The island city was packed with visitors on September 7, 8 and 9 for the second annual Eastport Pirate Festival, which corresponded with the Salmon Festival, but featured over 20 events of its own.

     "This was a great success and over the top," says organizer Chris Brown of the Pirate Festival, "in terms of quality of events, organization, publicity, numbers of people that came to participate and the business that was generated for merchants island wide."

     The pirates ball at the Eastport Chowder House on Friday evening was packed with about 500 pirates in costume from all over Maine, the Maritimes and as far away as California. Justin McPhail of Perry was awarded first place for best costume. Second place went to Mary Kiahler of Quincy, Mass., and third place was won by Melinda Krestel of Eastport.

     On Saturday morning the pirate parade and pirate ship race drew crowds downtown. Prizes for best dressed children went to (1) Maya Tirado of Eastport, (2) Hugo Smith and (3) Serina Brook Fredette of Pleasant Point. The prize for best float went to The First, and best business participation was won by S.L. Wadsworth & Son.

      The pirate ship race set out from the fish pier at 1 p.m., and capturing first place was the Halie & Matthew, with Capt. Butch Harris of Eastport. The Sylvina W. Beal, captained by Allan Sutherland of Eastport, won second place. First Light, captained by John Foster of Eastport, came in third. Altair, captained by Bob Wallace of Harrison, was fourth, and Jo-Jo, captained by Jim Buehner of Lubec, was the fifth vessel to cross the finish line. Coming in sixth and seventh, respectively, were Vasilisa, captained by Steve Hui of Lubec, and Sally Rose, captained by Gary Guisinger of Perry. The best dressed pirate ship and crew prize was awarded to the Sylvina W. Beal.

     The Pirates of The Dark Rose, a professional pirates group from Camden Rockport, started the race and ended it with their six pound cannon. Their cutlass and cannon demonstrations kept pirates of all ages entertained during the weekend.

      Crowned festival king at the Scallywag and Wenches Pageant on Saturday night at the Eastport Chowder House was Mark Ferguson of Washington, D.C. Rose Stevens of Pleasant Point was dubbed festival queen. The man with the best tattoo was Jason McPhail of Perry, and his female counterpart was Sandy Cox of Dennysville. Perry's Justin McPhail was the winner in the male category of the Jack Sparrow look-alike contest. Abbie Downes of Edmunds won in the female category.

     On Sunday morning, downtown Water Street was filled again with spectators being entertained by the pirates bed race. Six five-member teams entered beds and cribs of different sizes and designs. One team member rode on the bed while the rest pushed and pulled. The Captain's Cargo/Spinnaker Realty team won the race with Shead High School soccer team members pushing their bed. Placing second was the Eastport Chowder House, while The New Friendly Restaurant captured third place. Bangor Savings Bank's team was the fourth to cross the finish line, followed by the WaCo Diner and The First. The best team/most unique bed award was won by the Eastport Chowder House.

      The scavenger hunt held all weekend long was won by the following teams: (1) Rachael Emery, Taylah and Kaylah Kilby, all of Eastport; (2) Janelle Pottle, Carrie Beth Mahar and Kimberly Stanhope of Perry; and (3) Torri Turner and Janice Dana of Perry.

     Business prizes were awarded to Port O' Call for best dressed shop window -- most creative. Quoddy Bay Lobster won for most interesting, and honorable mention was awarded to The First. The best dressed employees could be found at Raye's Mustard Mill, and honorable mention went to the WaCo Diner and S.L. Wadsworth & Son.

     Cheryl Paul of Pleasant Point won the Pirate Festival treasure chest, and the 50/50 Boat School benefit drawing was won by Michael Reynolds of Calais.

     The Pirate Festival website, <www.eastportpiratefestival.com>, will remain active year round with pictures posted of all the events, names of winners and news of next year's festival. The Eastport Pirate Festival Committee is already making plans for the third annual Pirate Festival and plans to make it even bigger and better for 2008.