You have to love a festival that includes such ancient descriptor words like “swashbuckling,” “plunder,” and “scallywags.” And at the 10th annual Michigan Pirate Festival you can expect a whole lot of this and so much more given their expanded coverage in the Grand Haven area the rest of this week.
Working from an appropriate theme of "Pirates through the Ages,” you can expect a diverse array of pirates from all periods of history as re-enactments are set up all over Harbor Island on Saturday and Sunday.
This is an enchanted festival where young powder monkeys to the most seasoned buccaneers freely interact with one another in an event that really is unique in our region.
If you wish to start early with plenty of family friendly free activities, then head to the Loutit District Library (407 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven). Here are just a sampling of what is left this week to celebrate.
Thursday, Aug. 11
10 a.m. – Dress like a pirate
1 p.m. – Pirate games and coloring
7 p.m. – Pirate puppet show
Friday, Aug. 12
10 a.m. – Storytelling with Scallywags
1 p.m. – Powder Monkey Olympics
6:45 p.m. – Pirates sail into Grand Haven
You can also receive a free treasure map to 22 area businesses that are participating in this scavenger hunt where valuable clues are hidden all over downtown Grand Haven.
Once we hit Saturday, the festival moves over the weekend to Harbor Island, which will be packed with family activities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day brought to the community by the Brethren of the Great Lakes.
We know that Michigan has a lot of uniquely named celebrations, from those that celebrate fruit crops to even rubber duckies, but the chance to play for an extended period of time with weekend with people who will try like heck to convince you that they are pirates is sure to be at the top of my list of things to encounter this weekend.
Admission: Free at the library, Harbor Island Pirate Festival is $5 per person, except for children under 13 who are admitted for free.
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