Avast, ye scallywags! The Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise is the Ship To Shore Battle sponsor for the 2011 Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival and all ye landlubbers, lads and lassies better be comin’ out t’see it… or you might find yourselves walkin’ the plank!

The Sixth Annual Pirate Festival, held Oct. 7-9, is a multi-day family friendly event featuring live entertainment, a treasure hunt, a Jack Sparrow look-a-like contest at the Big Game Waterfront Grill, a pub crawl and a living history pirate encampment.

Old San Carlos Boulevard will be transformed back into “Tortuga” where pirates and wenches will roam the streets and interact with patrons.

Both Saturday and Sunday at noon, festival-goers will witness the Festival’s featured event, The Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise Ship To Shore Battle. The Pieces of Eight will assault the shores of “Tortuga” with its troupe of pirates firing her canons and black powder pistols while those ashore will return live cannon fire to fend off the invaders.

“Make sure you arrive early and get a front row seat to watch the Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise Ship to Shore Battle” said Stephen Sepulveda, a.k.a. Captain Jack and manager of the Pirate Cruise. “This is the most exciting event at the Pirate Festival. After the battle, festival goers are invited to board the 65 foot Spanish galleon to meet the Pirates.”

The Pirate Cruise is currently taking reservations for Saturday and Sunday sunset cruises that weekend. For more information about the Pirate Cruise, a 90-minute swashbuckling pirate show onboard a 65-foot replica Spanish galleon, call 239-765-7272.

All of the profits from the Pirate Festival event will benefit the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club. To see the schedule of events and locations, visit www.FortMyersBeachPirateFest.com.