Yo-ho, tired landlubbers craving kid-approved fun—set your sights on Bay St. Louis, where Beach Boulevard turns into “Pirate Central” on May 16–17! Imagine your crew sprinting between clue stations, pocketing beads and bragging rights while you sip a cold drink and snap scrapbook-worthy photos—all for less than the cost of a theme-park lunch.
Key Takeaways
• What: Pirate Day in the Bay – a family pirate festival with treasure hunts, parades, music, and fireworks
• When: Friday & Saturday, May 16–17, 2025
• Where: Downtown Bay St. Louis, MS (Beach Blvd. at Court St.), about 40 minutes west of Gulf Beach RV Resort on Hwy 90
• Cost: Main grounds free; Kids’ Zone about $5; Adult Pub Crawl about $31
• Best for: Families with strollers, grandparents, couples, and anyone who loves easy, low-cost fun
• Must-bring: Reef-safe sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, light pirate clothes, cinch bags, frozen water bottles, small poncho
• Weather notes: High 80s by noon, breezy mornings, surprise showers possible
• Parking tip: Free harbor lots fill early; arrive before mid-morning or use grass shoulder north of Beach Blvd.
• Can I bring pets? Yes, leashed dogs ok outside; skip the inflatables
• Book now: Gulf Beach RV Resort sites sell out early for festival weekend.
Best part? This swashbuckling treasure hunt sits a breezy 40-minute cruise down Highway 90 from your campsite at Gulf Beach RV Resort. Park once, roll the stroller onto the harbor walkway, and let the festival’s free or $5 kids’ zones handle the entertainment while you map out seafood stops and shady seats.
Ready to trade screen time for seaside riddles, fireworks, and Insta-gold costumes—without plundering your budget or vacation days? Keep reading; we’ve packed the route, parking secrets, rain plans, and costume hacks that turn Pirate Day in the Bay into the easiest family adventure you’ll score all spring.
Meet the Festival Behind the Eye Patch
The Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse—named after a real Gulf-Coast pirate vessel—stages the transformation of downtown Bay St. Louis into an immersive playground of cannons, costumed rogues, and live music. Over a decade, the Krewe has woven Gulf lore with community spirit, expanding from a one-night party into a two-day tradition that locals pencil onto calendars the moment school ends. The heartbeat of all the action is “Pirate Central,” the sandy intersection where parades, contests, and merch booths sit within stroller-friendly strolling distance of the harbor.
Signature moments ignite all five senses. Children gasp as pirates “capture” the mayor in a theatrical invasion, adults cheer the golf-cart parade’s floating tiki bars, and everyone’s jaw drops when fireworks splash color across the bay at 9 p.m. Saturday. Because the venue hugs the waterfront, parents can snag shaded benches while kids scurry through clue stations, and couples find endless photo backdrops—wooden ships, twinkling boardwalk lights, or a scarlet-sashed pirate mid-swashbuckle—ideal for sharing later. Festival details come straight from the official site, which posts any last-minute tweaks.
Why Gulf Beach RV Resort Guests Keep Coming Back
Weekend Buccaneers—local families squeezed between ball games and homework—love that Highway 90 keeps the drive short and scenery long, so backseat chants of “Are we there yet?” barely begin before the harbor appears outside the window. After a day of treasure hunting, they swing back to the resort pool for sunset cannonball contests that cost nothing extra. Even the family dog gets a sniff of freedom on the pet-walk patch beside the pool, eliminating the need for a tedious late-night leash trek.
Road-Tripping Treasure Seekers roll in from Alabama, Louisiana, or north Mississippi and snag pull-through sites with effortless hookups. Reliable Wi-Fi lets teens upload TikToks between band sets, while parents chill on the balcony of a condo-style suite overlooking the Gulf. Grandkids & Grins snowbirds appreciate the flat, walker-friendly harbor paths and shaded benches that make grand-parenting easier than chasing toddlers through sugar-sand. Story-Seeking Couples zip over from New Orleans wearing matching sashes, rack up Pub Crawl stamps, and still rally for the Saturday treasure hunt—because yes, adults can chase clues and win prizes too.
The 2025 Festival Schedule in Living Color
Friday kicks off at 4 p.m. with a pirate skit fit for all ages, and the harbor echoes with laughter as the “mayor” pleads for mercy. One hour later, grown-ups splash into the adults-only Pub Crawl and Treasure Hunt, grabbing a map and bouncing between breezy patios in search of secret codes; tickets run about $31. Live band Retro turns the boardwalk into a dance floor from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., making the harbor glow with neon bracelets and tambourine jingles.
Saturday belongs to families. Gates open at 10 a.m. for craft shopping, face painting, and a Kids’ Zone wristband that costs roughly $5. Mid-morning costume contests line the stage with toddlers in mini-jackboots and dogs sporting eye patches, while parents vie for adult trophies immediately after. Between noon and 4 p.m., clue stations, meet-and-greets, and vendor demos fire at full speed, capped by a 4 p.m. golf-cart parade rocking foam parrots and bubble machines. The Wise Guys headline the 7 p.m. set, and fireworks crown the weekend at 9 p.m. beneath a canopy of oohs, aahs, and phone flashes.
Your Seamless Route and Stress-Free Parking Plan
Pull onto Highway 90 westbound, keep the Gulf glistening on your left, and cruise 30–40 minutes straight into Bay St. Louis; no intricate turns, just pure postcard shoreline. Leave Gulf Beach RV Resort ninety minutes before your first must-see, because bridge openings over the Bay of St. Louis can tack on fifteen unexpected minutes, and festival traffic thickens once the sun sits high. Keep an eye on digital message boards near the Ocean Springs exit; they flash real-time bridge delays so you can reroute before idling.
Free public lots hide behind the Municipal Harbor and sprinkle along Court Street, but they fill by mid-morning on Saturday. Overflow drivers line the grassy shoulder north of Beach Boulevard; sliding a tarp under tires keeps you from sinking if last night’s drizzle left soggy earth. Families pushing double strollers should choose paved harbor spots—the waterfront pedestrian path guides you away from speeding cars and funnels directly into Pirate Central with zero curb hops. For Pub Crawl night, set your rideshare pick-up near the Depot District before six; fares jump higher than a dolphin at sunset once crowds clog the streets.
Winning the Saturday Treasure Hunt Like Old-Salt Pros
Start by handing every young buccaneer a cinch bag to stash clue cards, beads, and those extra snow-cone tokens grandparents sneak them. Assign the coveted “map captain” role to the child who argues most about directions, turning sibling rivalry into teamwork gold. Stations sometimes ask kids to count cannonball replicas or decode riddles on history plaques, and reading clues together before the mad dash saves you backtracking steps.
Morning breezes call for a short-sleeve pirate tee layered under a loose vest, because temperatures rocket into the high 80s by noon. Lather reef-safe sunscreen at breakfast and again during band change-overs when everyone’s standing still, vulnerable to glare bouncing off harbor water. The smartest parents snap a quick photo at the final clue location while kids high-five volunteers; if a meltdown erupts after prize time, you already pocketed the keepsake without juggling phones in the chaos.
Pack Smart, Stay Safe, and Beat Coastal Curveballs
Closed-toe shoes fend off stray beads, dropped glass, and pavement hot enough to fry doubloons. A compact poncho trumps an umbrella when spring squalls blow sideways; folded small, it slides beneath water bottles you froze overnight to serve as both ice and hydration. Teach the family a go-to reunion landmark—the nearest stage sound tower—so even a kindergartner can regroup if vendor tents shuffle or skies open.
May’s tide tables shift quickly; a rising tide can swallow the sandy lane behind vendor tents, turning a once-dry shortcut into a marshy detour. Hydrate early with sixteen ounces of water at breakfast and keep gulping because salty air tricks you into thinking you’re not sweating. Finally, pop a reef-safe lip balm into the same pouch as tickets; cracked lips ruin grins faster than missing treasure chests.
RV Hacks for a Five-Star Base Camp
Book a western pull-through site at Gulf Beach RV Resort; you’ll shave minutes off the dawn departure toward Bay St. Louis and avoid reverse-parking in the dark after fireworks. Two days before the festival, check tire pressure, oil, and coolant—short coastal hops often hide mechanical gremlins until you hit bridge grades or stop-and-go lines around harbor parking. Reserve a spot near the bathhouse if you’re traveling with toddlers so late-night runs stay lighted and short.
On festival morning, drop frozen water bottles into a soft cooler next to string cheese and apple slices. By afternoon they morph into chilled drinks, while the cooler doubles as a footrest during the parade. Mid-afternoon Saturday is laundry’s sweet spot at the resort, because most guests still roam Pirate Central; quick-wash those ketchup-splattered vests and they’ll be dry in time for evening selfies. Shake outdoor rugs rather than rinsing—standing water invites ants faster than you can say, “Shiver me timbers.”
Mini Adventures When You Need a Breather
If the family wakes before festival gates, stroll five minutes from the resort to the Crooked Feather Sculpture for sunrise photos that tease the weekend’s pirate theme. A 9 a.m. spin through the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi serves up shrimp-net demos and hurricane stories that prime kids for coastal lore, then you still reach Bay St. Louis before treasure-hunt frenzies. If energy levels still surge after sunrise, borrow the resort’s complimentary cruiser bikes for a quick lap along the seawall.
Rain cloud on the radar? Scoot into the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, where coil-pot demos keep attention spans engaged for thirty crisp indoor minutes before heading back outdoors. On Sunday, book the first Ship Island dolphin-watch cruise out of Gulfport; you’ll chase leaping pods, return by lunch, and still enjoy a laid-back checkout at the resort. Each micro-adventure sits within fifteen miles, proving you don’t need to burn extra fuel for bonus memories.
Lightning-Round FAQ
(See detailed FAQ section at the end of this article for even more answers.)
Polish your compass, pack those eye patches, and claim your home port while sites are still open. With beachfront views, full hookups, and a zero-hassle 40-minute cruise to Bay St. Louis, Gulf Beach RV Resort makes Pirate Day in the Bay feel like smooth sailing from dawn treasure hunts to fireworks finales. Book your spot today, trade landlubber stress for Gulf-coast sunsets, and let the adventure write itself—right outside your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do we have to buy tickets for the treasure hunt or kids’ activities?
A: Entry to the festival grounds is free, but you’ll purchase a $5 Kids’ Zone wristband on-site to access inflatables and craft stations; the family treasure-hunt map is included with that wristband, so there is no separate charge for children to collect clues and prizes.
Q: What are the exact dates and times for Pirate Day in the Bay 2025?
A: The fun starts Friday, May 16, at 4 p.m. with the pirate skit and runs until 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, opens at 10 a.m. and wraps with 9 p.m. waterfront fireworks, so plan to arrive about 30–40 minutes before those times if you’re driving from Gulf Beach RV Resort.
Q: Where should we park our car or RV once we reach Bay St. Louis?
A: Standard vehicles fit best in the paved Municipal Harbor lot or Court Street overflow areas, while RVs longer than 22 feet should stay at Gulf Beach RV Resort and use a towed vehicle or rideshare because downtown spaces are tight and streets close for parades.
Q: Is the route stroller-, wagon-, and wheelchair-friendly?
A: Yes; Beach Boulevard’s harbor walk is concrete with frequent curb cuts, so wheels roll smoothly from parking to clue stations, though you’ll want to avoid grassy shoulder parking if you have strollers or mobility devices.
Q: Can adults without kids join the treasure hunt or just the Pub Crawl?
A: Absolutely; grown-ups may purchase a $31 Pub Crawl ticket for Friday night or pick up a free family treasure-hunt map on Saturday, and plenty of couples compete for prizes no matter their age.
Q: Are pets welcome at the festival and at Gulf Beach RV Resort?
A: Leashed, well-behaved dogs can stroll the outdoor festival areas but must skip the inflatable playground; Gulf Beach RV Resort is pet-friendly too, with a designated dog-walk zone, so your four-legged first mate can stay in camp comfortably afterward.
Q: What happens if it rains during the event?
A: Most clue stations and vendor booths slide under large tents during brief showers, and if a storm lingers the fireworks move to Sunday evening, while all advance wristbands and Pub Crawl tickets remain valid for the rescheduled times.
Q: Do we need to register for the treasure hunt ahead of time?
A: No pre-registration is required; simply stop by the information tent at Pirate Central on Saturday morning, grab your free map, and start solving clues at your own pace between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Q: What kind of prizes can kids—or adults—win?
A: Completed maps are exchanged for bead necklaces, pirate trinkets, and a raffle entry for larger baskets packed with local treats, restaurant vouchers, and Gulf Coast souvenirs announced on stage before the 4 p.m. parade.
Q: Are costumes mandatory, and will we overheat wearing them?
A: Costumes are purely optional but highly encouraged for contest glory; light layers, sleeveless vests, and breathable fabrics keep the pirate vibe alive without roasting in the high-80s temperatures typical of mid-May afternoons.
Q: How close is Gulf Beach RV Resort to the festival grounds?
A: The resort sits an easy 30–40-minute coastal drive east of Bay St. Louis along Highway 90, so you can eat breakfast overlooking the water, head to Pirate Central, and still be back in time for a sunset swim in the resort pool.
Q: Is Wi-Fi or cell service reliable during the event?
A: Cell reception is solid around the harbor, and the city provides limited public Wi-Fi hotspots near the stage area, though families staying at Gulf Beach RV Resort usually upload photos back at camp where the signal is stronger and more secure.
Q: What should we pack for a smooth day at Pirate Day in the Bay?
A: Bring reef-safe sunscreen, frozen water bottles that thaw into cold drinks, a compact poncho for pop-up showers, closed-toe shoes, and a small cinch bag or fanny pack for clue cards and beads—then you’re set for every curveball the coast can throw.
Q: How early should we book our RV site or condo for that weekend?
A: Mid-May fills quickly once sports schedules and school calendars release, so Gulf Beach RV Resort recommends reserving at least three months out; doing so locks in your preferred pull-through or waterfront pad and avoids the “sold-out” scramble later.