The annual Eastport Pirate Festival is celebrating 18 years with sails full of activities for scallywags of all ages from Thursday, September 7, through Sunday, September 10. This year two U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the cutters Maurice Jester and the Tackle, will be visiting the island city, with arrival expected on Thursday, September 7.
      Festival organizer Don Dunbar says that the goal of the festival is to have activities for family and children. "We're bringing back Rockin' Ron," and this time there will be an extra performance at Shead High School with area schools invited. "To me the whole festival is about kids and family, and on Friday we're kicking it off with many family events."

Plenty of fun all weekend
      All weekend pirates of all stripes can visit the Pirates of the Dark Rose and the Tortuga Pirate Encampment at Bank Square. There will be a celebrity appearance of Captain Jack and the return of Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate. The Tortuga Encampment will host a number of activities, including the Walk the Plank Contest, cannon firing, cutlass lessons and more.
      Also all weekend would be pirates pining away for ships of their own can create their own pirate flag during the "hoist your colors" contest. The contest winner will lead the parade with their flag. Visit the Pirate Festival website for contest specifics.
      Flagging spirits can revive with food and entertainment vendors setting up shop from the city hall parking lot to the breakwater and fish pier. For pirates with a bit of extra coin to spend, the artisan craft market will also be at the city hall parking lot.
      The Tides Institute & Museum of Art's (TIMA) exhibit, "Wabanaki Presence," will be open from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. all weekend as well.
      Historical pirate flags will be along the poles downtown, leading to Bank Square, where there will be blacksmith demonstrations and an ax throwing pit for those ages 13 and over. Check local businesses and establishments for boat rides, pirate specials, including a corset tying demonstration and contest, live and DJ music, pop up tavern games, pirate socials and the Pirate Ball.
      Check the event schedule for specific times and additional information.

Friday starts with a huzzah
      Friday brooks no lazy bones with the charge up Pirate Huzzah celebrating the festival's start. It takes place at noon at Bank Square with a live black powder firing. Flagging energy can be revived at the Senior Center Pirate Potluck and Social at noon, with costumes encouraged and all welcome.
      Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate will provide a concert for school children at the Shead gym. Children of all ages will enjoy the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers at 4 p.m. at the Sutherland Amphitheater.
      From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. will be live music by The Lamplighters at the stage, while from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the stage area will be registration for the Pirate Festival king and queen contest, which will culminate in judging at 7:30 p.m.
      The family friendly Ravenbane's Firecraft performance will be from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Sutherland Amphitheater.

Saturday pageant, parade and barrel racing
      On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon pirates can create their own mini pirate flags at TIMA's StudioWorks building. Judging for the "hoist your colors" flag contest will take place at noon in front of the high school.
      Also at 10 a.m. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate will perform music on the stage; he will be back to perform at the stage again at 3:30 p.m. Near the stage at 10:30 a.m. will be registration for the Youth Pirate Pageant. The pageant will begin at 11 a.m.
      At noon the IGA Pirate Gold & Silver Doubloon Scramble will be held in front of the Eastern Maine Images storefront, followed by music on the stage by the Dramamines from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
      Mustering for the Pirate Parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the elementary school, with the parade beginning at 1 p.m. Be sure to watch for the Saint Andrews Pipes and Drums playing after the parade. With energy high, the Pirate Rum Barrel Relay Race will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the downtown.
      For a moment of calm, visit TIMA's Seaman's Church on Middle Street for a ship model display at 3 p.m.
      From 4 to 4:30 p.m. Ravenbane's Firecraft performance will be at the amphitheater, and it will hold its Fantastic Fire performance from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
      At 5:15 p.m. The Filthy Casuals will perform on the stage until 7:15 p.m. and then again after the fireworks. The fireworks display at the fish pier is set to go off at about 8:15 p.m.

Sunday starts with water balloon fight
      All pirates are called to bring their own water balloons to the stage area at 10 a.m. to defend downtown Eastport, where they will join the attack.
      From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. scallywags can get in touch with the underwater world with the Downeast Institute's touch tank.
      At noon will be the Cannon Ball Roll fundraiser with the Shead High School athletics department held on Boynton Street.
      Music at the stage will feature Rockin' Ron at 12:30 p.m. Then at the stage at 1:30 p.m. children will meet at the front of the stage for the Kids Battle Crew, which will march at 1:45 p.m. to Bank Square for the Battle at Bank Square at 2 p.m. And drawing on every drop of remaining energy for the festival's finale, stalwarts can join the Lobster Crate Race held at 3 p.m. at the north side of the breakwater.
      Dunbar notes that the festival can always use volunteers to help with specific events. Donations are also welcome to help start the planning for 2024. "I haven't asked for donations since 2020, but for future planning we really need donations." Go to the website for email and donation link. "We've got a great group on committee," he says. "They're really fired up."
      For a complete list of events visit www.eastportpiratefestival.com.