The largest pirate festival in New England and the Maritimes is returning to Eastport on Friday, September 6, and continuing through to Sunday, September 8. The Eastport Pirate Festival, now in its 20th year, brings with it a host of familiar activities and events, including a parade, rum-barrel race, pirate actors and rescue parrots, fire based theater and more.
      The city will be rife with pirate flavor, complete with the historic flags of actual pirates lining the telephone poles downtown. Local businesses and establishments will be offering their own takes on pirate flair and offerings and shouldn't be missed. Food and entertainment vendors will be showcasing their wares and activities from underneath the fisherman statue, by the breakwater and in the parking lot of city hall.
      For the duration of the festival, pirates will be gathered at the Tortuga Pirate Encampment at Bank Square for young and old alike to indulge in thematic temporary tattoos, delightful balloon swords and photo ops. Among the pirates who will be seen throughout each day are celebrity impersonator Captain Jack and Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate. Next to the Tortuga encampment, LC3 Metalworks will be shaping metal and sending the sparks flying with live blacksmith demonstrations.
      Just next to Bank Square, the Tides Institute & Museum of Art will be showcasing an exhibit on the culture of the Wabanaki peoples on each day of the festival.
      On Thursday, area pirates and visitors will have the opportunity to get to know one another before the festivities begin at the Pirate Social at the Phoenix Wine Bar featuring live music between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Friday blasts off with events
      The festival begins with a raucous huzzah as all area pirates and their fellow enthusiasts are invited to participate in the charge-up event at Bank Square at noon. To help get the blood flowing, there will be a live black powder firing which will also signal the opening of the Tortuga Pirate Festival and the food vendors nearby. Alternatively, enjoy a community meal at the Senior Center Pirate Potluck and Social, kicking off at the same time.
      Children will enjoy a concert designed with them in mind featuring Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate at the Shead High School gym at 1 p.m., followed directly by cutlass lessons for children at the Tortuga Encampment.
      At 3 p.m., all aspiring cannoneers should come to the Tortuga Encampment for cannon lessons with the Pirates of the Dark Rose as volunteers will be needed for the gun crew. At 5:15 p.m., the Dark Rose Pirates heat it up another notch with a live fire demonstration.
      Just afterward between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., the Midnight Riders start their musical run at Overlook Park, a sign for those contending for Pirate King and Pirate Queen to sign up for the 7:30 p.m. judging.
      As dusk comfortably settles over the city, Ravenbane's Firecraft will light up the night with a family friendly performance of their fire themed theatrics at Sutherland Amphitheater between 8:30 and 9 p.m. The Midnight Riders return afterward for another hour of rock and roll.

Saturday shenanigans slated
      The flagship day of the festival sets sail with pirate boat rides for children starting at 9:30 a.m. with the Eastport Windjammers. Or enjoy a Pirate Puppet Show at the Tortuga Encampment retelling the story of Treasure Island starting at the same time. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate will resume his sea themed musical accompaniment at 10 a.m. at Overlook Park.
      Those with an artistic flair are invited to design their own pirate flag from any medium provided. The judging contest will be on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Overlook Park with the winning flag flown at the start of the parade.
      Directly following the flag judging, children and youth will have the opportunity to have their pirate duds judged with a pageant held at 11 a.m., with categories including best dressed and prizes for all ages available.
      At noon, head to Eastern Maine Images for the IGA Pirate Gold & Silver Doubloon Scramble, where participants can expect to find lots of loot and booty for the keeping, provided it can be grabbed in time.
      Everyone is welcome to join in the parade muster at 12:30 p.m. at Eastport Elementary School as participants rally and submit to judgment, with $500 going to the grand prize winner for best float and winners of eight other categories receiving $50.
      The parade itself kicks off at 1 p.m. at Shead High School and continues down Washington and Water streets before concluding at the library. The theme this year is Pirates of the Enchanted Seas, with the parade including cutlass demonstrations and small arms fire throughout.
      A flurry of events follow the parade, including a walk the plank contest at Tortuga, a pirate parrot photobooth at Bank Square, pirate antics with Captain Jack at the amphitheater and a skit on women pirates in history at 2:30 p.m. Also at 2:30 p.m., one of the festival's hallmark events kicks off at Bank Square with the Pirate Rum Barrel Relay Race for pirates 16 and up.
      Entertainment continues throughout the afternoon with Rockin' Ron playing between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on stage, followed by Ravenbane's Firecraft at 4 p.m. and the Tyler Healy Band between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Ravenbane's Firecraft returns at 7:30 p.m. for their premier event, Fantastic Fire.
      Starting at 8 p.m., a series of cannon blasts will precede the beginning of the grand fireworks display at 8:15 p.m., with the Tyler Healy Band picking up the music immediately afterward.

Pirate party continues Sunday
      Sunday winds down the festival but still offers several engaging events, including a downtown water balloon fight at 10 a.m. and a retelling of the women pirates in history skit at the Tortuga Encampment at the same time. At 11 a.m., the Downeast Institute will be hosting a touch tank with marine animals on Water Street, with Captain Jack hosting a treasure hunt at the same time at Bank Square.
      Rockin' Ron resumes his raucous tunes at 12:30 p.m. on stage, while children and adults can try their hand at walking the plank at the Tortuga Encampment at the same time. At 1:30 p.m., young pirates will convene in front of the stage to prepare to put their acquired skills to the test with a show of authority and ensuing march to Bank Square at 1:45 p.m., followed by a pirate battle there at 2 p.m. The festival concludes with a Nerf Gun Shoot Off at the stage at 3 p.m.