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Scurvy on over

Pirates will invade Coachman Park and hang around for a weekend of revelry and mock battles. And don't miss the nighttime fire shows.

CLEARWATER - By day, Largo's Bob Doherty works as a mild-mannered IT manager.

By night, he's a marauder with a motley crew that's working hard at an Ulmerton Road workshop to collect stores, build a ship, hone plans and sharpen swords.

Time to raise the terror alert. The skull and crossbones have been sighted and Clearwater will be under attack - from pirates.

The third annual Florida Pirate Festival swarms ashore this weekend at Coachman Park.

Blame the looting and pillaging on Doherty, who, after the departure of the Bay Area Renaissance Festival for Tampa, decided to plot a new Pinellas festival course.

He settled on a pirate theme because "everybody loves them," said Doherty, a longtime cast member of the Renaissance Festival. "This area's all about pirates."

That may be a stretch, even if you count Gasparilla Day (based on an apparently fake brigand) and the Buccaneers (for a long time, a seemingly fake football team). The bay area's historical link to actual pirates might be as hard to find as buried treasure.

But there's no denying they can be pretty dashing in their puffy shirts and eye patches. Clearwater officials apparently thought so when Doherty brought them his idea three years ago.

"We were excited then and we are even more so now," said Kevin Dunbar, the city's director of parks and recreation. "It gave us a chance to diversify a bit, to go beyond music festivals and concerts."

The festival goes way beyond. Having re-created a seaside town of 300 years yore, Doherty will lead ashore a crew of scurvy seadogs to collect the bounty on their captain's head from the Lord Governor, one of more than 100 re-enacters in the cast. The pirates, after securing their bounty, will hang around for a weekend of revelry and mock battles.

"The fire shows in the evenings are indescribable," Doherty said. "They use specially made wire whips, lit on fire, to create fantastic visions in the air."

Jugglers will walk streets lined with artisans offering maritime crafts, some made on the spot. Six stages will host an array of magic, comedy and musical acts with evocative names like "The Tortuga Twins" (three comedians), "Bunnies in Peril" (a magic act) and "Empty Hats" (Celtic musicians).

The festival invites adult guests to stay late and party with the cast at the pub, where beer and wine will flow. Lots of hearty fare will be available in the food court. You can even book a date for the daily Lord Governors Lunch, a fashionable three-course meal with very proper entertainment under the main tent.

While most of the Pirate Festival would likely be rated G, some elements are definitely not for the little ones, such as "Cigars, Harlots and Beer," in which patrons can smoke cigars, drink beer and carouse for an extra fee.

Children's activities include Pirate School, where kids can learn swashbuckling ways and how to make piratey things.

And there will even be a connection to modern-day pirates. A raft of TVs will be available so fans won't miss the Bucs' Sunday game against Atlanta.

The third annual Florida Pirate Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Coachman Park. Cost is $10 for adults, $7 for children 12 and under, free for children 3 and under. A portion of ticket fees benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tickets available at Ticket Master or at the gate. There are additional fees for special events at the festival. Visit www.piratefair.com