By Angela Gunn

Ahoy Mateys! Fancy walking the plank? If not, then be ready to surrender some booty because today kicks off the 8th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest.

The Buccaneer’s Ball launches the festival at The Crab Shack starting at 6:30 p.m. tonight with dancing, frivolity and food for all pirates and wenches age 18 and over.

Kids are welcome in Little Matey’s Cove and aboard Blackbeard’s Pirate Ship for bouncy houses, face painting, activities and games on Friday starting at 5 p.m. The night continues with musical entertainment, the thieves market and an auction for rogues and wenches.

Saturday is a daylong event with even more swashbuckling fun for the whole family, followed by more music, including headline performer Vince Neil, the Motley Crue lead singer. Sunday afternoon concludes the festival with more music and shopping and a puppet show to keep those little pirate treasures happy.

Weekend passes are available for $22, and general admission on individual days is also available. Kids 12 and under are free. Festival entertainment on Sunday is also free for all.

Visit tybeepiratefest.com for more information.