7th Annual Fort Myers Beach Pirate Fest will go on
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If you thought Pirate Fest was canceled think again. It was a close call but some Fort Myers Beach business owners say they're stepping in to save Pirate Fest from walking the plank. Video by fox4now.com
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FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. - If you thought Pirate Fest was canceled think again. It was a close call but some Fort Myers Beach business owners say they're stepping in to save Pirate Fest from walking the plank.
"It was a close call," said Steve DeAngelis, the manager at Nervous Nellie's and the self-proclaimed emergency organizer for the festival.
The Fort Myers Beach tradition was on the verge of sinking.
"The production company had dropped a giant cannon ball," said DeAngelis.
DeAngelis told Fox 4 Pirate Fest was almost canceled because SIK Promotions, in charge of obtaining a permit, didn't get it in on time.
According to town officials, an event of this scale must be submitted at least 45 days before an event. And they received SIK Promotions' on September 13.
"We just learned last night or actually early this morning, that she hadn't even put in for the permit basically until 10 to 12 days ago," confirmed Rob Degennaro, the owner of Nervous Nellies.
Leaving businesses along Times Square and Baywalk to bailout the bash but with some limitations.
"We're going to make what i call lemonade out of a lemon," added Degennaro.
That means alcohol must stay inside and music can't blare.
"Given the challenge we have in front of us, we will make it happen," said DeAngelis.
And even with fewer vendors and pirates, the spokesperson for pieces of eight pirate cruise, Glee Ann Agius, says the show will go on.
"We still have a slew of pirates planning to invade the beach that weekend," said Agius.
That's because organizers say it's about to not letting the people down.
"The reason why we want to continue with the Pirate Festival is that a lot people have made their plans to come down to Fort Myers Beach that weekend."
Pirate Fest kicks off October 5 and runs through Saturday October 6.
SIK Promotions didn't return a call for comment.
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