The Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous promises a host of pirates, both large and small, to invade the Twin Villages in search of piratical fun and lost treasure on Saturday, June 24.

At 10 a.m. the event will open at the Pirate Bazaar located at Schooner Landing, where there will be games, activities and pirate history displays. The authentically costumed Pirates of the Dark Rose re-enactors will be on hand at their Tortuga Village to interact with the event-goers. Volunteers from the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle will be on hand with a table that includes children’s activities and a crew of sea shanty singers, while volunteers from Blessings in a Backpack in Jefferson will have a table loaded with piratical crafts that children can enjoy.

“This event has always been about the children, and we plan on continuing that tradition,” said Charlie Herrick of Schooner Landing, the event host.

There is no admission for the Pirate Rendezvous. All of the fundraising is accomplished through the games and activities. Generous sponsors help cover many of the Pirate Rendezvous expenses so that more of the money generated during the event can go to the event beneficiaries.

This year those sponsors include Renys, Ames Supply, Damariscotta Bank & Trust, the Cheney Financial Group, Colby & Gale and The Lincoln County News.

Volunteers from Lincoln County SPARK, a local young professionals network, will lead the way during the Pirate Rendezvous with fundraising for the event beneficiaries, by awarding contributions with a pirate sticker acknowledging the giver’s generosity at the Contribution Buckets located at the event entrance.

The pirates have also joined forces with the Pemaquid Watershed Association to offer “Pirate Duckies” as part of the PWA Rubber Ducky River Race. The Pirate Duckies will be on sale at the PWA table at the Pirate Bazaar, and will be priced to include a donation to the Pirate Rendezvous beneficiaries.

Proceeds from the efforts of Lincoln County SPARK and other Pirate Rendezvous income streams will benefit the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Newcastle, Blessings in a Backpack in Jefferson, and Feed Our Scholars in Wiscasset. (Blessings in a Backpack and Feed Our Scholars are both programs that provide weekend meals and other sustenance to school children.)

Thanks to the staff at Lincoln Academy there will be plenty of parking at the Lincoln Academy student parking lot on Academy Hill Rd., along with shuttles provided by the school and driven by school staff. The shuttle will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and the route has been refined to make waiting time an average of only 5 minutes.

Also at 10 a.m., historical interpreter Jeff Smith of the Lincoln County Historical Association will conduct a blacksmithing demonstration at the Chapman-Hall House just up the road from the Pirate Bazaar at 270 Main Street in Damariscotta. The demonstration will continue until 4 p.m.

Tickets will be available for a special boat ride aboard the RiverTripper even before the event opens by making a reservation at 207-315-5544. Tickets can also be purchased at the Pirate Bazaar at the RiverTripper table. The vessel will be embarking from Schooner Landing Marina, where the Pirate Bazaar is located, at 11:15 a.m. and will follow a course down the Damariscotta River, perhaps sighting seals and other wildlife. Then the RiverTripper will alter course offering guests a chance to see the pirate attack from a vantage point aboard the RiverTripper. Prices for tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12 years old. A portion of ticket sales goes to support the event beneficiaries.

At 10:30 a.m. there will be a Crew Muster at the Pirate Bazaar, specifically for any re-enactors who want to join the pirate crew. The Crew Muster is intended for experienced re-enactors who want to bring edged or black powder weapons to the invasion. Children and their parents are welcome to join the pirate crew any time.

The Mystic Pirates of the Damariscotta should be heading upriver aboard their armed sailing vessel at about 11:30 a.m. with a plan to open fire on the Pirate Bazaar and invade the Twin Villages at high noon. As soon as they land, the Mystic Pirates will invite participants to join their merry band as they march through town making mischief.

At 2 p.m. there will be a Lil’ Pirates Costume Contest coordinated by volunteers from Feed our Scholars in Wiscasset, with many prizes for all sorts of categories.

After the Costume Contest, at approximately 3 p.m., there will be a surprise announcement about the possible whereabouts of pirate treasure, and how all the little pirates can get a share of it.

While pirate activities begin to wind down, the Eric Green Band will take the stage with their original style of blues music, so that any pirates who want to remain will have plenty of reason to do so.

For information on the Pirate Rendezvous as a volunteer or sponsor, please contact Greg Latimer at 380-9912 or greglatimercontact@gmail.com.

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