Plastic sword hoisted high in the air, 3-year-old Aeryana Tenore showed off her strategy for collecting beads before the 58th annual Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade.
“Arrghhh, matey,” she growled, looking fearsome under her skull and crossbones bandana.
Aeryana had been searching for pirate gold all day in anticipation of the start of the festival, said her aunt, Tessica Glenn.
“Them’s cool,” she said, explaining why she loved pirates.
Gold was hard to come by at the parade, but beads, candy and toys rained down on the hundreds gathered for the fun Thursday evening.
PHOTOS: View a photo gallery from the parade >>
If the parade was any indication, Fort Walton Beach has been lost to the pirate horde.
The crowds pressed up against the floats and cars traveling up the northbound lanes of Eglin Parkway, hands high in the air as they beckoned for treats.
“Ships” spilled over with singing and dancing pirates, to the delight of the crowds.
The pirate fans were everywhere, armed with plastic swords and dressed in their best buccaneer gear.
Two-year-old Jake Taijeron was in tears when his family arrived around 5:30 p.m. because the pirates hadn’t arrived yet, his mom, Melissa Taijeron said.
“They were still in the ocean, battling sharks,” Melissa said.
The Taijeron family trekked in from Navarre just for the festival. Jake’s dad, Staff Sgt. Tony Taijeron, was celebrating the festival for the first time because he’s been deployed during past festivals.
“He’s very excited about pirates throwing candy and beads,” Tony said before the parade, grinning at Jake.
Bob Blais of Navarre has been going to the festival for 20 years, but this is the first time he made it to the parade. He wanted to bring his visiting daughter and her friends to see the local event.
“They’re not used to getting things thrown at them,” Blais said.