The Island That Appears Once a Year

There is another island hovering just beyond Coochie.

Most days, you cannot see it. It hides behind the mangroves, slips beneath the tide and waits just outside our awareness. But once a year, an invisible door slides open and Pirate Island crosses into our world.

It happens again on Saturday 19 September International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Officially, it is called the Pirate Island and Beach Markets, running from 9 am to 1 pm. But those in the know understand the markets are merely a front.

They give the pirates somewhere to come ashore

Follow the sound of creaking ropes and you may find young buccaneers learning ancient sailors’ knots, sealing secret messages inside bottles, painting mysterious rocks or creating glittering pirate treasures with diamond dots.

There will be games, grub, grog and a treasure hunt, although nobody has explained exactly where the treasure came from.

 Or who buried it

Pirates of every age are encouraged to dress carefully. Prizes await the best child, female and male pirates, with a new category for pirate dogs.

Be warned, a suspicious character resembling Captain Jack Sparrow may also be roaming the island. Lock up your pieces of eight!

Children’s activities run from 9 am until noon, and treasure hunters should register using the event QR code or this link.

At 1 pm, the doorway will close. The pirates will vanish. Coochie will look completely 'ordinary' again. (Or as ordinary as this special place can look!)

At least, until next year.

Will you be there when Pirate Island appears?