BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLOX) - This weekend, the Coast Life becomes the Pirate Life with Pirate Day in the Bay.
“Once you become a pirate, you’re always a pirate,” Chuck Lizana said. “You can’t walk away from it.”
Lizana doesn’t have any problems transforming into his alternate ego of a pirate. For the last ten years, when May rolls around, Lizana and about 300 members of the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse turn Bay St. Louis into a pirate’s paradise.
Pirates of all ages get in on the fun. There’s a pirate play zone for kids, costume contests, a pub crawl, and the highlight of the weekend is always the pirate parade.
“Bay St. Louis has really embraced the pirate theme,” Lizana said. “Every year, when Pirate Day rolls around, the whole area gets into the act. Pirate Day is a celebration of fun and freedom for the whole Gulf Coast.”
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While it comes with plenty of fun, Pirate Day in the Bay was started as a way of honoring and remembering the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bay St. Louis in the War of 1812. The name Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse is inspired by a ship, “The Seahorse,” used in the battle.
The role of pirate royalty “Lady Claiborne” can also be traced to the battle.
“The legend is she [Lady Claiborne] took a cigar, lit the cannon and fired the first round, so she was a true historical character,” Lizana said. “As we were creating the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse, we needed a captain role, we wanted to play the pirate thing, so Captain Long Beard was kind of a made-up character. We fall right into the group, and we have a lot of fun with it.”
Lizana took on the role of Captain Long Beard in 2024, but he’s passing the duties on this year. This group of pirates is all about building up community spirit.
“Pirates in the old days weren’t the friendliest bunch, but in our modern personification of the pirates, we’re all about freedom, having fun, supporting each other, and supporting our community.”
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Pirates taking over the town brings more than fun. From money brought in over the weekend, the Krewe gives back about $20,000 to the community each year.
“We support so many local charities, everything from the community garden to cancer groups, and friends of the animal shelter.”
If Lizana has his way, the legend of the pirates in the Bay will keep getting bigger and bigger.
”It’s just a great time for the whole community.”
For the complete schedule for Pirate Day in the Bay, click here.
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