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Pirates Week Photo Album
- Click on any photo to enlarge
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KICK OFF (Seven Mile Beach)
The Festival officially begins on a Friday, but there is a traditional
Thursday "Kick Off" party at the Royal Palms site on Seven
Mile Beach from 9pm to 2 am. Live bands, giveaways, plenty to eat and
drink, and free admission.
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FESTIVAL COSTUME COMPETITION (Downtown)
This one features beautiful young ladies, but it is not a beauty contest;
the contestants are competing for the "best costume", based
on a theme of their choice. It happens on the first Friday just before
the fireworks downtown. Free admission.
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FIREWORKS (Downtown)
Sponsored by Fuji Film, this highly-acclaimed 20-minute show over the
water is one of the high points of the Festival. Just find a spot downtown
on Harbour Drive (the road is closed) and you're there. It starts at
8pm, but come early; it gets very crowded.
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SONGFEST
Local songwriters take to the stage immediately following the fireworks
downtown for a one-hour competition (original songs on any theme) that
is a keenly contested and popular event. Usually hosted by a visiting
celebrity, the Songfest offers competitors a total of almost US$3,000
in prize money. The show is aired live on two radio stations - Radio Cayman
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STREET DANCES (Downtown and in the
Districts)
There are 8 of these, in the open air, and there is no admission to the
three downtown ones - first Friday and Saturday; last Saturday - equipped
with two bandstands two blocks apart. It's mostly currently popular Caribbean
music, but there are other foot-tapping styles, too. The bandstands are
elevated so you can see the action. The street dances go to 2am during
the week and to midnight on Saturdays. |
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LANDING PAGEANT
Pirates were not known to have ever invaded Grand Cayman, but we recreate
a mock invasion on the first Saturday afternoon (the "governor"
is taken hostage) complete with sailing ships, costumes, high energy,
and copious bangs and explosions. It's a great spectacle, right in the
harbour downtown, and it draws thousands. Come early. If you want to get
involved in the Landing, call the Pirates Week Office. (Tel: 345-949-5859.
Email: pirates@candw.ky) |
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STREET PARADE
Right after the Landing Pageant (see above) a mile-long Street Parade
begins. If you're at the harbour you're set, but it also winds its way
through town. Floats and walking groups, on themes of their own choosing,
compete for thousands of dollars in prize money. It's a glittering spectacle,
with lots of music, and approximately 100 marshals are out there to
keep it all safe.
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TEEN-UP
For the music that only young people love and adults hate, this is the
one. It's located about two blocks from the downtown street dance, but
there's no alcohol, lots of security, and there's no admission charge.
Dee Jays provide the music (it's run by the Leos Club), and it happens
on each of the two Saturdays in the Festival.
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HERITAGE DAYS (District Sites)
Following the first weekend in town, the action moves on Monday to the
Heritage Days in the districts (East End; Bodden Town; North Side; George
Town; Savannah; West Bay; Little Cayman). They start at noon on each
of 6days with heritage displays, craft, games, and local food. At nightfall,
the street dance begins (admission $5) and goes to 2am. The Savannah
District Day is a no-alcohol event with the emphasis on family fun.
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SPORT
The sports side of the Festival is growing and attracting international
visitors. There are two golf tournaments, a 5K Seven Mile Beach sea
swim, a pool competition, three road races (a 5K, 10K and 50-mile cross
Island relay race) and a darts tournament.
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| 50-MILE CROSS ISLAND RELAY RACE |
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FOOD, FOOD, FOOD
This is no weight watchers' event. At all the street dances there is
a copious supply of local dishes (lobster; conch; fish; jerk dishes;
etc.). Servings are generous (the price is usually around $10) and strict
sanitary regulations are enforced. At the downtown street dances the
"food court" area is on a separate street between the two
bandstands.
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KIDS' FUN DAY
We've got the really young set covered, too. On the first Sunday of
the Festival, from noon to 4pm, they can eat, drink, play games, win
nice prizes (e.g., 4 bicycles) and have their picture taken with our
inflatable shark. It's free. It's at the Cayman Prep School field in
town
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ART SHOW
It's not the Louvre, mind you, but you'll be surprised at the quality
of paintings in this Children's Art Competition with contributions from
all the schools. The entries, in various age categories, are on display
in our National Museum auditorium downtown during the run of the Festival.
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UNDERWATER TREASURE HUNT
Run by Dive Tech in West Bay, on the first Sunday of Pirates Week, this
event caters both to accomplished divers and the younger snorkel set.
Retrieving various "coins" from the sea gets the winners an
assortment of prizes including dinners and lunches at popular restaurants.
It starts at 1pm and Dive Tech can provide gear if needed.
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TRIAL OF THE PIRATES
This one is good-natured slapstick fun, staged by local thespians, and
the idea here is that after taking the "governor" hostage,
the invading pirates are tried and banished from the island. It takes
place on the final Saturday just before the final Street Dance, downtown
again, and the jokes fly fast. Free!
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FESTIVAL SCENES
Thousands of photographs are generated in the Festival each year. In
this gallery we offer a general sampling of what goes on over the 11
days of the celebration.
Pirates Week - what a time!
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Miguel Escalante; Ricardo
Barcelo; Ward Scott
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