Yo-Ho-Ho and a Barrel of FUN!

The skies appeared a tad gray but kept a steady and clear course, allowing 250 little pirates to have a swashbuckling good time at the Annual Pirate Day at the Marco Island Historical Society on Friday, June 18.

From 10:00 AM to 1 PM, a constant stream of treasure-hungry Scallywags prowled the museum grounds on a mission.

After checking in and receiving a bag to stash their booty, the little pirates were free to wander to the various vendor stations, try their hand at the game booths, and partake in many an ‘arrrgh-some’ activities.

A highlight for many was a special wheel that one could spin to determine what their pirate name would be, transforming them from landlubber to a potential Black Boots, Pegleg, and more!

Marco Island Historical Museum Manager, Rebecca Mazeroski, could be seen milling about and making every visitor feel welcome, “This is a fun day for everyone! We have a little bit of everything and try to do a mixture of crafts, games, and activities.”

Michael Bey provided face painting to the Buccaneers. The Girl Scouts of America sponsored a seashell painting craft. Collier County Parks and Recreation gave out fun toys and information on 4th of July events. The library offered a craft table. Supervisor of Elections Melisa Blazier had a booth with information and goodies to take home. The Historical Society offered two FREE raffles with a chance to win a patriotic adult basket and child basket, and the MIA Optimist Club sold refreshments. Close to 30 people, a mixture of staff from the various organizations and volunteers, worked with smiles on their faces to make this annual event a huge success.

With on-point themed decorations at each turn and at every stop, it was easy for one to get lost in the whimsy as the little pirates played the games or completed activities for a chance to win tickets and secure gold coins. Once they had finished, they could then trade in their loot for the treasure of their choosing.

Chief Executive Officer of MIHS, Pat Rutledge, was beaming. “This event is fabulous! We do it every year and it seems to grow and grow,” she said, gesturing to the steady stream of visitors and the many faces of excited children. Rutledge shared that they partner with the City’s Mackle Park Summer Camp programs, and groups of their campers could be seen coming in waves. Colonial Dames also supported the event; this year, it went towards the face painter, Michael Bey.

“Not everyone leaves in the summer. And that's one of the things that we're trying to focus on: making sure that we continue to do things. Especially for kids that are unable to go to camps and need something to do. So, we'll be looking for ways to continue to do that over the summer.”

Pirate Day is worthy of the scuttlebutt surrounding it, and future Buccaneers should mark their calendars to attend next year!