2019
t’s that time again!! Pirate’s Fest!! Yeah!!! I am so excited for
this event! It is the perfect occasion to send our little island
into the off season with a hell of a party that is guaranteed
to include great friends, lots of grog, and super bad ass live
music! This year is going to be really epic! Not only do we have
the Kentucky Headhunters jamming out on Friday night, we
also have Lez Zeppelin opening for Great White on Saturday
night! Right on! Let me just go ahead and wish everyone a
great time and a happy hangover in advance.
Now, to the moment we have all been waiting for: The announcement
of the King and Queen of Pirate’s Fest! Gasp! HEAR YE! HEAR YE! … drum
roll please ….. The Pirate Fest King of 2019 is Jason Buelterman!!!
He’s also our current outgoing Mayor, but whatever. The Pirate Fest
Queen of 2019 is Kim Trammell!! You know her from The Black Box
Theater, The Tybee Post Theater, The Crab Shack and let’s see … what’s
else do you do, Kim? LOL!!! This is a perfect union of two people that are
so involved in Tybee and really and truly represent the guts of Tybee!! We
couldn’t be more delighted with this announcement. I had an opportunity
to sit down with these two and get their stories. Actually, in all honesty, it
wasn’t a sit down, it was me running after both of them screaming, “Wait
for me!” at the top of my lungs! Off we go, mateys…
I caught Kim first and was just as surprised as she was that I had.
The first question that popped into my head before I even thought about
it was, “What did you have for dinner?” Without hesitation, Kim said,
“Vodka and a tic-tac. I’m stuffed!” And that’s Kim. Fun, entertaining,
witty as hell and constantly on the go! The girl never stops. She also
looks amazing in a bustier!
My follow up question was just as entertainingly answered, “How does
it feel to be named Queen?” “I feel nauseous! I am a Tybee girl and the
only other honor I could possibly attain that would be higher than this is
to be Mayor. I am honored, thrilled, excited and my boobs hurt!”
All laughter aside, this Tybee girl has worked hard for this accolade!
For the last seven years, she has helped build the pirate encampment
and participated in the reenactments, hosted the costume contest,
worked three jobs, served on the board of the Tybee Arts Association
for 10 years, including acting President last year, leapt tall buildings in
a single bound and continues to shuck and jive all the time with a huge
smile on her face (maybe it’s the vodka?). Either way, Kim Trammell has
earned her reign this year. Bow low when she passes.
My last question for our Queen (and I got permission from Jimmy
Prosser to ask it), “If you had a pirate’s ship, what would you call it?”
Her answer, “The HMS Much Ado Aboat Nothing!” Love it and love her!
Moving on to the lesser known gentlemen at her side, The King of
Pirate’s Fest, Jason Buelterman. Not many of y’all know him so let me
introduce him to you! Just kidding. If you don’t know Mayor Jason, then
Georgia Regional is just down the road and off you go. Not only has
this man represented Tybee Island, Georgia for the last 14 years as her
Mayor face and voice of reason, he has stopped hurricanes in their path,
created sand dunes from salt water, sat in interminable council meetings
whilst sober, but he has also had to deal with the residents. That in itself
deserves a daily pay raise. We are different here.
SEPT 2019
My meeting with Jason was a bit more professional than what I had
hoped. I had to submit my questions in writing (the man is busy folks).
The good news with that though, is I probably won’t screw it up. So, here
it is asked and answered:
Q: Tell me how you feel about being King of Pirates Fest 2019?
A: “Happy to be a part of an event that I know means a lot to many of our
residents and businesses.”
Q: What do you like the most about Pirate’s Fest?
A: “The music! They have had some good bands over the years. I lean
more towards the Delbert McClinton style of music than the mini-Kiss
cover band style. I love the Trainwrecks and have seen them a few times
at this event. They even let me get on stage and play a song (I play guitar
– not very well) with them. I’m not a huge fan of the 80’s hairbands these
days, but was when I was in high school. So, I’m curious to see how
Great White sounds and welcome them to our little island.”
Q: Any favorite memories from any particular year?
A: “The year Matthew hit (2017), it had to be rescheduled. I remember
talking to Jennie Orr about how to pull that off, but she and her crew
made it happen. I also recall one when we had very high winds associated
with an offshore tropical system and having a meeting down there to
determine if the big tent could withstand the wind. We determined it
could and everything went fine.
Q: What does your family think about this accolade?
A: “My 14 year old daughter thinks I make for a pretty dorky looking
pirate, but I made her laugh, which is all that matters!”
Q: For anyone that has never attended a Pirate’s Fest, any words of
wisdom?
A: “If you have any rum, call a cab! We have a lot of police officers on
duty that weekend to keep everyone safe.”
Q: If you had a pirate’s ship, what would you call it?
A: “The ‘Don’t-Ever-Run-For-Mayor-If-You-Wanna-Maintain-Your-Sanity’
Sloop!
And there you have it! Words of wisdom to live by!
It is definitely going to be a huge weekend! The Pirate Fest will kick
off on Thursday, Oct. 10th, with the Buccaneer Ball at The Crab Shack,
then on to the Strand on Saturday and Sunday. There will be live music,
a Thieves Market, a Petting Zoo, as well as a Carnival. Oh, and I’m pretty
sure there is going to be a parade! You will know it when you hear the
cannon go off! So make sure you grab the kids, your cup of grog, your
bestie and hit the events! See you there!
I
8 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | OCT 2018
Pirate's fesT By Alaina Loughridge - Photo by Wen McNally