For many in attendance at the recent Pirates’ Ball, it was an annual weekend of fun and frivolity. For me, it was my first time to travel up to Austin, Texas for this August event hosted by the Central Texas Parrot Head Club (CTxPHC). For two evenings and a day, over a hundred folks came from around Texas to celebrate Trop Rock music, raise charitable funds and dress up as pirates and wenches.
The San Antonio Parrot Head Wenches (oops… and 1 Pirate!) at the CTxPHC Pirates Ball.
The fun kicked off Friday afternoon by the swimming pool at the host hotel, the Wyndham Garden Hotel. Reggie Starrett performed, all the way from Georgia. He also joined Donny Brewer later on a boat cruise on Ladybird Lake, adjacent to downtown Austin. Those who joined this inaugural Friday night activity enjoyed pizza, lots of terrific music and one of the most amazing sights to see at sunset on a summer evening: bats!
Thousands of bats spend the warm weather months under the Congress Street bridge and make up the largest colony of Mexican Freetail bats in the world. The Trop Rock music ceased temporarily as the boat stopped and the swarms of bats began to emerge from under the bridge. They resembled long ribbons of black as they left to feed for the night… What an amazing sight and experience!
Reggie Starrett and Donny Brewer with the Austin Texas skyline behind them after dark on the river boat cruise. Photo © MoonshineImages.com
View from the CTXPHC river boat cruise of the Austin Texas famous Congress bridge waiting for the million bats to fly at dusk. Photo © MoonshineImages.com
Having fun on the CTxPHC river boat cruise! Photo © MoonshineImages.com
Sometimes Parrot Head events can have a pretty busy schedule, but it was nice to have Saturday morning to relax with no particular event to attend. At noon, The Detentions serenaded those by the pool for three hours. Miraculously, the rain held off until after they stopped and the weather chased everyone inside to get dressed for the big evening’s event – the actual Pirate Ball.
The Detentions keeping the pool party swimming!
Pirates Ball Pool Party Conga line almost circles the entire hotel pool!
Dennis Davis and his band played for the evening event, with most attendees dressed in their pirate best. There was a costume contest, with the winners supporting truly amazing outfits. An extensive silent auction and raffle was held, with the proceeds to be donated to Big Love, an organization which helps children fighting cancer. All in all, $8000 was raised for this worthy charity.
The Dennis Davis Band kept the dancers out on the floor all night! Photo © MoonshineImages.com
One of the most entertaining aspects of the weekend was, who not only looks the part of an authentic pirate, but sounds as if he should be in a live version of Pirates of the Caribbean. Quartermaster Griff made all the announcements throughout the event in “pirate speak” that couldn’t have sounded more professional. And… He was in character the entire time!
Quartermaster Griff emcee for the evening.
Pirate Costume winner! Photo © MoonshineImages.com
Congratulations to the Central Texas Parrot Head Club for a very successful weekend. We had a blast!
Cindy & Don Muir’s Pirate Ball portrait. Photo © MoonshineImages.com
I live in Port Aransas, Texas and love all things Parrot Head and Trop Rock. I enjoy interviewing Trop Rock artists, attending events and always look forward to seeing Trop Rock friends from around the nation! Author of the Trop Rock lyric infused cozy mystery book "Schooled for Murder." Check out my website at www.CindyMuir.com