Chief activity of the jamboree will be a historically authentic encampment Saturday by Blackbeard’s Pirate Crew, a 12-member living history organization from Hampton, VA., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the historic Wahab House, 161 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke.

The festival will begin Friday evening with a meet-and-greet at Hatteras Landing with a dozen of the pirates from the crew.  Among the re-enactors will be Captain Horatio Sinbad and the Devilmen of Cape Feare, who will arrive in boats and conduct and authentic ship-to-ship battle on Saturday. The 10-person Devilmen on their longboat The Flory, will battle with Sinbad and his crew on the Meka II. 

Other activities for the festival include a scavenger hunt in Ocracoke Village, book signings, sing-alongs and a memorial remembrance Sunday morning at 10 at Springer’s Point, the site of the demise of Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard.

“We wanted to have an event to promote the area in the shoulder seasons on both islands,” said Daphne Bennink, an Ocracoke business owner who spearheaded the event. “This was Blackbeard’s favorite place and we want it to span both islands.”

This is the first year of this jamboree (despite its having to be canceled in 2011 and 2012 due to hurricanes), building up to a grand event in 2018 – the 300th anniversary of Blackbeard’s death.

Organizers want the yearly dates for the event to be the last week in October. 

Updates will be posted on the website and the Ocracoke and Hatteras Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree Facebook page.