Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

[StrangeBayPirate]

Has anyone here ever attended this event? I have never attened any of these type events but this reads like a lot o fun and is close enough to me to be doable. I've posted all this info here because the website itself is loaded with popups but iffin ye wish ta sail those waters it is easily found with a web search fer Billy Bowlegs. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Libens,

Steven St'arr

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

Ft. Walton, FL -

The year is 1779. Adventurer, wanderer, scoundrel, pirate extraordinaire, and

notorious bad boy, William Augustus Bowles, affectionately known as Billy

Bowlegs, bursts on the scene. A charismatic leader of men, who solely inspired

the formation of the Independent State of Muskegee, uses his egotistical

ambition and superior strength of will for self gain.

Bowles originally came to Pensacola with English forces to hold Pensacola from

the Spanish. When the effort failed he developed an undying hatred for the

Spanish visitors. This unique character's flair and charisma made Bowles the

perfect leader as he formed his own band of runaway whites, blacks and renegade

Indians. At this time, three countries were vying with the new Americans for

control of the sea lanes and trade with Europe. Motley crews in the area were a

force to be reckoned with and pirating become a very lucrative business on the

high seas. Captain Bowles proclaimed The State of Muskegee an independent state

whose longevity has only been surpassed by the independent Republic of Texas

after its independence from Mexico.

Need to Know:

Billy Bowlegs Festival

June 2-5, 2006

Where: Ft. Walton Beach

As Bowles' popularity rose, his opponents become more distrustful and vowed to

stop at nothing to get him under their control. The English were afraid he was

an agent for the Spanish, the Spanish offered him a Maj. General commission and

the Americans considered murder to be rid of his devilish activities. However,

such a controversial leader could not last for long. Disenchanted Indians led

him into a trap and turned him over to the Spanish authorities. He would neither

speak to his captors nor eat their food and subsequently starved to death at the

age of 42. This obscure episode in American history has given rise to a festival

which is now an integral part of the Fort Walton Beach Community, the Sprint

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival..

The year is 2006. Very soon local residents will batten down the hatches in

preparation for the invasion of the infamous yet ever popular, Captain Billy

Bowlegs. Captain Billy Bowlegs, along with his Queen, has been spotted at

several local schools trying to persuade local youngsters to join his Motley

Krewe. Captain Billy and his Krewe plan to invade Fort Walton Beach at the 51th

Annual Sprint Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in June at Fort Walton Landing.

Although Captain Billy's record stands at 50 wins and 0 losses, nothing is a

sure thing when it comes to the city militia. Fort Walton Beach Mayor, and the

brave Militia are not about to give up control of the city without a fight.

Reports also say the militia has a secret weapon in store for those spineless

thieves.

Sources tell us, on the evening of June 2nd at around 7:00 pm, Captain Billy

will sail into Fort Walton Landing under a flag of truce and try to negotiate

with the Mayor for control of the City. After the Mayor refuses his charismatic

charm, Captain Billy will be turned away and visitors to the festival will enjoy

wonderful entertainment from popular local entertainers, and a spectacular

fireworks display at 8:30 pm."

The festivities will continue on Saturday, June 3rd, from 10 am - 10:00 pm where

the highlight of the afternoon is when the Billy Bowlegs' Armada sails into Fort

Walton Landing to defeat the city militia in a mock battle. If Captain Billy is

successful in his quest for control of the City of Fort Walton Beach, he will

proclaim the days following to be filled with fun and celebration for citizens

of all ages. As festival goers enjoy the antics, several popular local and

regional performers will be on had to entertain the crowds.

Captain Billy and his Krewe invite local citizens and visitors to Fort Walton

Landing on Brooks Street in June for the 51st Annual Sprint Billy Bowlegs Pirate

Festival. The celebration begins on a Friday afternoon with the fireworks

display that evening. The festival offers many exciting events including an arts

and crafts fair, wonderful food, a treasure chest, fabulous entertainment and

more. Parents are invited to bring the whole family out to enjoy the fun. Plan

for an even more enjoyable experience this year with the addition of the

Microspine Performance Park, perfect for those that have been reluctant to face

the crowded conditions of years past. The new landscaping and sidewalks have

added nearly 40% more space to the Festival grounds.

The following Monday night (June 5th) gold coins, beads, and candy will fly

through the air in celebration of Captain Billy Bowlegs' victory over the

militia. Captain Billy, his Queen and Krewe will throw goodies to the awaiting

crowd during the Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade. The festival is an event of

the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, The City of Fort Walton

Beach, Krewe of Bowlegs, The Okaloosa County TDC and several local businesses.

[John_Young]

Depends... do you want accurate or folks wearing tacky spandex throwing plastic beads around in a poor man's Gasparilla?

BTW, I think both Jose Gaspar and Billy Bowlegs are pretty much fictional.

[Captain Jim]

Jose Gaspar is fictional; Billy Bowlegs is not:

William Augustus Bowles (1763-1805)

WILLIAM BOWLES

The Spanish Florida-United States border problem was further complicated by the presence of colorful opportunists who profited from the region's lack of political control. None was more troublesome than WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BOWLES, a former British naval officer. While visiting Florida during the American Revolution, he lost his rank due to insubordination, insulted his commander, and threw his uniform into into the Gulf. Bowles escaped into the forests of West Florida, where he was adopted by the Creeks. In 1781, he gained a pardon when he led some Creeks to the rescue of Pensacola, then under seize by a Spanish fleet.

Bowles accepted a job as an Indian agent, but was considered an unreliable and ruthless individualist. When the Spanish regained Florida in 1783, Bowles was told to leave, but instead elected to wage a personal war against the Penton and Leslie Company and its monopoly of the fur trade in West Florida. Gaining the support of the Nassau firm of Bonamy & Miller, Bowles tried to get the English to support him in an attempt to overthrow the Spanish in Florida.

Authorities in London rejected Bowles' plans and the Spanish sought the help of Alexander McGillivray. Within weeks McGillivray's men captured Bowles and brought him to the Spanish in Pensacola. The Spanish tried to convince the daring Englishman to join the Spanish navy, but when Bowles refused them, he was sent to a prison in the distant Spanish Philippines.

Several years later, Bowles was reassigned to Madrid, but escaped enroute off the coast of British West Africa. Bowles was treated as a wayward hero in London, but he elected to return to Florida in 1791 to renew his personal war against Spain. By now, his Creek friends had deserted him and Bowles was recaptured and sentenced to Morro Castle prison in Havana, Cuba.

Struck down by the plague and on his death bed in prison, Bowles was visited by the Governor of Cuba who wanted to see the celebrity prisoner. Bowles informed his guard, "I am sunk low indeed, but not low enough to greet a Spaniard." The death of Bowles, however, did not lessen the conflict along the borderlands. Bowles was merely a symptom of Spain's lack of control of its frontier.

I have not been able to difinitively pin the name Billy Bowlegs on Bowles, but the evidence that every generation of Seminole since has had a plethora of Billys and Bowlegs names.

Actually there have been several notable Billy Bowlegs in the history of the Creek and Seminole nations. The next was:

Billy Bowlegs whose Seminole name was Holata Micco

Seminole leader

Born: c. 1810

Birthplace: Florida

Holata Micco, commonly called Billy Bowlegs, and known as the “Alligator chief,” was a Seminole leader who fought in the Second (1835–1842) and Third Seminole wars (1855–1858) against the U.S. government. As more and more settlers moved to Florida, the U.S. was determined to move the Seminoles to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The three wars resulted in 3,000 Seminoles removed from Florida and more than 1,500 dead. It was a costly, $20-million war for the U.S., which met fierce resistance.

After the Second Seminole war, Bowlegs refused to move to Indian Territory and was given a small parcel of land in the Everglades. When whites then encroached upon this remaining land, Bowlegs initiated the Third and final Seminole war, in 1855. It was the last Indian war fought east of the Mississippi. After several years of attacks by the U.S. Army, Bowlegs and his remaining band of 40 warriors resigned themselves to removal to Indian Territory in 1858. There he eventually died of small pox.

Died: 1859?