Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in Fort Walton Beach

The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival takes place in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on the first weekend of each June. The 55th annual Billy Bowlegs Festival is scheduled for June 3-7, 2010. The main Festival events will take place at the waterfront at Fort Walton Landing, with various related events happening in and around the Downtown Fort Walton Beach area. While pirating parrots and other pets aren't allowed at the festivities, eyepatches, peg legs, feathered hats and breeches are highly encouraged!

Each year, the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival features food & drink vendors, musical entertainment from local and regional bands, arts & crafts vendors, children's activities, and of course... pirates! Highlights of the swashbuckling fun include the landing of Captain Billy and his Krewe, a treasure hunt, a skirmish between Billy's forces and the Mayor's militia, fireworks over the Santa Rosa Sound, and a Mardi Gras-style Torchlight Parade to wrap up the festivities on Monday night.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Thursday, June 3

• Pirate Walk
  Downtown — 4:00-7:00pm
  Pirate-style trick-or-treating. Sponsored by merchants of Historic Downtown Fort Walton Beach.
• Billy Bowlegs Block Party
  Downtown at Ferry St., between 98 and First Street — 4:00-7:00pm
  Meet Capt. Billy and his Krewe, see Billy's parade float, and have your picture taken with local pirates.
• Billy Bowlegs Pub Crawl
  Downtown — Beginning at 7:00pm
  Drink like a pirate — a responsible pirate — with rum, grog and various other ales at participating area clubs and restaurants

Friday, June 4

• Continuous Entertainment
  Live entertainment, children's activities, food, and arts & crafts vendors
  Fort Walton Landing — 3:00-10:00pm
• Skirmish between the Capt. Billy and the Mayor's Militia
  Fort Walton Landing — 7:00pm
  See if the Mayor and his forces can hold off the pirate's marauding band.
• Fireworks over the Santa Rosa Sound
  Fort Walton Landing — 8:00pm

Saturday, June 5

• Continuous Entertainment
  Live entertainment, children's activities, food, and arts & crafts vendors
  Fort Walton Landing — 10:00am-9:00pm
• Landing of Capt. Billy and his Krewe
  Fort Walton Landing — 4:00pm
• Announcement of Treasure Hunt Winners
  Time and place TBA
• Entertainment Headliner
  Artist, time and place TBA

Monday, June 7

• Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade
  Parade route begins at south end of Eglin Parkway, proceeding northwartd to Uptown Station
  8:00pm

All events are subject to change. For more information, visit www.BillyBowlegsPirateFestival.com, or contact the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at (850) 244-8191.