What's a pirate's favorite letter? Arrrr....

Ahoy Matey, next Wednesday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Below are a few piratey goings on ... so grab your treaure map, eye patch, and gold earring and set off on an adventure.

If your kids have ever made a sibling walk the plank or search for treasure in the sand, you'll want to check out FamFest Pirate Adventure, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at North Collier Regional Park in Naples. There'll be treasure map making, a pirate ring toss, rock wall, shark necklace making and a showing of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Plus, ship-building, a coloring station, making a Jolly Roger (flag, for those landlubbers among ya), face painting and a giant inflatable slide. The first 1,500 children receive a treasure map and booty bag.
Admission is free. North Collier Regional Park is at 15000 Livingston Road in Naples.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding its 2nd Annual Pirate Festival event on Old San Carlos Boulevard on October 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th this year. The Pirate Festival is designed to be a family oriented four-day event focusing on activities for the children. Events planned for the Festival include a medieval skits from the Pirate Club of the Tortugas and a Treasure Hunt for children and adults. Professional Pirate Crews will provide entertainment throughout each day except Monday. Seafood vendors will provide food from their own booth. Merchants will be invited to sell related wares. Along with the food vendors and merchants, event goers will be able to purchase beverages from Budweiser and Pepsi.This year the Pirate Festival Committee has designated the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Camp in Lake Wales as the recipient of a donation from the event. The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club will be active participants in the planning and implementation of the Pirate Festival. The Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club will implement the Children's Treasure Hunts. The Bay Oaks Recreation Center will be helping with the event in exchange for a donation as well.

Captain Paul ... a pirate with a yacht (and pictured at right)

Coming October 7th ... Pirate Adventures for the family on the high seas (note: we tried to look into this last fall and had no luck getting ahold of anyone, so be patient if you need to call a few times)