VERO BEACH — Vero Beach will continue to be overrun this weeked by individuals interested in the historical artifacts discovered from the Spanish Treasure Fleet that sank off the Treasure Coast in 1715. But another faction of treasure hunters also sailed along our coastline at one time – pirates looking for booty.
To play up that aspect, the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the professional reenactment company, Pirates of the Treasure Coast, to host the Vero Beach Pirate Fest at Riverside Park over the weekend. Predicted estimates of 10,000 visitors were dampened somewhat by rain, but those who attended were very happy they did.
The event continues Sunday at Riverside Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We wanted to bring something unique to Vero Beach. The kids and parents are all loving it; it is something everyone can get excited about,” said Charlie Wilson, VBCC acting president. “We are going to try and make it grow, too. They just had one in Cocoa, it was their 30th year, and they brought in 150,000 people. The best part is that it is held in summer to bring something to do here and to raise employment and identify the city during the summer as somewhere to go.”
Wilson also loved the location, saying it was nice to hold the event in the shade of the 300-year old trees in Riverside Park, commenting that they were probably there as seedlings when the Spanish Plate Fleet hit our shores.
In addition to historical pirate reenactments and encampments, there was a huge kid’s zone, complete with a large pirate ship to play on, sword fight demos, cannon and black powder weapon demonstrations and tons of activities to keep the little ones busy while parents enjoyed food and spirits served at an impressive bar with four large screen televisions.
Pirates with X’s marked on their hands gave out clues for children to play an interactive treasure quest similar to the game, Clue. As pirate “Wretched Wench Wendy” explained, clues helped determine, “which scurvy dog killed our first mate, where they did it and with what weapon did they kill him?”
The minstrels and realistic-looking pirates roaming the grounds thrilled children and parents alike, and more than a few members of the public had done a little treasure hunt through their own closets to find festive pirate wear for the occasion.
Even Boy Scouts in full pirate regalia were among those who contributed to a reenactment of the 1715 Fleet history.
“It’s a fascinating history to begin with because there are treasures, pirates and shipwrecks and it is a history that happened right in our backyard, so it is so interesting,” said King Phillip V, aka Gerald Carson, whose whole family participated in the reenactment.
Many were hoping to win prizes at a drawing at Riverside Café at the conclusion of the event – especially real treasure in the form of a $1,500 doubloon from the 1715 Fleet.
