The Anna Maria Island Privateers will invade Anna Maria Island Saturday, Nov. 1, and not yield the beach until shortly before sunset Sunday, Nov. 2.
The merry pirates at the helm of the nonprofit that benefits island kids and community plan a celebration at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach that includes live music, drink, vendors and children’s activities.
Hours will be 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
The Privateers will open their boat-float to children, host storytelling and games, offer an all-denominational church service Nov. 2, present pirate skirmishes with visiting krewes and fill a stage with bands over both days.
Most of Invasion Weekend will take place on the beach in Bradenton Beach, but the invasion will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, with the Privateers “coming ashore” near the Anna Maria City Pier.
From there, the Privateers will board the Skullywag and travel along Pine Avenue to Gulf Drive and then head south toward Bradenton Beach. Along the way, the pirates expect to skirmish with the krewe of the Seven Celtic Nations on the Celtic Voyager, the Ye Mystic Krewe of the Santa Margarita, which is outfitted with four canons, and the Hernando Desoto krewe on the San Cristobal.
Those who want to see the skirmishes can look for the Skullywag to encounter the San Cristobal at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria at about 9:15 a.m. The Privateers will clash with those aboard the Celtic Voyager in the 5900 block of Marina Drive at 9:45 a.m. and the Santa Margarita at about 10:15 a.m. at the Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.
The “Battle Royale” is set to take place at the roundabout at Bridge Street and Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach at about 10:45 a.m.
An announcement from the Privateers said, “Our cannons are being readied along with all the black powder pistols we can muster up. Our defenders will be heavily armed with swords tough enough to break the weak cutlasses of the invaders. Come out and enjoy this battle of epic proportions.”
For more details, call Privateers president Bob “Stitch” Dominas at 941-527-6171.