Here Thar Be Pyrates!

Where arrr y'goin'? No, where arrr y'goin'?

Yesterday morning, we headed to the 1^st Annual NorCal Pirate Festival. As we drove across the Benicia bridge on our way to Vallejo, we were flanked by a motorcycle pirate in a poufy linen shirt and a big black SUV with a Jolly Roger flapping wildly from the roof. Clearly, we were headed in the right direction.

As we approached the Vallejo waterfront, we could see crowded parking lots and hoards of pirates making their way to the festival. Was it luck that a parking spot immediately in front of the festival opened up as we approached? Destiny, I say. They be awaitin' a pirate of me stature!

It's hard to know what to expect from a pirate festival. I admit I expected a lot of Renaissance Faire regulars in hastily redone costume. While I'm sure there were a great many Renn Faire folks at the fair, nothing looked hasty about anyone's costume.

I'm quite serious when I say that I don't think I've ever been at an event where so many visitors came in costume. Whole pirate families flocked to the waterfront...mom, dad, and the kids were ready to swash their buckle and begin plundering. Many people had amazing, elaborate costumes of rich brocades and sumptuous leather, as well as an assortment of swords and flintlock pistols. Nothing looked cheap or tacky about it, and no two pirates were dressed alike.

My one regret is that I was not quick with the camera and so I missed capturing some of the best images. I laughed to see young boy leading his pirate dog along using a huge turkey leg as incentive, the dog anxiously nipping at the meat as he followed his young master. Across the grounds, another young boy was fencing a large man, looking for all the world like he was holding his own. Among the classic male pirates were plenty of comely wenches, but so were there Pirate Queens, in full and impressive regalia.

What stood out more than the costumes, though, was the absolute friendliness of everyone attending the fair. I believe the sheer joy of being a pirate for a day imbued everyone with an expansive heart. But, honestly, who wouldn't be happy in such a circumstance?

The festival offered plenty of food vendors, games for kids and adults, pirate musicians and performers....but let's get to the point: treasure. All manner of piratical wares were on display and I could not be expected to resist them all. Believe me, I resisted plenty of fine goods, but we all have limits to our virtue. At times, I can be more limited than most in that regard.

Here's a rundown of what I saw as the best, and a picture of me own haul:

Amsbury's had plenty of quality, intriguing goods (from shackles to skulls to scarves to stripey things) but as the stall was packed with pirates jostlin' for swag, I never made it close enough to buy anything.

Ravenswood Leather did not disappoint, with plenty of high-end custom leather goods (such as the amazing Lady Buccaneer) to tempt me. They also had a plethora of weapons.

Stumpy & Scurvy offered original PirateMod T-shirts - all high-quality designs. I could not resist a couple, including the gold foil "pirate compass rose" design. I do have that compass fetish, as y'know.

And finally, the place that got the most of our doubloons - see the skulls, beads, and carved bone in the picture above - was Michelle Amsbury's bead shop (thank you, Anna B, for identifying the shop for me). They did say they did not sell beads online, which is why I was so quick to snap up what I saw, all intended for future projects.

In the end, it was a fine, fine day and the next time the Pirate Festival comes to town, I will be at the ready, pouch of doubloons jingling in anticipation. Arrr!

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