Pirates Week

Pirates Week began in 1977 as a way of filling the quiet season and has become the islands' main national festival, running for eleven days each November. The pirate element is frankly invented: a ship sails into George Town harbour, a costumed crew comes ashore and takes the governor prisoner, and there is a street parade and fireworks. The better part is what surrounds it: each district holds a heritage day with traditional food, catboat races, thatch plaiting, old-time dancing and games, which is where the actual Caymanian content is and where the crowds are local rather than visiting.

What you actually see

• The district heritage days - traditional food, craft and games in each district.
• The staged landing - the pirate ship and mock capture in George Town.
• Catboat races - the traditional boats out on the water.
• The street parade and fireworks - the George Town centrepiece.

When to go

Eleven days in November, with the George Town events at the start and the district heritage days spread through. The district days are the more interesting and are published in a programme each year.

Honest expectations

The pirate framing is a 1970s tourism invention with no real historical basis in the islands, and the heritage days are the substance. November is hurricane season's tail end and events have been cancelled or moved for weather. Accommodation is cheaper than winter but the festival raises it.

Nearby

George Town for the main events; every district holds its own day.