Calling all Pirates
It’s more than three months till International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19, but June 2 is the perfect day to test your sea legs. This Saturday at 9 a.m., Loren Brock of The Toy Boat will host her 16th annual Pirate and Mermaid Parade.
Brock started organizing this annual event to offer children a free event to enjoy. “It started off as a fun way to get the kids involved down on the harbor and has evolved to be the kickoff event to our summer free events for children at The Toy Boat,” Brock explained. The Pirate and Mermaid Parade is timed specifically so that local residents can also participate. “A lot of locals have been good to The Toy Boat over the years…it’s great to see people you recognize and watch the pirates grow up. Some of the kids who first came as little kids are now part of my pirate crew,” she added. One, Kelsey Lamb, first participated when she was just three-years-old; now, at sixteen, she helps lead the parade. “When she started,” said Brock, “Kelsey could barely toddle down the wharf, and now she helps make sure no one falls in the ocean.”
The parade is always held the first Saturday in June. Participants gather at The Toy Boat near the end of Straight Wharf, and the festivities begin promptly at 9 a.m. with photographs of the children in front of the purple ships wheel or in the special mermaid chair. Pirate tattoos (temporary) are offered and applied. Lead pirate Bobby Lamb then gathers his crew (including daughter Kelsey) and picks up the big pirate flag for the parade down Straight Wharf. Before they begin, he coaches them in proper pirate mis-behavior and teaches them the pirate growl of “Arrrggghhh.” “He always has a trick or two up his sleeve,” Brock added, “it’s one of the few times in their lives that kids are encouraged to act ‘inappropriately.’” Lamb is always happy to help Brock: “she’s so generous to do this,” he explained. And he admits to enjoying it himself. This year he has added a few new accoutrements to his pirate attire.
The parade ends where it begins, at The Toy Boat, where participants will be treated to “grog” and “boll weevil biscuits.” They also get Swashbuckler certificates and a small booty bag of treasure.
Costumes can be as simple or as elaborate as the pirate or mermaid wishes. And if you don’t have a costume, come on down anyway,” said Brock. But don’t be late: the event is timed carefully around ferry schedules and traffic. Spectators are welcome.
This festive event crosses all ages and genders. As Brock says: “anyone can be a pirate…some of our pirates come in strollers and some with canes… so far the youngest pirate was 3 months old and the oldest pirate that has joined us was 87.” Careful parental supervision is required for the younger set because the activity is held on the wharf.
The Pirate and Mermaid Parade is the first of 100 free events for children sponsored by and held at The Toy Boat. Other events include their Kids Create Craft Fair, the Enchanted Village (when kids build fairy gardens), and the Children’s Garden. Every Thursday afternoon throughout the summer season Brock holds an event.
If weather this Saturday morning is questionable, call 508-228-4552 at 8:30 am for details and a possible rain date.
In the meantime, gather your eyepatches, peglegs, and bandanas and practice talking like a pirate. Here are a few common pirate phrases:
“Ahoy there”: means hello
“Avast”: means stop and pay attention
“Arrr”: variety of meanings from “yes, I agree” to “My team is going to win”
“Aye aye sir”: means “Yes sir, right away sir!”
“Belay”: means “stop that”
“Blimey”: used to express frustration
“Booty”: property seized by a pirate
“Matey”: how to address another pirate who is your friend
“Ye scurvy bilge rat”: a name for someone you don’t like: the bilge is the lowest level of the ship, teeming with ballast and slimy stinky water. A bilge rat lives in the worst place in a ship.
“Scallywag”: a deceitful scoundrel
“Shiver me timbers”: is an expression of surprise
“Weigh Anchor”: time to go
“Yo-ho-ho”: meaningless, but fun to say.
