ROCK HALL — Rowdy pirates and wenches from Baltimore, Pennsylvania, even Florida, in true buccaneer fashion, braved Tropical Storm Debby last weekend to travel to Rock Hall.
Along Main Street, Sharp Street, Ferry Park Beach, Watermen’s Crab House and several other places in town, the 17th annual Pirates and Wenches Festival took place; with record attendance that's hard to guess since they arrive by car or boat from all directions, according to organizer Laurie Walters of Main Street Rock Hall.
Walters said she was happy with the turnout, and although there were some slip and room cancellations earlier in the week, that provided opportunity for others.
“Many others were happy to join us for what ended up being one of the most beautiful weekends of the summer,” she said.
Pirates and Wenches weekend was the original idea of this year's co-organizer, Suzanne Einstein.
On a drizzly Friday night, full of uncertainty of the weather the next day, they came anyway. Hats, swords, buckles, boots, frayed dresses and an attitude of fun in mind.
At the Haven Harbor South marina at the Admiral’s Beachside Bar, there were $30 tastings with live music, while the Bay Ghost tours took strangers to the haunted sites around town.
At the American Legion, battle-weary scalawags sang along with one-eyed Mike and the Bedlam Bones.
Saturday's events turned out to be blessed by sunshine, announced by cannons shot off in the woods by the Skullduggery Crew based out of Baltimore. The group not only came to Rock Hall, but stayed two days in tents, truly roughing it.
Along Sharp Street, people could meet a mermaid, or a mer-man, depending on the time, and could be regaled with music from the sea.
On the Sharp Street stage, musicians sung tunes about travel, like the Hipwrecks singing an old sea-shanty.
“Rolling down to old Maui. We're homeward bound from the Arctic ground," they sang.
And about revenge, as performed by The Brigands.
"Find him, bind him. Tie him to a pole and break his fingers to splinters! Drag him to a hole until he wakes up."
The audience sang and clapped along in merriment.
Kids had plenty to do. On Main Street, they were drawn to the HoCo Pirate Adventure Treasure trail to partake in a treasure hunt that encompassed the entire festival. Fortune's Folly Pirate Show had kids laughing and jumping while the lovable character Israel Scoop lit off his cannon.
Over yonder, near the real cannons, local-pirate children could try to dunk Kent County Middle School Principal Mark Buckel, or around noon, that conniving Mayor James Cook, into the drink, with the toss of a ball.
Pirates and wenches could seek sustenance with vendors like Cousins Main Lobster, Carribean Delight and BBQ Bueno.
Residents could talk to artisans, who crafted nifty items out of sea shells, or offer face painting for kids, or body jewelry, or creators sharing their fantasy novel featuring Rock Hall or comic book based on time-travel and piracy.
The beach was alive, too, with a party, to the tunes of Jah People playing island jams. Neighbors went all out, presenting a Pirate Christmas lawn display, as youths frolicked in the waters under a blue sky.
Saturday night the party was still in full swing. Watermen, pirates and wenches, dressed in their finery at Watermen’s Crab House. A fun time was had with music by Wheel House, a Treasure Chest raffle, King and Queen Costume Contest, and a Graybeard Lookalike Contest.
On top of all that at the festivities there were jugglers, a woman on stilts with chicken feet and plenty of places to purchase pirate-related memorabilia. One person described it as a Renaissance Fair, just with pirates.
They were friendly pirates and wenches too, with tips on health and travel, and talking to some of them, you get a sense that being a pirate for them is not just a once-a-year affair. That was true of the vendor who goes by the affectionate name of Thudd, and whose brother named Jackal was bellowing one-liners next to the mermaid tank.
Thudd sees this event as a homecoming of like-minded friends and a way to create relationships with Rock Hall locals. He said that a neighbor even brought him a delicious carrot cake.
He’s been coming here, peddling his wares of swords and other merchandise for 19 years and is impressed at the progress of the festival and the camaraderie found in Rock Hall.
High praise from Thudd, indeed.
Walters, looking back, says that the event has not as much grown as evolved.
“The past several years have seen us pivoting to promoting more family friendly activities and entertainment.”
CONTEST RESULTS
Festoon Your Fort (house decorating)
First place: Joe Monroe and family, Beach Road, Christmas-themed pirates.
Second place: Brooke Lasser, 21104 Sharp St., giant pirates and a shark.
Third place: Tim and Aline Cullis 5754 Beach Road, pirate wedding.
Treasure Chest Raffle Winners
Tracy ThomasCapt. Cook and ValerieChris Newcomer
Most Wanted Pirate Scavenger Hunt
Daniel Kramer
Most Popular
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