Co-Hosted by the Wenches of Raven’s Bane and the Cutthroat Titan Crew

Mark your calendars and be prepared to help us in our efforts to support the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation! Since the mid-1950s, cooperative research has improved the survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 10% to almost 80% overall. Cure rates vary according to each specific type of childhood cancer. Some types remain very difficult to cure. All cure rates need to be improved. This is where YOU come in!!

GARB ONLY BALL- NO GARB, NO ENTRY!
OR… Make a $50 donation, and receive 2 free entries, PLUS, you do not have to wear garb if you do not want, but we do ask that you at least wear something nice, like what you’d wear to a dinner party. This keeps it fun for everyone.

TABLE DECORATING CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get your finest siren & seafarer decorations out to enter our group table decorating contest! All items will need to be in the theme AND color scheme of the gala. Colors this year are aqua-teal-and any variation of, gold, cream, & browns. 1st Place PRIZE- Tables are $75 each and seat 8. Tables can be bought on the event ticket link.

Just $15 per person without a donation.

DJ Foe spinnin’ his most lively of piratical tunes-
Traditional Dance Instruction
Lots of Tasty Bits and Cash Bar
You won’t want to miss it!

Where:
Elks Lodge
422 Victory Dr N, Tifton, Georgia 31794-4274

Buy your tickets here!
https://www.wepay.com/events/4thdbbgala

Courtesy of http://www.piratesweekfestival.com/

Pirates Week is nearly upon us once more. This will be our 35^th Festival and it is set to be the biggest festival ever!

Pirates Week 2012 will start on 8 November and finish on 18 November and will be another eleven fun filled days with music, street dances, competitions, games, wonderful local food and drink, kids day, glittering parade, sports events for everyone, Heritage Days, pirate invasion and fireworks galore! There is just too much going on for you to miss out on.

We start our festival with a fantastic steel pan competition and kick-off party and on Friday night the festival goes off with a bang with a spectacular fireworks display that you will not want to miss! With the crowning of the Festival Queen and the opening Street Dance and Food Festival on that night there is no better place to be in the Caribbean.

On the first Saturday we have a mock ‘pirate invasion’ from the sea! Two old-time sailing vessels, loaded with pirates make a Saturday surprise landing at the bowl-shaped George Town harbour with the pirates capturing the Governor. Thousands of people line the streets to watch the spectacle and its all good-natured fun with a new twist every year. Families just love it. It’s the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region.

Keep checking the website for updates and special offers throughout the year. You can also become a fan of the festival on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and if you want to be in the ‘pirate invasion’ or volunteer for the festival then please contact us at pirates@candw.ky.

We hope to see you all in November, pirates and landlubbers alike with you all ready to have lots of fun with us in the Cayman Islands.

Who we are

The story begins with one promise between two sisters – the promise to find a cure. And to seek the cure with passion and urgency and focus until the day when breast cancer is eliminated from the face of the earth.

What started with two, grew. This promise to find a cure has evolved as the people and resources behind it have grown. The fight against breast cancer continues twenty-four seven, with research, education, screening and treatment at its core. Because finding a cure is about finding the causes and the treatments and doing everything possible to help cure the pain and anxiety of every moment in between.

One story became the promise that millions made their own. Compounded by the passion and energy of many, this promise has become a race for millions.

We promise we will not rest until this race is won. We are united to find not just one cure but many cures for the many faces of this devastating disease.

We are Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Our Mission

To enable women to detect and survive breast cancer.

Komen Atlanta

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate is the local resource for women who need breast cancer screening, treatment, education and support. Through annual events, including the Race for the Cure, and individual contributions, Komen Atlanta raises funds that enable women to detect and survive breast cancer.

Seventy-five percent of all funds raised by the Affiliate stays in Atlanta to fund breast health programs for women who would not otherwise have access to screening and treatment. Twenty-five percent of funds raised supports the national Komen Foundation Award and Research Grant Program. Komen Atlanta has raised more than $30 million since its inception in 1991.

Komen Atlanta’s financial information and conflict of interest statement are available upon request. Please contact the Komen office at (404) 459-8700.

Komen Atlanta’s Impact on the Community

Through its education programs and grant-making, the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has made an impact in the community. Please read our Community Impact Summary for more information.

Where: Atlantic Station Central Park, Atlanta

When: March 31st, 2012, 11:30-3:00pm

Why: To celebrate the opening of the new Julia Roberts film Mirror, Mirror.

What: Photos with the Notorious Pirates and Princess Snow, face-painting, bubbles, a coloring station and balloons.

“I wanted to let you know everything went great.  Everyone did a great job. “Bonnie Bess” really got what I was trying to do and was a great asset in promoting both films along with being great with the kids. Capt jack of course was a huge hit as well. I appreciate all the work you guys did.”

Becky Sims
Atlantic Station Theater Manager

Video courtesy of Tampa Bay Times

Photos courtesy of Tampa Bay Times

Enter Notorious Captain Jack and Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy

Mr. Bones – Master of Ceremonies for Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy

“Start the pirating season off right!!! Ahoy all you buccaneers, carousers, renegades and scallywags! It’s time to hoist the Jolly Roger at RITUAL’s Pirate Party. Come to The Shelter for your pirate swag and grab some booty while your at it. We will be loaded to the gunwalls with grog as we sing shantys and make the wenches walk the plank. Be sure to swing from the main mast. Shiver me timbers, me hearties. This will be a party to remember, if you can. DJs Caz10 and Catt Ninetails will be playing your favorite songs, they won’t leave you marooned on the dance floor. Sexy pirate themed visuals for your pleasure. And so much more. All this for $10. 21 and up.” – Pirate Bob

Cayman Island Premier McKeeva Bush (3rd from left)

 Notorious Captain Jack  green screen photo booth by Imagez Photography, Atlanta

Story courtesy of compasscayman.com

Arrrrgh! Pirate enthusiasts got a taste of Cayman January 27th at Gala Parilla, a party hosted by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Islands Tourism Association, Cayman Airways and the Pirates Week committee.

Held at the Cuban Club, a national landmark in Ybor City Tampa, the event was held the night before the annual festival of Gasparilla. The carnival style event is a 107-year old Tampa tradition, which sees some 400,000 people flock to the streets for a pirate invasion, parade, brunch and street festivities.

The event aimed to promote the Cayman Islands and in particular Pirates Week to the 60 odd pirate krewes who attend Gasparilla annually.

Ensuring attendees got a true taste of Cayman, local band CayBand featuring NRG played upbeat soca music throughout the night and partygoers were able to feast on Caribbean style fare, such as jerk chicken, rice and beans and plantain. Big screens featured highlights of Pirates Week and popular tourism sights to visit in Cayman.

Adding a frisson of excitement four vacation packages were given away throughout the night, along with treasure chests of rum. In true Pirates Week fashion, there was also a costume competition for the best dressed pirate and wench.

Elizabeth Waraksa – Gasparilla Queen

Promoting Cayman

To ensure the event ran smoothly, members of the Department of Tourism, Cayman Islands Tourism Association, Cayman Airways and the Pirates Week committee were all represented at Gala Parilla. In addition, Premier McKeeva Bush attended to show his support.

The Premier said it was exciting to be involved in promoting Cayman and Pirates Week.

“I think what we are doing here is fantastic,” he said. “Everyone has done a great job. Events like these are a great thing for Cayman as they promote our Islands, our culture and our heritage, everything we have to offer. We are getting the word out about our beautiful Islands. Already we have the equivalent of one plane load of new tourists booked to visit Cayman.”

He added: “We have everyone here to promote Cayman in the best possible light. It is an excellent example of what we, Cayman, can achieve when we all work together.”

Stephanie Phillips, Tampa, Florida, area travel agent, was at the event to welcome attendees and help promote Cayman. She said the event enabled her to make numerous bookings for this year’s Pirates Week festival.

“Within 24 hours of the Gala Parilla event I had several krewe leaders request reservation forms for their entire membership. It’s about communication and the krewe leadership individuals who attended Gala Parilla will be the key to spreading the Pirates Week festival message.

“There are more than 60 krewes in the Tampa area with membership that extends to over 5,000. Just getting the word of an upcoming event to krewe leaders is an important first step.

“With more than nine months until Pirates Week, it’s exciting to know that we already have over 100 residents of Tampa with confirmed reservations, ready to travel to the Cayman Islands. My goal is to fill every plane seat available ready to travel from Tampa to Cayman to join the festivities. Gala Parilla went a long way to making it possible to achieve that.”

Important contacts

Pirates Week Festival Director Bernie Bush

One of the event’s main organisers, Pirates Week Festival Director Bernie Bush, said that he had the opportunity to talk to krewe members, make all important contacts and learn more about how he can work to make this year’s Pirates Week festival the best.

“The event went well. It has opened the doors to bigger things and shown us how we can get more bang for our buck, which is important in these economic times. The event was especially well received by the krewes. They were impressed. Already I have had numerous emails from krewe members asking questions about Pirates Week.

“We are looking at doing something next year to continue the momentum as there are more than 12,000 people in this area alone whose hobby it is to attend pirate themed events. We want to continue to reach out to them. In particular, our research has shown that these people have expendable income. These are professionals. These are the type of people we would like to attract.

Attending the whole event, we were able to learn a lot and garner a lot of new ideas to make Pirates Week more exciting for people to take part in.

“In addition, as a direct result we already have one charter booked and we know for sure that all our regular flights will be full for Pirates Week. One krewe has already booked 100 rooms at one of hotels for this year’s Pirates Week.”

(left) Premier McKeeva Bush, (right) Shelia Ryan of the Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Belamy

Pirates Week

Tampa resident Shelia Ryan – a member of the Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Belamy – was tasked with coordinating the event in Tampa. A long-time attendee of Gasparilla, she attended Pirates Week for the first time last year as a parade judge. She said the event created a flurry of excitement around Cayman and Pirates Week.

“Gala Parilla was the Cayman Islands’ first foray into the pirate world of Tampa Bay and it came out a winner. We received many compliments on the quality of the event, in particular Cayband, which everyone couldn’t stop raving about. I personally thought they were the best band I had ever heard at any event.

“Many also told me they were extremely touched that the Premier of the Cayman Islands would take the time out from his busy schedule to attend an event in Tampa that was directed at the pirates and their krewes.

Shomari M. Scott – Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

“I think the event overwhelmingly achieved its purpose to inform Tampa about the wonderful Pirates Week Festival that is just one hour and 20 minutes from them by air. I believe this is the opening of the tap and Tampa pirates will begin to make the Cayman Islands their annual pirate destination.”

Gina Matthews, public relations manager at the Department of Tourism, added that the event has many benefits beyond simply promoting Cayman.

“Not only do we increase visitation to the event but by attracting pirate krewes we are actually increasing the participation in the actual landing and festival and therefore increasing the quality of the festival and pirate landing at the same time. It all means good things for Cayman.”

CayBand NRG delight at Gala Parilla

CayBand NRG

Local band CayBand featuring NRG took their first trip off island as a band to play at the inaugural Gala Parilla event.

The eleven-piece band played their official first gig at last year’s Pirates Week and bought the same energetic performance and soca rhythms with them to the stage in Tampa.

The band includes Brent McLean and his son Kam “Sketch”, Vashti Bodden the 2011 Pirates Week song contest winner, Angie Manderson and Shari Espeut. The back-line included Jeff Japal on keyboards, George Jones on keyboards and samplers, Glen Scott on guitar, Winston “Bugs” Wilson on bass and Wayneroy Randal on drums.

Band manager Clive Rosteing said the band is a blend of some of Cayman’s top performers.

“The band comprises a little of everything, some female singers, some male, some veterans and some youngsters. It’s a very good blend of Cayman’s best performers.

“It was quite an experience for the band as a whole. Getting to do this gig was a big deal for us. The band had the audience dancing, waving rags, whining and generally having a great old time. At the end, the crowd was begging for more. From all reports, the band was well received and we hope to repeat the event next year.”

Gallery Photos by: Joanna Lewis

Notorious Pirates Website

Princess and Pirate Party

Captain Jack and crew are available for appearances with the Glass Slipper and several other popular princesses. Great for festivals, family events, parades and birthday parties.

Hysterical dueling pirate and princess lessons.

Pirate fun includes; Balloons swords making, a sword lesson and a balloon sword battle, tattoos, picture posing, tug of war and pirate says.

Princess fun includes; Storytelling, princess lesson, face-painting, picture posing, dancing, nails.

Booking

We, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, invite you to step lively ‘n’ join us as we once again invade the City of Tampa to share our trinkets ‘n’ treasures – a tradition we’ve honored since 1904.

Our band of marauding buccaneers will be settin’ our sails to descend on the City of Tampa in the wee mornin’ hours of Saturday the 28th of January…and we’ll be looking fer you!

Come celebrate the Gasparilla Invasion as we enter Hillsborough Bay in the tall-masted Jose Gasparilla pirate ship (she’s a beauty), with cannons a-boomin’ and flags unfurled.

Join us for the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, when we’ll dock at the Tampa Convention Center fer a hearty meal befittin’ a hungry band o’ buccaneers!

Fill yer pockets with the beads ‘n’ treasures we’ll be throwin’ as we wind our merry way down Bayshore Boulevard in the lively, colorful Parade of the Pirates.

Dance in the streets with me ‘n’ my mateys to live music at the Pirate Fest Street Festival.

So, scuttle yer other plans ‘n’ be prepared to come party with us. If ye don’t join in the festivities, it may be the plank for you! Arrrrrgh!

Philip R. Carroll
Captain, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla

FREE PARTY!

Ahoy All Pirates, Privateers, Buccaneers, Scurvydogs and Scallywags, Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy invites you to the Ultimate Pirate Parade Party, “GALA PARILLA” at the Historic Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Tampa, Florida on Friday, January 27, 2012, 7:00 -11:00 pm.

There is No Cover Charge but you must register at www.galaparilla.com
to be eligible for the Many Fantastic Contests and Giveaways including a 5/4 night trip with airfare and hotel to the Cayman Islands EVERY HOUR for “Pirate Week 2012”!!!

Don your Garb and join us for a great night of piratical revelry!

Best Pirate or Sexiest Wench Costume Contest plus other fabulous prizes and giveaways!!!

ATTENTION KREWES, EMAIL US TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET TWO FREE TICKETS TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS FOR YOUR KREWE!

DJ KZee of “Caribbean Cruise” from WMNF will be there to spin Island Flavored music.

Live Music by Party Band “Heat” will be on the Patio, straight from Grand Cayman!!

Authentic Caribbean Cuisine available and don’t forget those Famous Cuban Club Drink Prices!

This be a Pirate’s Dream Come True, Mate!! Don’t Miss it!!

We Thank Our Sponsors The Cayman Islands Board of Tourism and Pirate Week 2012!!

See You There!

Photos by Kelle’Ann Genevieve Carion-Parr




Pirates Week – Grand Cayman

Every November, the Cayman Islands have a celebration that turns the island upside down. It is the annual Pirates Week Festival. When the event kicked off on Thursday night is was the 34th consecutive year that Grand Cayman celebrated Pirates Week. The event spanned 11 fun packed days including music, parades, contests, fireworks and more. With an 11-day celebration, there is something for everyone of all ages. Source

Jeremy Parr

Harbour Drive featured live music, entertainment, stunt shows and more with all the colour and creativitiy and rhythm of the Caribbean.

Miss Festival Queen

They traveled back in time with the Governor and his wife as they strolled along the parade route.

Pirates offshore prepared to invade the peaceful island.

Notorious Captain Jack prepared the crew.

Cannons were fired.

The pirates landed and Notorious Captain Jack led the charge!

They had plotted to capture the Governor and his wife and take over the island.

The East India Trading Co. men tried to protect them.

But the soldiers were outnumbered.

The Governor was captured.

And his wife…

Notorious Captain Jack really just wanted to join the party.

So, peace was restored and the celebration continued!

Don’t miss Pirates Week 2013

From piratesweek.com:

We start our festival with a fantastic steel pan competition and kick-off party and on Friday night the festival goes off with a bang with a spectacular fireworks display that you will not want to miss! With a Pirate Costume competition, crowning of the Festival Queen and the National Song Contest that night there is no better place to be in the Caribbean.

On the first Saturday we have a mock ‘pirate invasion’ from the sea! Two old-time sailing vessels, loaded with pirates make a Saturday surprise landing at the bowl-shaped George Town harbour with the pirates capturing the Governor. Thousands of people line the streets to watch the spectacle and its all good-natured fun with a new twist every year. Families just love it. It’s the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region.

Keep checking the website for updates and special offers throughout the year. You can also become a fan of the festival on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and if you want to be in the ‘pirate invasion’ or volunteer for the festival then please contact us at pirates@candw.ky.

We hope to see you all in November 2013, pirates and landlubbers alike with you all ready to have lots of fun with us in the Cayman Islands.