www.beaufortseaport.com

For Immediate Release

May 23, 2010

Ready A-A-Aarrgh Not!

BEAUFORT, NC – Never ever duplicated, the Beaufort Pirate Invasion is scheduled for August 13 and 14, 2010.

For the 2010 Beaufort Pirate Invasion, the oldest North Carolina seaport is authentically transformed while reliving the actual invasion of its Colonial past. It becomes 1747, and the streets bustle with activity as news spreads of Spanish privateers stealing command of supply ships in Beaufort Harbor. Beaufort and its people can expect to be targeted next!

At the Beaufort Historic Site in the center of downtown, an authentic Pirate Encampment is active on Friday evening and all day Saturday with Brethren of the Coast and a fascinating variety of wenches. Shrimp baskets, hot dogs and grog are served here Friday night to anyone with the coin of the realm starting at 5:00 PM

Saturday (August14), beginning at 1:00 PM, the Beaufort Pyrate Invasion occurs!

It begins with the Pirates Procession along the downtown waterfront to Pollock Street where, in 1747, the town militia met the long boat of Spanish pirate invaders set on pillaging the town. Around 1:30 PM, cannons will be firing on the town, muskets on land will be countering, and the melee will begin!

History records that nearly 100 local farmers and townsfolk joined the small band of militiamen in defense of the town. The result was victory over the invading pirates! It is said that some of the pirates were buried in the Old Burying Grounds where they remain today.

Following the Invasion, there will be a public trial and other occurrences appropriate for a 1747 Pirate Invasion. The day concludes with a celebration of the town’s victory at the Beaufort Historic Site starting at 5:00 PM. Barbecue and grog is available for purchase, and everyone celebrates like pirates!

Summon your crew for August 13-14 in Beaufort. It’s great excitement and fun for all. No disappointments, Matey!

The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is an annual event of the Beaufort Business Association. Tickets to food events will be available at the Beaufort Historic Site. For more information, call 252-728-3988. For a taste of things to come, visit www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com. Accommodations and complete information are on the web site.

• On Friday February 5th at 11:00am there will be a Tee off FORE Charity and Chocolate golf event at Brandywine Bay Golf Course in Morehead City. I’m not much of a golfer, so I’ll likely be sitting this one out. Cost is $45 and includes lunch, chocolate desserts, and a golf cart.
• Then at 6:30pm prepare for An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate at Shepard’s Point. This will feature a chocolate dinner from Chef Charles Parks. Tickets are $160/couple or $80/person. Proceeds benefite Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina.

• Saturday February 6th at 9am the Carolina Chocolate Festival opens its doors at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. The festival runs until 6pm. Tickets are $8 for adults, $2 for kids 5-12, and kids under 5 are free admission.
• Also on Saturday from 11am to 3pm is the Chocolate Spa at the Sheraton in Atlantic Beach. Get a facial or mini massage and enjoy champagne and gourmet chocolates. Reservations are required and tickets are $60 and include admission to the Chocolate Festival.
• From 2pm to 5pm stop into the Chocolate Uncorked event on the 2nd floor of the Civic Center. Emerald Isle Wine Market will have some decadent wines to sample and a silent auction.

• Sunday February 7th is the second day of the Carolina Chocolate Festival in Morehead City. The hours are from 10am to 3pm and the ticket prices remain the same except for free admission to Active Duty service members with I.D.
• From noon to 3pm check out Potters for Parkinsons Bingo on the Civic Center’s 2nd floor. There is going to be prizes and surprises for all.
• The Carteret County PAWS sunday brunch will run from 11am to 3pm at Floyd’s 1921. Costs $20 per person and reservations are required. Call (252) 727-1921 or (252) 726-7925 for reservation/ticket information.

So I hope to see you out at one or more of these wonderful events that all support great charities in our area. Just remember not to eat too much chocolate.

So if you’re in need of a good laugh as much as I am, come on out for a great time at one of my favorite Emerald Isle night spots. It’s sure to be a good time full of good laughs and great people. If you have never been to Ballyhoo’s man you’re missing out on one of the best night spots on the entire Crystal Coast. Trust me, I’ve lived here for quite some time, and have been a resident fixture at just about every bar, restaurant, and club at one time or another.

This is a non-smoking event, so bring a jacket if you think you’ll need to step outside for a smoke. I know I’ll be going out a couple times here and there. If you’re upset about having to go outside to smoke at a night club, join the club and let your legislators know how you feel. Inform Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Representative Joe Hackney, and Governor Bev Perdue how much you dislike the idea of them stepping on not only your personal liberties, but the rights of the small business owners they claim to defend.

Other than that I hope to see you out there for a great night.  And to get a brief introduction of some of the comics you’ll be seeing visit the Justice League of Comedy’s website.

This year after the flotilla makes it way by my place I may run into downtown Swansboro for the other festivities. Maybe I’ll even get an early start on my Christmas shopping. I know most of the shops will be open so it may be a good time to get started. Plus there is going to be food vendors and cider being served on the sidewalks.

I’ve never actually wen into Swansboro for the full flotilla experience and festivities that follow. So I’ll try to get some photos to document all the fun for those of you that can’t make it. The 2009 Swansboro Christmas Flotilla will take place on Friday, November 27th. Its set to begin at 5pm and the good times will continue until 9pm.

Whatever you do, be sure not to miss this event. It truly is one of the Crystal Coast’s most entertaining events in my opinion. You will really be in the Christmas spirit after this. There are plenty of places to catch the flotilla. One of the easiest places from my experience is the Wildlife ramp in Cedar Point. There are also many good places along the water in downtown Swansboro.

The event helps raise money for the Buddy Peletier Surf Foundation. The foundation was started after world champion surfer Buddy Peletier passed away from cancer in 1995. The event has grown into one of the most popular and fun filled surfing events in the country.

The competition is limited to 24 surfers per division. If you need more information about the competition please contact the event director, Mike Holleman at 252-726-2314.

Come out to the Oceanana in Atlantic Beach and watch one of the best surf competitions around. I’ll try and get out there for some photos and a report as to how the event unfolds. There is no cost for spectators to sit on the beach and watch the action.

Champion surfers from all around the globe will be in attendance for the 10th anniversary. Be sure to arrive early, the competition will start at 7am on Saturday. So come out cheer the competitors on, learn about the Buddy Peletier Surf Foundation and their mission. Most of all just have a good time.

Just a reminder in North Carolina many fireworks are illegal. This includes anything explosive or aerial, roman candles, and rockets or similar devices.

You can and will likely get a ticket in Emerald Isle for igniting these types of fireworks. Don’t ask me how I know this. I’m unsure about watching the fireworks in Emerald Isle this year though, since they won’t be at Bogue Inlet Pier.

I always thought that was a wonderful way to celebrate the Fourth of July. It is unfortunate the town and the owner of the pier couldn’t come to an agreement on their sign at the end of Bogue Inlet Dr. Instead they forced Mr. Stanley to remove his sign.

While it is saddening that the Emerald Isle fireworks won’t take place at the pier, I really don’t blame the pier owner for his decision. Why work with them, if they can’t work with you?

I hope you make it out to this year’s fireworks. I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to watch them. Happy Fourth of July!

The purse last year was a record $1,854,575! A boat named Artemis, the winner took $708,400 of that.

Today the waterfront headquarters opened for registration. It will open again on Friday (June 5th) at 9am and remain open until 5pm. At 6pm on Friday there will be a Lady Angler Event at the Civic Center. Tickets are $15.

The last day for registration is Sunday (June 7th) on the waterfront from 1pm until 5pm. And at Town Creek Marina in Beaufort from 6pm until 9pm.

There will be weigh-ins Monday through Friday (June 11th-14th) at about 5pm. Saturday’s is at 4pm.

Last year 177 boats were in the tournament. They caught and released 163 billfish.

This Morehead City Blue Marlin fishing tournament has come a long way since the first one back in 1957. The total prize for this inaugural tournament was a whopping couple hundred dollars.

No one even caught a marlin in that first tournament. In fact I think the first marlin caught off the North Carolina coast wasn’t until that following September. An angler from Raleigh, Jimmy Croy landed a 143 pound blue marlin. He was fishing aboard a boat called the Mary Z captained by K.W. “Bill” Olsen.

This year’s Big Rock is set to be an outstanding event. Each year the tournament raises thousands of dollars for a variety of charities.

I’d like to wish all of the anglers in this 51st Big Rock the best of luck!

I hope to make it to the scales at least one day of the tournament and get some photos of a nice marlin or two.

The 18th annual St. Patrick’s Festival takes place in Emerald Isle on March 14th from 9am to 5pm in the Emerald Plantation Shopping Center. Typically the crowd is around 20,000 attendees. 

There will be plenty of things for the children. Amusement rides, face painting, and plenty of food to go around. For the adults there is a beer garden, three stages of live entertainment, and arts and crafts. 

Of course don’t miss the always popular little Ms. and Mr. Leprechaun contest. This is one of the most entertaining parts of the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival. 

To me the festival means winter is over. Many people get their first sunburns of the year at this event. Please remember to drink responsibly, and don’t drink and drive. 

Last year we were fortunate enough to have some fantastic weather. The crowd at the festival was enormous. Last year it blew me away to see how many people turned out for the event. 

You’ll definitely want to check out this year’s festival. For more information visit the Town’s website.

This really helped me with getting in shape for summer. It was a lot of fun, even though it was pretty chilly, windy, and raining. But the proceeds of the race went to charity, so it was a lot of fun knowing that I was helping out those less fortunate than myself, while getting in shape for summer.

Last year we registered, started, and finished at the Crystal Coast Civic Center. This year the start/finish will be at the east end of Arendell St. in Morehead City. There is another event using the civic center, but this new route will make it more entertaining for spectators.

As much as I’d like to run the half marathon portion of the race. I’ll just stick to the 5k since I know I can make that run It smoked me last year, and I’m in even worse shape this year.

Last year I was right in the middle of the pack with a time of 31 minutes and 13 seconds. I really hope I can do better this year. The sad thing is I know that if my mind keeps telling my legs to move at a fast pace, they have to. But I remember walking about a block of the race. This year my goal is to not walk ANY of the race.

I think last year my shoes came untied TWICE too, so I will double knot them this time to prevent those delays.  So come on out and run with me for a good cause. Or just cheer us on, whatever works for you.

Races will start Saturday February 28th at 8:00am for the half marathon and 8:15am for the 5k. For more information visit ncraces.com. Hope to see you there.