Sixth Annual Privateer Day Festival

By Sean Duane & Natalia Weiner

Pirates have always been part of our history as Americans, but in recent years, films like Pirates of the Caribbean, and actors like Johnny Depp, Pirates have been highly sensationalized in our modern day culture.

Privateer Day was established in 1726 in Baltimore harbor, the nations first and original deepwater port. This annual event pays tribute to the brave privateers, who were freelanced by our government to help fight the British and their overwhelming navy during the war of 1812. Locals are now encouraged to dress up as pirates, privateers, sail-makers, sailors, barkeeps, wenches, merchants or homemakers whoever they think they would have been 200 years ago.

Saturday was a great day for families to come out and enjoy one of Baltimore’s finest areas of Fells Point.  But it wasn’t just Families walking around, Fells Point had been taken over by pirates in the annual 2010 Privateer Day.

There was song, dance, and even parrots for the sixth annual Privateer Day festival. Plenty of eye patches, tattoos and aliases were among the crowd that moved through the historic waterfront neighborhood of Fells Point.  Some acted like pirates, some merely watched and enjoyed the show.

The 52 foot replica pirate ship was one of the many attractions and crewed by the Urban Pirates with their first mate, Peppercorn.  Peppercorn helped to teach the kids how to say, “arrrhhh” after everything that is both bad, and good, because that is the pirate way. Other lessons in the pirate tutorial included how to say "shiver me timbers," and how to sing while stomping your feet, in addition to learning how to tie a square knot, and learning how to "fight fiercely."

Ticket prices are $20 for riders 3 and older and $10 for those 2 and younger. Privateer Day is a great way for families to come and explore one of Baltimore’s up and coming areas in Fells Point and enjoy a beautiful day by the water.