The 10th annual Eastport Pirate Festival will be held on September 11, 12 and 13 and include least 80 events. The Eastport Pirate Festival's official kickoff, though, will be on Saturday, September 5, when Eastport pirates invade Lubec by land, sea and air.
     "It's bigger and better than ever," says Chris Brown, Eastport Pirate Festival co-chair. "We're going to have two stages for entertainment, and this year, because we don't have to worry about the breakwater, we've moved the fireworks display out on the water and they'll be great!"
     This year's festival will include all the popular events that have made it successful over the years, including a Pirate Parade, Pirate Bed Race, Pirate Ball, Pirate Crate Race, games and live music. "There are more activities for kids this year," reports Brown. "The Brown Family Farm will be offering free pony rides, and the petting zoo is back. We're also having the pirate puppet show again."
     The Pirates of the Dark Rose will make their annual invasion and have planned a special secret program to help celebrate the Eastport Pirate Festival's 10th anniversary. The troupe's performances will include cutlass fighting, sword demonstrations, small-arms fire and 10 cannon shots.
     Once again, children can enjoy the Pirates of the Dark Rose Buccaneer Boot Camp, in which they spend Saturday learning how to be a pirate. After the completion of their training and they take the Pirate Oath, the youngsters can help defend Eastport's waterfront from invaders on Sunday.
     Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate will be back to perform his original songs and put on several performances for children. His music will get audiences laughing and singing along with him.
     New to the Pirate Festival is Ty Openshaw, a 17-year-old recording artist from Maine. He is currently in the studio working with Scharff Bros recording and finishing up his first CD, which is scheduled for release in December.
     Throughout the weekend, "human marvel" Nick Penney will definitely delight audiences with his arsenal of extreme skills, which include sword swallowing, human blockhead act, blowtorch on tongue, feats of magic, plate spinning, toroflux and more. He is a member of the Sword Swallowers' Association International and Ripley's Believe It Or Not! World of Wonders sideshow.
     The full schedule of events is now available on Facebook, the Internet, at stores in the greater Eastport area and in this issue of The Quoddy Tides. Pirate attire is always encouraged so people can join in and have more fun.