Fort Walton Beach residents are preparing for a pirate invasion! Don’t panic: locals to this Florida town are welcoming Captain William Augustus Bowles and his dastardly crew for their annual festival. Part street fair, part interactive theater, the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival has something for pirate lovers of all ages. Here is a quick overview of what the festival offers and how to plan your weekend for the most buccaneering fun.
What you Need to Know
The main events of the pirate festival take place at The Landing in downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Festival grounds are free to enter and open at 3pm Friday, June 2 and 11am on Saturday, June 3. Parking is limited downtown, so use the free shuttle from the Uptown Station or near City Hall. Both days have activities until 9pm, and the festive atmosphere and local revelry will continue into the night throughout local Fort Walton Beach pubs. Billy’s crew officially celebrates their victory over the town by wrapping up the celebrations on Monday, June 5 with a 7pm parade through the historic downtown streets.
Pirate Festival Activities for Families
Most of the festival is appropriate and exciting for kids and kids at heart and you’ll see all ages dressing up to be part of the action, so feel free to wear your own first mate and captain costumes! Energetic shows and reenactments will take place at various times during the festival and are free to view. Download the schedule and get there a little early for a good spot. Music and other entertainment will take place on the main stage of the festival grounds on Saturday with bawdy, but mostly kid-friendly merriment.
Check out the Pirate Play Zone where kids with a 15$ bracelet can have a day of unlimited play on inflatables, a rock wall, and more. Carnival games will line the area, and a special Bowlegs Kids Run will take place at 6pm on Saturday, before the adult 5K.
Round out your family weekend with the closing Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade where over 100 groups participate through floats, boats, dancing, music and marching and of course, lots of buccaneers and scallywags sharing their treasures with the crowd. Kids and adults alike will leave covered in beads and doubloons from the Mardi Gras Krewe.
Activities for Adults
Visitors over 21 can channel a more boisterous pirate spirit with add-on events like the Pirate’s Lair, a private tent sponsored by Props Brewery with tastings of special edition draft beers and distilled beverages. Admission to The Billy Bowlegs Beer Tour is available for samples on Saturday, or buy a wristband for heavier pours on Friday evening. Cheer on the racers or run off all those grog-swilling calories in the 43 annual Billy Bowlegs 5k that closes Saturday’s events.
If you’re in the Fort Walton Beach area, or are looking for a unique adventure on your summer Florida vacation, the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival is a one-of-a-kind experience. Gather with your mateys to enjoy entertainment, food, drinks and stock up on pirate gear in the beautiful historic downtown this June. Drive a vehicle from Lee Nissan Fort Walton Beach to this exciting event!
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