2023 DATE: June 23-25, 2023
This post documents my experience on June 24, 2012.
Put-in-Bay is a village on Lake Erie’s South Bass Island where thousands migrate for some summertime fun and occasionally rent a house for some R&R…
…even Johnny Depp.*
At least, that was the rumor when Julia and I got on a Miller’s ferry to head there.
And why wouldn’t Johnny Depp go and hang out in Put-in-Bay…
…when it was obviously Pyrate Fest weekend?
Taking place in downtown Put-in-Bay’s DeRivera Park…
…the festival had pirates hanging all over the place (is it Johnny?)…
…as they attacked small children…
…imprisoned tourists’ girlfriends…
…and tried to shoot down fellow re-enactors.
Fortunately, these pirates didn’t quite make it.
All jokes aside, the festival was extremely kid-friendly…
…with magic acts (Faire Wynds)…
…sword training…
…playgrounds all around the place…
…and a table set up…
…to give kids coloring sheets, pirate hats…
…and even a bit of treasure.
Meanwhile, adults, like myself, could talk with a pirate ship surgeon…
…and learn about 17th and 18th century tools.
They could also learn about early navigation…
…weapons…
…and other fine details about a pirate’s life.
And, if they were feeling a wee bit under-dressed…
…they could purchase a festival shirt…
…or browse through the vendor booths…
…for unique pirate-esque leather accessories…
…a sword or novelty product…
…or perhaps even a pirate all their own.
But pirate goods weren’t limited to the festival grounds…
…various other island businesses sold their own pirate merchandise.
In fact, island businesses actively participated in Pyrate Fest….
…through decoration…
…and advertisements.
This made sense since the festival had no food of its own…
…and relied on restaurants in walking distance to feed the masses.
Although I wish the festival had something to grub on, Julia and I did take complete advantage of the local business….
…getting lured by the Boardwalk’s simile…
…and appreciating the thick, rich bisque…
…which helped add a little meat to these bones.
* = By the way, we never did see Johnny Depp. Maybe next time.