Sail ho! The 13th Annual John LeVique Pirate Days festival comes to the Gulf Coast of Florida this weekend beginning Friday, May 9 and continuing through Sunday, May 11. John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach is the place to be for all of the swashbuckling fun.
The three-day festival celebrates the history of the local area including the discovery of John’s Pass. In 1848, a hurricane came through and cut the barrier island in half, creating the pass which was discovered by turtle farmer John LeVique. John LeVique Pirate Days is a celebration of all things pirate combined with hurricane preparedness information for its local residents.
The schedule of events for John LeVique Pirate Days is packed with activities, so here are some of the highlights.
Pirate Days Activities for the Kids
There is a lot of fun for the lads and lasses at John LeVique Pirate Days. The Family Treasure Hunt happens on Saturday, May 10 from 10a.m. to 6p.m. Come in yer pirate garb and participate in this favorite family event. Use the treasure map to seek your fortune and hunt for prizes along the way. The grand prize offers some serious booty. Treasure maps are limited to the first 500 families.
The Children’s Costume Contest takes place the same day at 4p.m. Everyone who enters receives a prize, but the best dressed buccaneers get the most valued prizes. Preregister by calling 727.320.9463.
There are other kid-friendly activities throughout the festival including face painting, arts and crafts, and family-centered 
entertainment.
Pirate Days Activities for the Adults
Friday, May 9 from 7-11p.m. is the Pirates Ball at the Green Turtle Tavern at John’s Pass. It’s a chance for the adults to dress up and compete for cash prizes. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. Online ticket purchase ends at midnight on May 8, so don’t delay.
Another adults-only adventure is the Pirate Pub Crawl. It’s a leisurely, on-going event throughout the days of the festival. Participating pubs feature one free adult beverage, entertainment, giveaways, and other specials. There are only a limited number of Pirate Pub Crawl tickets available. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door. Online purchase for this event also ends at midnight on May 8.
Weekend passes to John LeVique Pirate Days are available for these events and more, but are only available for a limited time and in limited quantities.
Boat Parade and Sea Battle
The excitement begins at high noon at John’s Pass Boardwalk on Saturday, May 10. Landlubbers, prepare ye selves for
a flotilla and sea battle extraordinaire that includes super soakers, water pistols and black powder cannons. Following the battle, a parade ensues through John’s Pass Village at 1:30p.m. It’s a free, fun adventure for the whole family. Arr!
The entire weekend is filled with pirates, brawls, performances and entertainment that you won’t want to miss. Be there!
Stay locally in Indian Rocks Beach or Indian Shores and be close and convenient to all of the fun and festivity of Pirate Days. We hope to see you there. If you plan on attending, drop us an ahoy in the comment section. We’d love to hear from you, matey.
*Photo Credit: John LeVique Pirate Days Facebook page.
