The Eastport Pirate Festival. Photo courtesy of Billy Kitchen

This year’s Eastport Pirate Festival schedule is packed with all the classic events which have make it famous as one of the best coastal events in Downeast Maine. The merry-making kicks off on September 3rd with a friendly invasion of the neighboring lobster village of Lubec and continues on the 9th, 10th and 11th of September in Eastport.  Below are highlights of this year’s Pirate Festival schedule.

The Eastport Pirate Festival Schedule 2016

Saturday, September 3rd – Friendly Invasion of Lubec

8:00 a.m. – Invasion prep at the Chowder House, complete with pirate grog, bloodies, mimosas, coffee and donuts

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Pirate invasion of Downtown Lubec by water, land and air. Fundy Breeze Boat Charters, Lady H and Pier Pressure are both offering invasion trips (call 207-853-4660 or 207-853-2500 respectively for tickets).

9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lubec pirate day with food and art vendors and pirate-themed festivities.

Friday, September 9th 

1:30 p.m. – Pirate Whale Watch Cruise on thePier Pressure, Eastport Windjammers (call 207-853-2500 for tickets).

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – See a cannon fire, observe pirate weapons, watch a pistol and sword dual (4:45pm) and learn pirating ‘tricks of the trade’  at the Amphitheater.

5:00 –6:00 p.m. – Kids entertainment by Ron ‘The Friendly Pirate’ at Bank Square Fountain.

5:00 – 7:00p.m. – Movie showing at the Free Will North Church – “Undertow”

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Pirate Puppet Shows at the Band Stand behind the Library.

7:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Sword swallowing and other amazing feats by Nick Penny at Bank Square.

8:30 – 9:00 p.m. – A firecraft performance at the Amphitheater

9:00 p.m. – close – Pirate Ball at the Chowder House, with DJ’s, dancing and a costume competition.

The judging of Eastport’s best dressed businesses and homes will also take place throughout the morning and afternoon. There will be live music throughout the afternoon.

Saturday, September 12th

6:00 a.m. – 10:00 am – A variety of hearty breakfast options will be available, from steak and eggs at the Waco Dining Room and pastries and peg-leg sausages at Moose Island Bakery to a 2nd Saturday Breakfast at Christ Church on Key Street.

9:00 a.m. – Suddy 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run for Kids. Starts next to Bangor Savings Bank on High Street. Registration from 8 a.m. at Shed High School

10:00 a.m. – Childrens games kick off at Bank Square, starting with a treasure hunt at 10am and continuing with games until about 5pm, with Ron, ‘The Friendly Pirate’ performing at 3pm and pirate fighting and plank walking at 4pm.

10:00 a.m. – Children’s Pirate Boat Ride with Eastport Windjammers…and pirates, of course!  Call 207-853-2500 for tickets.

10:00 a.m. – There will be a petting zoo on the library lawn until 4 p.m. There will also be a G-Force Obstacle Course in the post office parking lot from 10 – 12 noon which people can experience for free.

11:15 a.m. – Gold and Silver Doubloon Scramble in front of Breakwater Gallery.

11:30 a.m. – Kids Pirate Pagent at the Sutherland Amphitheater.

1:00 p.m. – Pirate Parade in Downtown Eastport (parade gathering at 12:30pm on High Street between the schools and all are welcome to enter).

2:00 p.m. – Pirate Whale Watch Cruise with Eastport Windjammers. Call 207-853-2500 for tickets.

3:00 p.m. – The Pirate Bed Races will take place from Downtown Bank Square to the Amphitheater. Pre-register by calling 207-853-0727.

3:45 p.m. – Presentation of Maine Legislative Sentiment to the Eastport Pirate Festival as a recipient for Governor’s Tourism Award at Water Street.

6:00 p.m. – There will be a pistol and sword dual on Water Street.

8:00 p.m. – FIREWORKS at the fish pier. There will be cannon fire to kick off the fireworks display and there are a variety of nice options for viewing the fireworks, including a whirlpool, sunset and fireworks cruise by Eastport Windjammers (call 207-853-2500 for tickets). There will also be a fire event presentation from 7:30 to 8pm at the Amphitheater in the lead up to the fireworks.

9:00 p.m. – A variety of dances will kick off around 9 p.m., including a Pirate Princess Ball at Seaview Campground and a Scallywag and Wenches Party at the Chowder House.

There will be other various entertainment throughout the day, including live music and food.

Sunday, – September 11th

6:00 a.m. – 11:00 am – A variety of hearty breakfast options will be available, including a steak and eggs at the Waco Dining Room to yummy pastries at Moose Island Bakery.

9:00 a.m. – noon – There will be a variety of entertainment, from Captain Jack’s Pirate Ship Playhouse at Water Street to a “Fire at Will’ skit at the Amphitheater and Ron ‘The Friendly Pirate’ at Bank Square.

10:00 a.m. – Children’s Pirate Boat Ride with Eastport Windjammers (and pirates, of course)!

10:00 a.m. – There will be a petting zoo on the library lawn running until 2 p.m. There will also be a pirate pet pageant at 1pm.

11:00 a.m. – Treasure hunt with the pirates, meeting at Barrel Fountain in Pirate Encampment.

12:00 noon – There will be a cannon ball roll fundraiser from Down Boynton to Water Street.

3:00 p.m. – Lobster crate races between the Fish and Waco piers.