Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has launched a new kind of adventure with the debut of Kingston Pirates Week, a swashbuckling celebration of the island’s pirate and maritime heritage as well as Port Royal’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Scheduled for October 29–November 2, this celebration of ‘pirate heritage’ is being positioned as an innovative tourism pull for visitors and a reminder to citizens of Jamaica’s past as one of the world’s most popular and infamous pirate bases.

Centred around Jamaica’s capital and the historic port town of Port Royal, once known as the “wickedest city on Earth,” the four-day festival will blend music, dance, dining, and immersive historical experiences.

Tourism endorsement

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who has endorsed the festivities, commented, “This new event builds on Jamaica’s reputation as the cultural capital of the Caribbean, bringing together music, cuisine, and the rich storytelling heritage of Kingston and Port Royal. Kingston Pirates Week will not only entertain but also provide economic opportunities for our local communities while showcasing Jamaica’s unique history to the world.”

For his part, Director of Tourism, Donovan White remarked, “The launch of Kingston Pirates Week is an exciting step forward in our continued efforts to diversify Jamaica’s tourism offerings. By blending immersive cultural experiences with community engagement, we are creating a festival that will appeal to both international visitors and locals alike, strengthening Kingston’s position as a must-visit destination.”

The festival will feature themed entertainment across both Kingston and Port Royal, including:

• October 30 – Riddims & Rum: A pirate merritone fête and celebration of Jamaican sound system culture featuring the legendary Merritone Sound System, with prizes for the best pirate costume.
• November 1 – Pirates beach clean-up: A community beach cleanup around Port Royal, complete with a scavenger hunt and treasure prizes for participants.
• November 2 – Port Royal Pirates & Seafood Festival: A grand finale with live music, a pirate invasion, seafood feasts, and a costume contest.

Visitors can also explore attractions tied to Port Royal’s storied past, including the Port Royal Museum, which displays artefacts recovered from the sunken city; round-trip cruises to Lime Cay Island for treasure hunts; and rum tastings inspired by infamous pirates like Sir Henry Morgan, Calico Jack, and Blackbeard Teach.