The Eastport Pirate Festival, set for Friday, September 10, through Sunday, September 12, will provide a swashbuckling array of events for all ages, including a scavenger hunt involving local businesses, live music and performances involving magic, fire, puppetry and more. Local restaurants and businesses will be involved with special offerings tied to the festival, and food vendors will add to the mix.
     Throughout the weekend will be the scavenger hunt involving local businesses, the thieves' market, food and entertainment vendors, the artisans' craft market, the art poster contest, pop up street skits, music and dancing and much more.
     Of course the festival really starts with the invasion of downtown Lubec set for Saturday, September 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Departure from the breakwater is at 9:30 a.m., with ticketed seats on commercial boats available or by personal boat.
     The invasion of Eastport starts on Friday, September 10. A full roster of events is planned, including best-dressed business, home and employee pirate awards, a senior center pirate potluck and social from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Charge-up Pirate Huzzah to kick off festival commencement at 12 noon at Bank Square.
     Also on Friday will be a number of activities at Sutherland Amphitheater in the downtown, including magician Connor O'Carraig at 2:30 p.m., the Pineland Puppets at 3 p.m., pirate trivia with the Pirates of the Approaching Storm at 4:30 p.m. and Ravenbane's FireCraft from 8:30 to 9 p.m., a show specifically geared towards children and families. On the stage downtown will be local talent with Shead Ahead from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Colie Brice and Fiddle Chick from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Pirate Festival King and Queen Contest from 5 to 6:15 p.m., Bedlum Bones from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and street dancing with Against the Grain from 9 to 11 p.m.
     On Saturday, a full day of activities is scheduled, including at 10 a.m. a search for ocean bottom treasure with Diver Ed. At the amphitheater, shows of magic, firecraft and puppetry will be joined by a 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. shanty sing along with Bedlum Bones, followed by the Cormier Experience from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pirate Parade will muster at 12:30 p.m. at High Street between the schools and will start at 1 p.m. From 3 to 4:30 p.m. will be the Pirate Rum Barrel Relay Race at the fisherman statue parking lot, followed from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. by children's games in Bank Square, street dancing with live music from The Dogs at the stage from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and fireworks display at the fish pier at 8:15 p.m. followed by more street dancing with The Dogs until 11 p.m.
     On Sunday, magic and puppets will return to the amphitheater. Live music from 10 a.m. to noon will feature Bedlum Bones, and at the stage from 11 a.m. to noon will be Colie Brice and Fiddle Chick followed by the Moose Island House Players from noon to 1 p.m. At 11 a.m. a treasure hunt with Nor'Easter Gail will start at Bank Square, and at noon will be      the Cannon Ball Roll fundraiser on Boynton Street with the Shead High School soccer teams. At 1 p.m. the young and young at heart can learn the art of cutlasses with lessons by Fenris in the downtown. At 3 p.m. the last event of the weekend, for the pirates with strong hearts, good balance and nimble legs, will be the lobster crate race at the north side of the breakwater.
     For the full schedule of events, see the ad in this issue of The Quoddy Tides or visit www.eastportpiratefestival.com.