Time: 3-11 p.m. (Fri.), 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sat.) & 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sun.)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013 & Sunday, May 12, 2013
Location: John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
Cost: Although admission to the pirate festival is FREE, a gate donation of a “buck-n-ear” is appreciated (A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Fisherman Lost at Sea Memorial Fund); The VFW Post 4256 will serve a $5 Pirates Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the public is welcome; Some activities may require a fee; Parking: FREE parking is available at Madeira Beach Fundamental school (591 Tom Stuart Causeway Madeira Beach, FL 33708) with FREE Shuttle service to John’s Pass sponsored by FreeBeachRide.com. You can also pay for parking within John’s Pass Village and along Gulf Boulevard.
Info: John Levique Pirate Days Website; Radio Disney AM1380 Event Calendar

What’s Doing?
Head to Treasure Island for a weekend of pirate-themed family fun the entire family can enjoy, including:
— Face painting
— Craft projects
— Family-friendly entertainment
— Boat Parade & Sea Battle (12 p.m. Sat.): The parade will begin just north of the Treasure Island Bridge and will continue past Eleanor Island before entering the battle zone in front of the Johns Pass Boardwalk at High Noon.
— Parade through the Village (1:30 p.m. Sat.): Following the sea invasion, the Loyalists will rendezvous with their land-side troops and parade through the Village handing out beads and other trinkets to the children. They will wind through the village and end at the center square tent.
— Family Treasure Hunt (10-6 p.m. Sat. & 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.)
— Children’s Costume Contest (4 p.m. Sat.; Windworks, 13009 Village Blvd.): Every child will receive a prize for participating. Larger prizes being awarded to the best dressed little pirates. Registration is required: call (727) 320-9463.
— The West Coast Mutineers performance group
— Fire Show performed by Bohemian Fire (7:30 p.m. Sat.)
… and much more!

View the full entertainment schedule online.

Family Treasure Hunt
The village-wide treasure hunt begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues through Sunday at 4 p.m.
Families will receive a map with a list of clues. Participating merchants will provide a trinket for each family on the treasure hunt as proof that they have found their spot. Find all of the spots on the treasure hunt to qualify for the grand prize drawing, which will be held at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. Treasure maps are limited to the first 500 families.
The hunt begins and ends at The Alligator Attraction, located at 12995 Village Boulevard. Families are encouraged to dress in pirate garb.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: My family participated in the family treasure hunt during the 2012 event and loved it! Don’t expect this to be a quick 30-minute run through the village collecting stamps on your sheet, though. The clues are challenging, even for us adults, so this is definitely an activity for the entire family to actively participate in together. It took the three of us all day to get through the sheet. However, we had a super time … in fact, we had such a fun time, we’re heading back to do it again this year! My daughter’s favorite part was seeing what the next trinket would be; the trinkets we collected in 2012 included stickers, beads, a refillable drink cup, popcicle, necklace and more. Who knows what we’ll be collecting this year!

Fun with the Radio Disney AM1380 Road Crew
Radio Disney will be at the festival on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Listen and dance to your favorite Radio Disney tunes, and visit the “Take Me Fishing” booth for games, contests and crafts. For more information call (727) 577-4500.

ANOTHER NOTE: The shuttle last year was a long wait (on both ends) in the sun. If you opt for the free parking, please keep that in mind. I’m not sure if there will be more shuttles available this year, but please consider how your family will do with a long wait outside when you make your parking plans.

Address:
John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
1100 Village Boulevard
Madeira Beach, FL 33708

RELATED LINKS:
1. Going Coastal: An Introduction to Fishing for Youth (Age 7-12)
2. Join the Celebration on National Train Day 2013 at Tampa Union Station
3. Mother’s Day 2013 Events & Freebies

Image courtesy of SIK Promotions