Dust off the ruffled shirt and eye patch. Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze is returning to Westport this week.
The Half Moon Bay Pirates, who are organizing this year’s event, were supposed to coordinate the 2020 festival, but, well, the COVID-19 pandemic happened: COVID shut down all the festivals around the county, state and world.
The nonprofit group was founded in 2018 with a goal to “bring joy to kids of all ages and abilities and to help our community,” said Half Moon Bay Pirate Rose Jensen.
The group has put in the work and it’s a go for the popular family-friendly, three-day event from June 25-27, despite the uncertainty over the past several months.
“Some of the vendors waited until the very last minute, but we’re pretty happy with the turnout,” said Jensen. “And we have some great musicians.”
One act she’s “very excited” about is the Celtic rock band Tempest.
“They are a well-known band, they have produced records and they are known in Europe and across the country,” she said.
Tempest will be performing at 2 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and 12:45 p.m. Sunday.
Other acts include the Twisted Knickers band out of Lakewood, performing sea shanties and folk and filk music — fantasy-themed folk music — in their first post-COVID gig at 12:15 p.m. Friday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and closing out the festival at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Another shanty group, Starboard Watch, performs at 6:45 p.m. Friday, 3:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
Returning this year is Scallywag Alley, an area dedicated to fun activities for kids.
“We will have new games and new prizes, it’s going to be great,” said Jensen.
The parade will run down Westhaven Drive at 3 p.m. Sunday. It will include the Half Moon Bay Pirates’ 30-foot pirate ship, which is a new one, specially outfitted to accommodate people with specific needs.
This year’s parade grand marshal is Westport Police Chief Nate Saunders. He’s been with the department for some time and was promoted to chief with last year’s retirement of Tracy Rosenow.
“The Half Moon Bay Pirates are also members of crime watch and felt it would be a great idea to introduce (him) to the community,” said Jensen.
There will be food, vendors, belly dancers and cannon fire throughout the weekend, and the famed Seafair Pirates will invade the festival on Saturday morning. There will also be drawings and a 50-50 raffle, including drawings for pedal police and fire engines for the kids.
People can find a map of the event area, which takes in the Westport Marina District all along Westhaven Drive, and a full schedule of events on the Half Moon Bay Facebook page at facebook.com/halfmoonbaypirates.
The group is encouraging the wearing of face masks during the event, and has several hand sanitizing stations set up throughout the event area.
The nonprofit Half Moon Bay Pirates do quite a bit of work within the community, including helping with events like Shop with a Cop and Chief for the Day, and providing free meals. They operate on donations. Find out more about them at halfmoonbaypirates.org.
Schedule
Friday
Noon announcements
12:15 p.m. Twisted Knickers band
12:15 p.m. Kids train, runs until 5 p.m.
1 p.m. Outrageous Fortune black powder
2 p.m. Tempest band
4 p.m. Treasure chest drawing
4:30 p.m. Outrageous Fortune black powder
6:45 p.m. Starboard Watch band
Saturday
10 a.m. announcements
10:15 a.m. Grand Marshal introduction
10:15 a.m. Seafair Pirates arrive
10:30 a.m. Costume contest/kids too
11:15 a.m. Treasure chest drawing
11:15 a.m. Outrageous Fortune black powder
11:30 a.m. Kids train, runs until 5:15
Noon Chaste Treasures
12:30 p.m. Twisted Knickers band
1:30 p.m. S&S belly dancers
1:45 p.m. Treasure chest drawing
2:30 p.m. Chaste Treasures
3 p.m. S&S belly dancers
3:15 p.m. Starboard Watch band
4:15 p.m. Treasure chest drawing
5 p.m. Starboard Watch band
5 p.m. Outrageous Fortune black powder
5:30 p.m. Mr. Owl the magician
6 p.m. Treasure chest drawing
6:30 p.m. Chaste Treasures
7 p.m. Tempest band
9 p.m. S&S belly dancers
9:30 p.m. Tempest band
Sunday
10 a.m. announcements
10:15 a.m. Starboard Watch band
10:30 a.m. Kids train, runs until 1 p.m.
11:45 a.m. Treasure chest raffles, drawing
12:15 p.m. Chaste Treasures
12:45 p.m. Tempest band
2 p.m. Salty Dog costume contest
3 p.m. Parade
4:30 p.m. Treasure chest drawing
Courtesy KJW Photography and Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze Black powder displays will be featured throughout the weekend in Westport, part of the return of Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze to Westport starting Friday.
Courtesy KJW Photography and Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze The Half Moon Bay Pirates will be sailing a new 30-foot pirate boat down Westhaven Drive in this year’s Rusty Scuppers Pirate Daze Parade Sunday in Westport.
