Get Yer Booty ‘n’ Party Fix at t’ Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

Entertainment Featured
Thar she blows! Dads n' lads alike can enjoy the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in Fort Walton Beach, FL! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Thar she blows! Dads n’ lads alike can enjoy the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in Fort Walton Beach, FL! Photo: Patricia Vollmer

T’ Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival be held t’ first weekend o’ June at t’ Fort Walton Beach Landin’, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Accordin’ t’ Wikipedia:

The festival honors the local pirate legend, and is unrelated to the Seminole chief Billy Bowlegs. Similar to Mardi Gras, the festival consists of a parade, fireworks, and associated celebrations. The festival originated in the 1950s as a boat and water skiing show. Contrary to popular belief, there is no period documentation supporting claims that William Augustus Bowles was named “Billy Bowlegs” (nor is there any evidence Bowles even set foot near what is today Fort Walton). The festival has a Mardi Gras flair rather than a historical focus, with locals dressing up in cocked hats (such headgear was not in fashion when Bowles was active in the late 1790s to early 19th century from his base near Apalachicola).

T’ festival website itself gives a much more positive spin on its history:

It started out as a water skiing festival in 1953, and has turned into one of the nation’s longest-running and most popular pirate festivals. Sponsored by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and its annual sponsors, the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival always takes place on the first full weekend in June. People come by land, sea, and air to join in this family-friendly event.

Our family attended the festival a few years ago and enjoyed great seafood, music and a pirate attack by t’ Krewe o’ Bowlegs. T’ music was wonderful, featurin’ a Texas-based pirate band called “T’ Bilge Pumps.”

T' lads put on their favorite (read: their only fittin') pirate t-shirts and brought their toy cutlass, eye patches n' hats. Photo: Patricia Vollmer
T’ lads put on their favorite (read: their only fittin’) pirate t-shirts and brought their toy cutlass, eye patches n’ hats. Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Go ahead, say it...What be that thin' on me youngest son's forehead? Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Go ahead, say it…What be that thin’ on me youngest son’s forehead? Photo: Patricia Vollmer
T' area be full o' fun antics for t' whole family t' enjoy! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
T’ area be full o’ fun antics for t’ whole family t’ enjoy! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Most o' t' boats on t' water knew t' deck themselves out in their best pirate flags! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Most o’ t’ boats on t’ water knew t’ deck themselves out in their best pirate flags! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Part o' bringing 3 pirates with me t' t' festival: lots o' mayhem! We got those popper things that you throw onto t' ground. My kids were annoying ev'ryone.... Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Part o’ bringing 3 pirates with me t’ t’ festival: lots o’ mayhem! We got those popper things that you throw onto t’ ground. My kids were annoying ev’ryone…. Photo: Patricia Vollmer
This be t' Krewe o' Bowlegs pullin' up t' invade Fort Walton Beach. A festival tradition since t' 1950s! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
This be t’ Krewe o’ Bowlegs pullin’ up t’ invade Fort Walton Beach. A festival tradition since t’ 1950s! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Lads transformed t' pirates! Yaaaaaar!!! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Lads transformed t’ pirates! Yaaaaaar!!! Photo: Patricia Vollmer
Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

1 thought on “Get Yer Booty ‘n’ Party Fix at t’ Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

  1. This looks like such an awesome festival!! I’ve got three boys and we’ve got so many pirate costumes and accessories it’s ridiculous. 🙂 Hmmm, maybe this is an excuse to book a holiday to Florida!

Comments are closed.