Port Washington Pirate Festival
On June 2-4, 2006 the Port Washington Pirate Festival in Port Washington, WI got off to a bang. Literally. With a roar of cannon fire and “arrrrr’s” from hundreds of pirates, the festivities were off and sailing.
It began the evening of June 2nd with a Buccaneer’s Bash with music ranging from the early 1500’s to sea shanties to modern rock and country. People showed up dressed as pirates and enjoyed the music, danced, ate their way through the provided snacks, purchased hot dogs and brats from a vendor and there was even a bar available for folks to buy their drinks.
The next day dawned bright, with a beautiful blue sky and a wonderful cool breeze off Lake Michigan. The faire was situated right at the port and on one side was the town and the other the lake. Three huge tents were set up to house the Thieves Market, another tent was set up for performances by various acts: The Scurvvy Dawgs Pirate Comedy Crew, Bounding Main, The Privateers of Triton’s Fury, Josh the Juggler and many more. The Windy II, a four-masted schooner/barquentine was docked at the port and was giving tours of Lake Michigan as well as dinner and dessert tours both days.
Enjoyed by all on June 3rd was the Pirate Invasion. Port Washington had captured a VIP (Very Important Pirate) and the pirate crew wanted him back. The Pirates stormed the port while the Military fought to keep their prisoner! There were hand to hand battles, sword fights, cannon fire and mayhem. The Pirates finally won their crew member back with a cannon roar from the Scurvvy Dawgs and from the prow of the Windy II, the pirate’s four-masted sailing ship that returned to port just in the nick of time. Even the crowd was rooting for the Pirates – and well they should have!
The revelry, shopping, music and general mayhem that only pirates can achieve were enjoyed the next day as well with a Pirate Parade through downtown Port Washington, the Thieves Market and continued performances.
When it came time to close the festivities for the weekend, no one wanted to go home; not the performers, not the merchants, even the crowd didn’t want to go home. The count at the end was that Port Washington’s population grew by almost 10,000 people over the 2-day festivities, a great number of whom were dressed as pirates themselves. So with parting shanties being sung by tired pirates, well wishes were given to all with “see you next year!” being hollered.
So keep your eyes glued to the horizon for a four-masted pirate ship to sail into Port Washington in 2007 and prepare to have the time of your life partying with pirates . . . AAARRRRRRRR!!
** The WINDY II is a 150 foot traditional four-masted gaff topsail schooner/barquentine Class “B” & “A” Tall Ship. It is silently pushed by the winds once its sails are set and engines turned off. The WINDY II fully meets all appropriate United States Coast Guard regulations. Visit her website at www.tallshipwindy.com
** The website for the Port Washington Pirate Festival can be found at: http://www.portpiratefestival.com |
