Can anyone tell me about Pirate Festivals in Florida? What do they entail? Is it a package (one fee covers everything?) or each event pay for individually?

It depends which one you attend some free some... not. Here is a list of pirate festivals across Florida. You can get more details on the ones you are interested in from the links below. Also if anyone knows anymore let us know

1. Gasparilla Pirate Fest - Tampa, Florida (January)
2. The Pillage of the Village at the Florida Renaissance Festival - Deerfield Beach, FL (February)
3. Pirates Sack St. Augustine (Searle's Raid) - Tampa, Florida (March)
4. Lee Island Pirate days Festival - Ft.Myers, Florida (April)
5. Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival - Fernandina Beach, Florida with Pirate Parade (May)
6. The Pirates League Summer Debut- Walt Disney World Orlando (All Summer)
7. John Levique Pirate Days - Madeira Beach, Florida (June)
8. Billy Bowlegs Festival - Fort Walton Beach, Florida (June)
9. Drake's Raid - St. Augustine, Florida (June)
10. Pirates of the Intracoastal pirate fair - Boynton Beach, Florida (October)
11. Key Largo's Black Caesar Pirates Festival - Key Largo, Florida (October)
12. Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival - Fort Myers Beach, Florida (October)
13. 1st Annual Ray Kitchens Memorial Pirate Treasure Run to Benefit LifePath Hospice - Clearwater, Florida (November)
14. Saint Augustine Pirate Gathering - St. Augustine, Florida (early November)
15. Florida Pirate Festival - St Petersburg, Florida (November)
16. Pirates in Paradise Festival - Key West, Florida (late Nov-Dec)

I wouldn't have thought there were so many Pirate Festivals.

Are there a a lot of retirees using them as opportunities to make a little extra income?

Pirate are popular from the movies and romance associated with them in the Caribbean. They were very different from those now in Somalia, they actually had a Pirates Code, the first recorded Workman's Compensation Policy and practiced racial freedom, Captain's Kidd's number two was black in 1682! I suspect it is more than just retirees that profit from them (Check out Disney). Thanks for the listings.

Wow, that's a lot of pirate festivals. Why do they have so many? It's a really nice experience though. It's really neat to see everyone dressed in period clothing; and just having a great time.

Wow that would be absolutely amazing to go and see. Are there regular times or months these take place in or are they just kinda spread out of the year?

I've never heard of a pirate festival before. I think that's the neatest idea that I've ever heard of. I have to tell my family about them. I think we might be able to make it there just in time.

I've yet to experience this! I cant wait to give it a go though.