A line stretched from the counter to the sidewalk at Krispy Kreme on Monday afternoon as doughnut fans celebrated Talk like a Pirate Day and ate free glazed doughnuts.
From women in striped shirts to children with eye patches and glaze around their mouths, the packed doughnut shop buzzed with sugar highs as Gainesville residents participated in the store’s holiday. The promotion, offered annually by Krispy Kreme, promised one free doughnut for talking like a pirate and one free dozen for dressing like one.
By 4 p.m., the Krispy Kreme on Northwest 13th Street by UF’s campus had already handed out around 5,000 doughnuts, said Megan Davis, an employee of the store for two years.
“And the night is only beginning,” she said.
New this year was the Snapchat geotag option, which allowed patrons who did not want to dress up to take a photo with the official Krispy Kreme geotag for a free dozen donuts as well.
UF health education seniors Melyssa Godfrey and Pamela Sanchez sported handmade eyepatches and shared a hook made from tinfoil. Their friend, Milan Kaur, said she opted to use the Snapchat filter instead. They had 36 doughnuts among the three of them.
Vinny Reed’s brother wears a pirate costume at Krispy Kreme during Talk Like a Pirate Day on Monday morning.
Kaur said using Snapchat didn’t exactly violate any tradition.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s cheating to use the filter,” she said. “They posted about it on their Facebook page.”
The 21-year-olds said they celebrated last year and plan to continue collecting free doughnuts even after they move out of Gainesville.
Tara Winterman brought her three boys to eat free doughnuts, too. She said they came last year and decided to make it a tradition.
Her 5-year-old son, Blake, made a hat at school today for the occasion.
“He just ate 10 doughnuts; he’s going to be so hyper tonight,” Winterman said, “but he has a babysitter, so she should have fun.”
Tessa Reed, 2, smiles after eating a donut on Monday morning during the “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” at Krispy Kreme. Throughout the day, anyone who dressed up like a pirate received a free box of donuts.
