Mohawk Museum Ship’s Truman Annex Pier. Festivities begin at 3pm and entertainment includes Howard Livingston, Kat Epple, Rich McKay and Mary Spears.
At 4:30pm, the Official End of America's Hurricane Season will be observed by the Ceremonial Burning of the Hurricane Flags. NOAA's weather forecaster Matt Strahan (and the Conch Republic Navy’s official weather guesser) and his crew will ceremoniously burn the Hurricane Flags, symbolically signifying the end of the Hurricane Season.
A holiday party for members of Key West’s salty maritime community will be held in conjunction with the ceremony (aboard the MOHAWK.) Cost is $15 and $10 for members and volunteers of the Key West Maritime Historical Society, MOHAWK Memorial Museum and Propeller Club of the US – Port of Key West. Not a member of one of these organizations? No problem. Donate $35 to the MOHAWK Memorial Museum and you’ll receive a complimentary membership to the Key West Maritime Historical Society.
KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY READER RENDEZVOUS
with AUTHOR & HISTORIAN ROBERT N. MACOMBER – ALL DAY, TUESDAY, 12/1
HISTORIC WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN KEY WEST- 10am
Join award-winning author and lecturer, Robert N. Macomber as he takes you back in time to the Civil War era in Key West. See the Union Navy's squadron supply depot. Find out about the famous Confederate whom Mallory Square is named after. Hear about the legendary Sword of Key West, and how it was awarded at Clinton Square in 1863.
Find out how over 350 Rebel blockade-running ships were captured and sold at auction. Listen to tales of the dreadful Yellow Fever summer of 1864 and the preparations in Key West for the final sea battle of the war---a month after General Robert E. Lee surrendered up in Virginia. You'll never think of Key West the same after learning of what happened here during America's darkest days.
Tour departs Ambrosia Key West B&B, 622 Fleming Street (meet in courtyard to register at 9:30am.) Tour concludes at Voltaire Books, 330 Simonton Street with a book signing with Mr. Macomber. COST: $25. Reservations suggested, call (305) 296-9694.
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KW MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY SUNSET RECEPTION at TOP OF LA CONCHA – 5pm
Join Society members atop the Crown Plaza La Concha for a bird’s eye view of paradise, book signings with Robert and a toast to the island’s fabulous sunset. 430 Duval Street (cash bar.)
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KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY FREE PUBLIC LECTURE at TOP OF LA CONCHA – 7pm
The Key West Maritime Historical Society invites you to join award-winning maritime author and historian Robert N. Macomber for a FREE public lecture on Tuesday, December 1 at 7pm at the Top of the Crown Plaza La Concha Hotel.
Robert N. Macomber will discuss the out-of-control piracy problem in the West Indies in 1822, and what the U.S. Navy did about it, starting with Key West. You'll learn about the Congress and the insurance lobby, the Mosquito Fleet, the mysterious end of Jean Lafitte, the Spanish Cuba pirate lairs, and the brave men in Navy blue who fought for ten long years to make the seas safe for honest sailors.
For more information on the Key West Maritime Historical Society, please visit www.KeyWestMaritime.org, email Info@KeyWestMaritime.org or call (305) 296-9882.
‘QUEEN OF SWING’ NORMA MILLER’S 90TH BIRTHDAY RECEPTION at the KEY WEST ART BAR, WEDNESDAY, 12/2 6-9pm
Join Admiral Finbar and the Pirates in Paradise crew for Norma’s birthday celebration. Entertainment features the Mike Emerson Southernmost Rhythm Section, Kat Epple. Michelle Murillo & dancers Lucy Carleton & Leon Williams. FREE Cash Bar.
MOST BUXOM WENCH & BAD ASS PIRATE CONTEST AT SCHOONER WHARF BAR, WEDNESDAY, 12/2 at 9pm
Admiral Finbar’s favorite event (he is also one of the judges!) will take place at Schooner Wharf Bar, foot of William Street at the Historic Seaport. Taking place on Wednesday, December 2 at 8pm. Pirates and wenches (donned in their best finery) will compete for a bevy of piratical prizes.
5TH ANNUAL PYRATES OF THE COAST WALK THE PLANK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIIPS ABOARD THE SCHOONER WOLF AT THE HISTORIC SEAPORT – THURSDAY, 12/5 at 3pm
For those pirates not afraid of getting wet, the 5th Annual Walk the Plank National Championships will be held on Thursday, December 3 aboard the schooner WOLF, which will be docked at the Historic Seaport (foot of William Street.) Victims (uhh, contestants) will vie for the honor and glory of becoming the 2009 Champion as they dive to their watery graves, pleading for their miserable lives and competing for valuable prizes. FREE Spectator viewing at the Historic Seaport, foot of William Street.
LITERATURE & THE SEA AUTHORS & HISTORIANS SAIL ABOARD THE WOLF and EL MESON DE PEPE’S CARIBBEAN PIRATE’S BUFFET – THURSDAY, 12/4 6:30-8:30pm
For aspiring writers and artists wishing to get their inspiration from the sea, the Festival offers variety of activities, including the Literature & the Sea Retreat that features an Artists’, Historians' and Authors' Sail aboard the WOLF, followed by El Meson de Pepe’s annual Caribbean Pirates Buffet (both are scheduled for Tuesday, December 1.) Participating artists, historians and literary luminaries include Robert N. Macomber, Sandra Riley, John Viele, Janny Wurts, Don Maitz and Norma Miller (who will be celebrating her 90th Birthday during the festival.)
After a relaxing day sail, continue the fun by strolling through Old Town Key West to El Meson de Pepe's 6th annual Caribbean Pirates Buffet. This pirate feast also serves as a benefit for the Key West Maritime Historical Society and the Pirates in Paradise Festival.
FORT TAYLOR PIRATE INVASION, VILLAGE THIEVE’S MARKET & PIRATE PUB, THURSDAY-SUNDAY, 12/3-6 10am – 5pm
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park will be the location for the Pyrate Fest & Village Thieves’ Market, which gives us all the chance to live a pirate's life with living history encampments inside the fort itself. Pirates will be repelling invaders along the ramparts while vendors sell wares in the makeshift town. Occasional fights are bound to break out as braggarts solve their disagreements with swords and daggers in true piratical style; and various pirate entertainers add to the festive nature that fills the township.
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 known as the magical Golden Age of Sail and Piracy.
PIRATE’S CHOICE RUM PIRATE PUB STROLL WITH CAPTAIN’S OF THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE – FRIDAY, 12/5 6-9pm
Join Captain Hurricane and his scurvy crew on Sunday night, November 29 for this fun stroll that takes you to several of Old Town Key West’s favorite watering holes and features libations at 3 pubs. Cost: $20 inclusive. For reservations & info, call (305) 296-9694.
PYRATE TRYAL OF ANNE BONNY & MARY READ AT OLD CITY HALL – SATURDAY, 12/5 at 11am
The historic reenactment of the Pyrate Tryal of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, based on the original transcripts of the trial, as found in Tamara Eastman's book, will be held on Saturday morning, December 5 at Old City Hall, 510 Greene Street at 11 a.m. Cast includes Brandy Etheridge, Michelle Murillo, General Harry Smid, Admirals Finbar Gittelman, Arthur Whittam and David Fleming. COST: $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
‘QUEEN OF SWING’ NORMA MILLER’S BIRTHDAY DINNER & SWING DANCE at the PIER HOUSE RESORT & SPA’S HARBOUR VIEW CAFÉ – SATURDAY, 12/5 at 7pm
Hosted by Admiral Finbar and Julie McEnroe, this is sure to be one swingin’ party!. Dance to the big band sounds of the Mike Emerson Southernmost Rhythm Section and others who have shared the stage with Norma over the years. Special guests include Kathleen Peace, Michelle Murillo, Lucy Carleton & Leon Williams. Dinner tickets $50 per person (RSVP by 12/3 to 305-296-9694 or Info@NormaMillerSwings.com.) Swing dancing on the terrace is open to the public (cash bar.)
LA TE DA’s PIRATES TEA DANCE – SUNDAY, 12/6 4-7pm
Don yer dancin’ shoes and join ‘Queen of Swing’ Norma Miller and the Pirates in Paradise Crew for this swashbuckling Tea Dance with tropical pirate flair! FREE, (cash bar.) For more information, please call (305) 296- 6706.
SOUND CHECK AT THE GREEN PARROT BAR WITH MIKE EMERSON’S SOUTHERNMOST RHYTHM SECTION, SUNDAY, 12/6 5:30-7:30pm
Special guest appearance by ‘Queen of Swing’, Norma Miller, 601 Whitehead St., FREE. For more information, call (305) 295-3450.
LA TE DA’s TRIBUTE TO THE ‘QUEEN OF SWING’ NORMA MILLER with MIKE EMERSON’S SOUTHERNMOST RHYTHM SECTION – SUNDAY, 12/6 9-11pm
Join swing dancers Lucy Carleton & Leon Williams for this special salute to Norma, 1125 Duval Street. FREE. For info, call (305) 296-6706.
Key West’s Pirates in Paradise Festival is sponsored in part by Fort Taylor Historic State Park, Pirate’s Choice Rum, the Key West Maritime Historical Society, The Event Network, Pier House Resort & Spa, Schooner Wharf Bar, Communicreations.com, El Meson de Pepe, La Te Da, Cypress House, Courtyard by Marriott, Crown Plaza La Concha, The Reach Resort, Days Inn and the Schooner WOLF.
For more information on the Pirates in Paradise Festival, reservations on the WOLF and other nautical excursions, you can contact 305-296-9694 or Info@PiratesInParadise.com. For information on the Fort’s Pyrate Fest, please contact 292-6713.
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