A little while ago we covered the Raglan Pirate Festival It’s also had numerous mentions on the podcast as well. As a result we’re going to be involved in the running of 2nd South Wales Pirate Festival in Caldicot.
I thought it might worth spending a moment talking a little bit more about pirate fests.
They are interesting melting pots. Places where re-enactment meets the public and has a healthy dollop of role-play and cos-play. Pirate festivals are not exactly about accurately portraying an historical period. Although some of this is present. There’s a lot of trying to portray pirates from book and film. There is also story and plot going on. Plus a lot of free-form ad libbing. These fests are as wild and mixed up as errr pirates.
For me this creates several points of attraction.
I like playing characters. Admittedly some of my efforts are better than offers but I do like trying to create and portray a character. Particularly villains, rogues and anti-heroes. There is so much colour to work with there. Pirates are not known for being retiring and boring.
I like to meet interesting people who want to create new and fun experiences. That is just about everyone wanting to run or participate in one of these festivals.
I like it when larping can meet the public in terms that won’t confuse or intimidate those new to the idea. In essence I see Pirates Festivals as good things in their own right and I hope they grow and grow. I also see them as gateways to larping. Where people can see the fun and camaraderie in role-play and will hopefully go from visiting a festival to both participating in other festivals and going to larp events.
In the UK there are a number of these festivals going on in 2016.
Interested? Here’s the list
- Dolmen Pirate Parlay Weymouth 8-9-10th April
- Brixham Pirate Festival 29th april -2nd May
- Harry Paye Day Poole – 18th June
- Shipwreck Fest – Isle of Wight 18-19th June tbc
- Conwy Pirate Weekend 25-26th June
- Whitby Tortuga Pirate Festival 15/16/17th July
- Hastings Pirate Day – 17th July
- Purbeck Pirate Festival – Swanage 29th-31st July
- Sheppey pirates – August 6-7th
- Withernsea international pirate festival – August 12/13th
- South Wales Pirate Festival 18th-21st August
- Wells next the sea Pirate Festival – 4,5,6th September
- Liverpool Pirate Festival – 10-11th September *tbc
- Harwich sea shanty & pirate skirmish 7-9th October
- Bristol pirates day october – tbc
The image for the post comes from Flickr User: Ocean Yamaha and you can learn more about this image and it licence here.