On the weekend of Novembarrrr 22nd and 23rd, 2025, PiratePalooza™ crossed a new frontier in its long, strange history by turning itself into a full-fledged two-day pirate convention. After twenty years of braving Decatur’s crowded calendar, shifting pub landscapes, and increasingly odd obstacles (books — soooo many books!), the Palooza crew sailed boldly into Downtown Atlanta for a change of scenery – a fresh invasion, with a tropical twist!
What began as a modest pub gathering in 2005 briefly became a modest, 2-day celebration with badges, panels, a costume contest, and even a product launch – a fun bit of silliness right before the beginning of the holiday season!
Day One: Tropical Invasion of Downtown Atlanta
First Stop: Meehan’s Public House
The first day of PiratePalooza*Con kicked off at Meehan’s Public House, where pirates gathered beneath the glass canyons of downtown for the traditional assembling of the fleet.
With souvenir badges gleaming, the crew eased into the afternoon with libations, conversations, and frustrations (specifically with the PiratePalooza*Con app which was later determined to be a smelly clam). A mysterious highwayman was seen gifting special pins, officially entering trinket trading the PiratePalooza™ cultural canon.
The Black Parade
From Meehan’s, the invasion fleet sailed north along Peachtree Street to the Atlanta Hyatt Regency, for a photoshoot at its legendary tractor and wagon-ladened Christmas tree.
The Belly of the Beast
Next, the fleet sailed east through dangers and tunnels and pedestrian bridges untold and hardships unnumbered, fighting their way to the Marriott Marquis, where the vast ribbed atrium seemed to rise and curve above them like the bones of some immense, unknowable creature.
Many drinks were purchased at the High Velocity bar and then the pirate horde slipped over to the Pulse Bar to enjoy the wide variety of chairs and couches and settees and loveseats and pit groups and lounges and porch swings and… golly there sure were a lot more places to sit at PiratePalooza*Con than at other (marginally popular) sci-fi conventions!
New pirates and old salts mingled easily, filling the atrium with laughter, peculiar cardboard shanties, group photos, and the perpetual clinking of glasses.
A Tropical Celebration at Trader Vic’s
The evening’s final landing was Trader Vic’s and the Mai Tai Bar — a perfect tropical refuge for a pirate convention, with rum drinks as far as the eye could see!
The Mai Tais tai’d. The Fog Cutters cut. The Suffering Bastards suffered. The atmosphere practically shimmered with rum, bamboo, and decades of tiki charm. More than a few crewmates became pleasantly lost somewhere between the Lido Deck and the back booths.
Music on the Lido Deck
This year’s Pub Sing took place live on the Lido Deck inside Trader Vic’s, where Tenpenny Travelers and Toucan Dubh delivered a full slate of music to a busy bar.
Guests drifted in and out between sets, drinks in hand, laughing, singing, and generally contributing to the festivities.
The Costume Contest
Because PiratePalooza*Con leaned into a sci-fi convention theme this year, the costume contest ranged from the traditional to the highly interpretive. Entry was free, enthusiasm was high, and the results were delightfully chaotic. Winners received a free PiratePalooza*Con badge, a PiratePalooza*Con lanyard, and a smack on the ass.
Day One Aftermath
As the night wound down, a few brave souls set sail for Metro Diner and Bar for late-night provisions, while others simply dissolved into the Atlanta night, fortified by rum and good company.
Day Two: Monk’s Meadery
The second day of PiratePalooza*Con brought the crew to Monk’s Meadery for an afternoon of panels, mingling, and the official debut of the Meadery’s newest creation, Sriki Tiki.
Vibrant blue skies and a warm breeze made for a relaxing follow-up to Saturday’s rum-fueled invasion of Atlanta’s convention hotels.
Pirates began staggering into Monk’s Meadery at 2pm wearing their collectible PiratePalooza*Con badges, ready to explore the Meadery’s wide variety of offerings.
The staff of Monk’s included fellow pirates who kept the mead flowing as more seadogs continued to arrive. Many opted for full mead flights to get the complete experience before ordering their favorites by the glass, and badgeholders received a free 3oz pour!
This fall Monk’s Meadery debuted a new blend called Sriki Tiki, a bright and tropical addition to their lineup. The tasting table stayed busy as fans sampled the new release, Sriki Tiki, described as “tropical sunglass in a glass”, with predominant flavors of pineapple, almond, and star anise.
The Meadery features so many varieties that there was no consensus on what the “best” flavor was, though several stood out including the Halloweentown Brew, Savannah Heat, and the classic Monk’s Mead.
The outside patio served as a comfortable gathering space for discussion, photo opportunities, and an in-depth discussion of Drew’s Socks. The atmosphere remained relaxed and upbeat, with an easy sense of community among both long-time Palooza regulars and first-time convention attendees.
By the time the event wound down at 5pm, the Meadery was humming with conversation and clinking glasses. Palooza*Con Day Two proved to be a fitting capstone to PiratePalooza*Con!
Monk’s Meadery is the official mead supplier of PiratePalooza*Con and also provides its products to similar popular Atlanta events like the Georgia Renaissance Festival and Dragon Con.
The Horizon Ahead
PiratePalooza™ continues to evolve in ways no one expects (or entirely controls). From its origins as a humble pub crawl to the full weekend experience of PiratePalooza*Con 2025, the event remains anchored by the pirates who show up: the creatives, the musicians, the dreamers, the troublemakers, the lifelong friends, and the first-timers who wander in and instantly feel at home.
Where it all goes next is anybody’s guess, especially Captain Drew’s.
But for now, we raise a glass to another year of improbable magic, dedicated foolishness, and the ridiculous, steadfast family that refuses to let this thing fade.
Time will tell what comes next for the old girl, but she’s clearly not done yet.
