Ocracoke's annual Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree will commence on Friday, October 27th with an evening of piratical music and mystery. Saturday is the main event, with the pirate encampment, swordfighting, reenactment battle at sea, and more pillaging, plundering, and mayhem. Sunday is somber with a memorial service for the fallen brethren (they've been dead 299 years, but some of us haven't gotten over it yet) followed by a farewell lunch with the pirates at the Oyster Company.
This is also the weekend we celebrate Halloween on Ocracoke with the PTA carnival at Ocracoke School on Friday afternoon/evening, and Halloween parties @ Howard's Pub and other watering holes on Saturday night. Stay tuned to the Current for more information.
The Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree schedule will be printed in the event's program, distributed around the island and at the Information Tent @ the Community Square.
Friday, October 27th
3pm: Freakin's Firkin Keg Tapping @ Zillie's Island Pantry
4-6:00pm: Twilight Market
Get a sneak peek of the Vendors @ Brigand’s Bazaar at a special Twilight Market on the Wahab House lawn.
7-10pm: Meet The Pirates!
At the Community Center. $5.00 Entry Fee at the door. Cash Bar with Beer, Wine and Refreshments
Join us for a family-friendly evening with the Pirates. There will music, fun and the chance to test your pirate knowledge against the experts! Beer, wine and refreshments provided.
7:00pm: The Motley Tones: Rollicking Good Music and Fun
Your piracy education continues with the Motley Tones. Hailing from the famous sea port of Raleigh, NC, they have no shortage of seafaring and piracy songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Well, the 1760s, 1770s and 1780s. Their harmonious renditions of songs of love, and travel and the sea will help set the mood for the fabulous weekend of piracy ahead. Don’t be shy—you will want to sing and laugh along. And if not, in the true spirit of piracy, they are sure to insist on it!
7:45 pm: Captain Jim's Magic Show
Tall Tales of his Peg Leg Pirate history. Professional Illusions. Amazing fun for everyone!
8:30pm: “Will the Real Blackbeard Please Stand Up” Hosted by historian/author Kevin Duffus
Will the real Blackbeard please stand up? What happens when three men portray themselves as Blackbeard but only one them is the real notorious pirate while the other two are imposters? Join us for an all-new rollicking game show. With the audience’s help, a panel of four celebrities will have to use their detective skills to figure out which of the three men is the real Blackbeard. How many wives did he really have, why did he really tie burning fuses around his ears, why did he shoot his friend Israel Hands in the knee?
Saturday, October 28th
10am-5pm: Festival Information, Maps, and Festival Souvenirs at the Community Square
10:00am: The Kings Rangers Muster! @ Wahab House Dockside Encampment
Drills Pike, Cutlass, and Long Gun: Cannons fire as we kick off a Great Festival!
10am-5pm: The Pirate Encampment at The Berkley Manor:
See what life was really like during the 18th Century - Living history exhibits, tavern games and pirate skits. Displays will include:
- Shipboard medicine and health
- Naval weapons
- Seamanship and Navigation: Rigging, knots, etc.
- Pirate society and sociology
- Period Cooking
- Period Crafts and Clothing
- One of the largest private collections of historical Pirate artifacts
Colonial Fishing Life
- 18th Century Fishing Methods to include preservation by salting and smoking
- Net sewing/making, trap making
- Rope working will also be displayed: handmade rope twisted with natural fibers such as coconut and yucca.
- Period cooking and sewing by hand
TSC Pirates! Sword-fighting demonstration shows @ 10:30am, 1pm, and 4pm.
- Sword-fighting demonstration with cutlass and sabre in the Pirate and Royal Navy styles (18th-19th century) - our fights are non-choreographed demonstrations of historical sword-fighting.
- Demonstrations of naval historic combat ship-boarding techniques during the sword-fighting demonstration.
In between demonstration shows, learn to fight like a pirate and test your skills:
- Introductory lessons in cutlass fighting - Come into our ring and receive an introductory lesson on how to fight with a cutlass using plastic or padded cutlasses.
- Fight a pirate - Come into the ring and participate in a 3-point bout against one of our pirates using a foam, padded cutlass.
- Followers Camp- Women’s role in Militia life
- Boxing the Compass- interactive demo on compass points.
- Navigation- 18th century navigation display.
- Earth Oven - Oven made from clay, sand, and grass, with a baking demonstration.
- 18th Century Artist – Demonstration by world famous artist Christaphoria Robeers. Author of “The Quite Voices of the Outer Banks”
- Spinning- producing wool for clothing. How it is made and dyed for cloth.
- Colonial Games- various games played interactive with kids.
10am-5pm: Brigand’s Bazaar at the Wahab House
Brigand’s Bazaar: A marketplace of seafaring fine arts, wares, souvenirs, jamboree T-shirts and the place to get your Festival Information and Maps
10am-5pm: View the Pirate Ships:
“The Meka II”, “The Ada Mae” and a Coast Guard Cutter at the NPS Docks
“The Ranger” at the Wahab House Docks
11:00am: The Shadow Players @ the Community Square stage
Swashbuckling excitement with the Shadow Players Stage Combat Group....Swords! Whips! Laughter! Experience up close and personal swordplay in an interactive show for the whole family!'
11am-5pm: Roving 18th Century Minstrels, Pirates and Street Vendors
Just as it was in the 18th Century- you might see The Oyster Lady or the Fishmonger hawking their wares; while song breaks out down the street. Beware if you’re wearing your pirate gear – The Militia will be hunting escaped pirates!
11:30am-4pm: The Community Square Beer Garden Sponsored by Ocracoke Youth Center
Enjoy good food and libations at Dajio Restaurant, across from the Community Square. There’ll be Pirates about, and don’t forget to bring your official Jamboree Mug for special savings!
11:30am-7pm: The Pirate Encampment Beer Garden, Sponsored by SMacNally’s
Enjoy good food and libations at SMacNally’s, across from the Wahab House. There’ll be Pirates about, and don’t forget to bring your official Jamboree Mug for special savings!
11:30am : Meet Black Beard! @ the Community Square stage
It’s only fair that he gets to tell his side of the story! Plus, Sword play and Fun
12:00pm: "What Was Blackbeard Doing at Ocracoke?" @ the Community Square stage
When the notorious Blackbeard, arguably the world's most famous pirate, was cornered and killed near Ocracoke's Springer's Point, he was in the company of just 20 men and the only treasure found in his possession was some sugar, cocoa, cotton, and a mysterious letter. It was late November and winter was approaching rapidly. Why was Blackbeard lingering at Ocracoke? What was he waiting for? Blackbeard historian Kevin Duffus answers these questions and more.
2:00pm: The Battle at Ocracoke! in Silver Lake Harbor
In the morning calm the mist begins to clear and the lookout reports to Black Beard aboard his sloop ADVENTURE. "Captain, I sees two strange sloops makin' thar way t' ours position"
At 1pm, Saturday, see for yourself the fierce ship to ship Battle of Ocracoke that determined Black Beard's final fate. Cannons roar as Three Ships re-create that fateful day
3:30pm: The Motley Tones @ the Community Square stage
Fun for the whole family! The Motley Tones will delight you with their dulcet harmonies and witty piratical humor. Sea shanties, pub songs, love songs and sailor songs—they carry out an oral historical tradition of telling stories through song up and down the East coast. Back on Ocracoke by popular demand, you will not want to miss these motley singing pirates!
4:30pm: All Hallow's Eve Trick or Treating for kids @ the Pirate Encampment at the Berkley Manor grounds
5:00pm: The Shadow Players @ Ocracoke Oyster Company
Swashbuckling excitement with the Shadow Players Stage Combat Group....Swords! Whips! Laughter! Experience up close and personal swordplay in an interactive show for the whole family!'
7:00pm: Captain Jim’s Magic Show @ Ocracoke Oyster Company
Captain Jim is Magic and Mystery! He Tells Tall Tales of his Peg Leg Pirate history. Professional Illusions, both stage and strolling. Enjoy a great dinner with Amazing Fun for everyone!
8:00pm: The Bawdy Beer Garden @ Ocracoke Bar & Grille:
Relax, kick back, and enjoy some great beer and be entertained by the Motley Tones and pirate friends. A vivacious and informal round-robin exchange of bawdy songs that date back hundreds of years is sure to make you blush. This show is rated “I” for "Innuendo", which is PG-17 for you 21st century types. So, put the little scallywags to bed first!
Sunday, October 29th
10am – 12pm: Springer’s Point Memorial Service for those killed in Blackbeard’s Last Battle
Join with us as the Pirate and Militia Crews march to beautiful Springer’s Point to honor those who perished on that fateful day. The Militia’s Cannons will kick off the March as we head to Springer’s Point. At Springer’s Point, listen as the eulogy is read and the hymns are sung. Watch as the wreath is laid on the Sea, while the Pirate Ships fire a cannon salute from just off-shore. The March begins at the Pirate Encampment. Please feel free to join in at any point along the route.
12noon – 1:30pm: The Pirate Lunch @ Ocracoke Oyster Company
Join us in closing out the Festival at a rousing brunch with the Pirates. Your chance to sit down with our Pirate Crews and enjoy a great meal at Howard’s Pub. Don’t forget to save a seat for a Pirate!