Cedar Key Pirate Invasion
- Dates
- Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2026
- Status
- Announced
- Venue
- Cedar Key City Park, Dock Street
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
Cedar Key Pirate Invasion comes to Cedar Key, FL, Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2026, with Crew of the Scavenger, Pirates of the Loose Cannon Company, Rusty Cutlass, plus 1 more. Froligo tracks the confirmed lineup, free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
Part of our Halloween 2026 guide: every Halloween festival, parade and Día de Muertos event near you.
The experience
What's special
The Cedar Key Pirate Invasion is a free, three-day 'Pillaging with a Purpose' charity festival that turns the small Gulf-coast island town of Cedar Key, Florida, over to the pirates each fall. Re-enactor crews set up an outpost in the City Park, the mayor 'voluntarily' surrenders the town at Saturday's Opening Ceremonies, and the weekend rolls on with sea shanties, a Golf Cart Parade, kids' costume contests and a mermaid, black-powder cannon demonstrations by the Loose Cannon Company, and vendors along Thieves' Row, with proceeds benefiting a local charity (the Cedar Key Dolphin Project in 2026)
What people love
Reviewers describe a fun weekend with cool costumes and friendly people filling up the town, a good selection of vendors, and plenty for kids to do, a well-liked small-town pirate takeover
Last time around (2025)
The 9th annual invasion was held over the Oct 31-Nov 1-2, 2025 weekend, again taking over Cedar Key with re-enactors, vendors, and family activities
On the lanes & stages
Set in the Colonial period. Event style: living-history.
Lineup
Costumes & what to wear
Do I need a costume?
Guests are encouraged to get into the spirit and dress like a pirate; there are boys' and girls' costume contests and a community Garb Swap group, but costumes are optional for visitors
Weapons policy
Edged/pointed weapons (swords, knives, daggers, spears) must remain sheathed at all times except during approved, scheduled performances; black-powder weapons may only be fired by participants pre-approved by the event Safety Officer and only within the designated demonstration area in the park
Joining in
Visitors watch re-enactors set up an outpost in the city park, listen to sea shanties, join the Saturday Opening Ceremonies as the mayor 'voluntarily' turns the town over to the pirates, roll in the Golf Cart Parade, and take in Saturday/Sunday black-powder cannon demonstrations by the Pirates of the Loose Cannon Company
Getting there
How do I get to Cedar Key Pirate Invasion?
By car
Most people drive to Cedar Key Pirate Invasion. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) is the nearest airport with regular commercial service, about 60 miles from Cedar Key. Rideshare and taxi both operate at GNV with curbside pickup at the departure level; driver availability for the onward island trip can be thin, so booking ahead is worth doing
Book / info →Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Free street and town parking is available in Cedar Key; nearby hotels also offer parking. On the busiest festival days spots can fill up, so arriving early is worth it. There is no on-site pirate encampment this year
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hire →Car hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the centre of Cedar Key. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Cedar Key Pirate Invasion?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
On Dock Street, within walking distance of the festival's Dock Street venues
≈ $60-100 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Mid-range hotels 1
On Dock Street itself, with suites built out over the water
Check rates →Luxe hotels 1
On 2nd Street, within an easy walk of City Park and Dock Street
≈ $150-200 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Airbnb & private camping
Cedar Key has a healthy stock of cottage and vacation-home rentals, and pricing typically rises for the festival weekend in this small island town
Search Airbnb →Hipcamp lists a few private-land camping options on the mainland near Cedar Key, a secondary option now that the festival's own encampment is cancelled for this year
Search Hipcamp →Browse all hotels near Cedar Key City Park, Dock Street →
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Crawled cedarkeypiratefest.com on 3 Sep 2026. The organiser publishes no accessibility page and nothing on terrain, accessible parking, accessible toilets, companion tickets, ASL or a quiet space. The only cart wording on the site refers to a decorated golf cart parade, not to mobility assistance
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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