Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival is held in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The festival honors the local pirate legend, and is unrelated to the Seminole chief Billy Bowlegs. Similar to Mardi Gras, the festival consists of a parade, fireworks, and associated celebrations. The festival originated in the 1950's as a boat and water skiing show. Contrary to popular belief, there is no period documentation supporting claims that William Augustus Bowles was named "Billy Bowlegs" (nor is there any evidence Bowles even set foot near what is today Fort Walton). The festival has a Mardi Gras flair rather than a historical focus, with locals dressing up in cocked hats (such headgear was not in fashion when Bowles was active in the late 1790s to early 1800s from his base near Apalachicola).

Homepage of Billy Bowlegs Festival: http://www.fwbchamber.org/programs_events/billy_bowlegs_main.htm