Pirates invade Port Washington!
Shiver me timbers! Be ye a landlubber, a sea dog, or anything in between, you can take part in (or just watch) all the swashbuckling this weekend on the Main Street shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Port Washington.
A celebration of all things pirate, this free annual fest runs Friday-Sunday, and visitors will be treated to things one might expect at a festival of this variety such as pirate battles, weapon demonstrations, sword fighting, wandering entertainment and pirate ship cruises (upon the return of which, a pirate invasion show is staged). This year also includes some surprises, including fireworks on Saturday night, belly dancing and sideshow acts — think walking on broken glass and fire-eating, all the while keeping things family-friendly.
Sample some pirate food (well, it’s pirate food because it’s served by pirates, but it’s really just things like hot dogs, gyros, spaghetti and pizza) in the gruel galley and wash it down with a tin mug filled with homemade soda. Or seafarers of legal age can sample “Berried Treasure” (white cranberry Pinot Grigio), “CPT White Zinnie” or “Buccaneer Blood” (pomegranate zinfandel), three specially-labeled wines from Vines to Cellar, a winery located in Port Washington.
The Thieve’s Marketplace has vendors selling all kinds of wares, pirate-y or not, including clothing, jewelry, toys, pottery, pirate hats and flags, spyglasses, books, compasses and so much more.
The fest also offers a chance to be a passenger on a real pirate ship, straight out of history! Board the “Friends of Good Will,” a 101-foot re-creation of an 1800’s-era sloop. Regular cruises run every few hours on Friday with special cruises on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s noon hour brings the pirate parade, and the rest of the festival continues until 6.
For more information, go to www.portpiratefestival.com.
