Riverside Park was overrun by swashbucklers of all ages last weekend at the three-day Pirate and Caribbean Festival, presented by the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce and POTTC Events.
Clutching their festival maps, visitors wandered about, shopping at vendor booths, peeking into historical encampments and watching as pirates reenacted cannon firings, sword fighting and dueling.
Adult partiers could belly up to multiple bars, imbibing on ales, rums and Mermaid Vodka concoctions as they listened to a wide variety of bands playing everything from sea shanties to calypso music on the entertainment stage. There were also plenty of food vendors, many offering mouthwatering Caribbean fare.
“This is our seventh annual event,” said Kathy Gilbert, event organizer with husband Mike.
“We weren’t able to do it last year because of COVID so we’re happy to be back this year with everybody.”
And, just as pirates often faced inclement weather, Gilbert said, “we were open Friday, but unfortunately, we had some heavy rains when the storm came though about an hour or two into it. It kind of killed last night, but today we’re seeing a great turnout and Sunday is always very busy here as well. Young and old really love pirates and everything behind it.”
The Avenger, an elaborate pirate ship, was a favorite of the younger set, who saluted Capt. Mischief as they clambered aboard. Imaginations ran rampant as youngsters swarmed the decks, playing the parts of pirates and crew, on the lookout for ships on the horizon through a telescope, and taking turns at the wheel. No need to walk the plank to disembark, as these pirates alit via a slide.
Capt. Mischief said the ship was built about 10 years ago by Adrian St. Cyr, aka Capt. Tiny, who is the C.E.O. of Imagineering Unlimited.
Governess Stern, from Pirate University, explained that they were encouraging children to wander about and complete six different activities as a painless way to learn about pirate lore, before reporting back to her to get their diploma. “It’s pretty easy but it takes a while, and they learn a little bit of history,” she said.
At her booth, she explained, “the children are making horn books; it’s a paddle that has their ABCs and their numbers and prayers that they needed. They were used until the middle colonial period.”
Another Pirate University booth was manned by Commodore Cutter, who explained, “I give them a little pirate ‘tattoo’ and teach them about the different artifacts they used, such as a sexton. We do a ‘ships rule’ that the kids sign, and I sign it with a quill.”
When asked how long he had been playing the part of a pirate, he replied: “Been doing it since 2004; probably before that in a past life, I’m sure.”
There were plenty of other buccaneers who strolled the park bedecked in their best swashbuckling attire.
“It’s a chance to be a kid again,” said Desiree McFarlin, sporting an elegant tricorne pirate hat that she had made, featuring an intricate model pirate ship at the front.
“Want to be shanghaied aboard my ship?” a fierce looking pirate was overheard asking a pair of wide-eyed costumed tykes.
And what’s a pirate without a parrot or two? Dan Wukits, owner of Galleon Treasures Parrot Sanctuary, and David Colston of the Melbourne Avian Rescue Sanctuary brought along a few beauties.
Wukits, who has 200 birds, explained that he doesn’t rehome his rescues, as most come from ex-breeders or have been abused, but that the Melbourne sanctuary does rehome some of their tamer birds. To raise funds for their care, he has written several books, including children’s books about the adventures of parrots Nikki and Cracker Jack, and an adult book of salty limericks.
POTTC Events has two upcoming events at Riverside Park: Bacon Festival on Oct. 23 and 24, and a Holiday Shopping Fair Dec. 11 and 12.
Photos by Kaila Jones
