Ahoy! Pirate Daze Is Almost Here
Ahoy Westport! Pirate Daze is landing on our shores June 28, 29, and 30th and as you probably already know its the grandest festival of the summer, drawing pirates fans by the thousands- up to 30 thousand scallywags according to the Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce.
This year , the Chamber is at the helm of the event, and while most the merriment, vendors, and parade remain as before, the set-up may look a little different. For instance, the kiddies’ games and play area will be on the lawn of the Maritime Museum, and another large kiddie slide will be next to the Saltwater Inn. Food vendors will be sprinkled along the side streets with many near the Black Pearl stage and lawn next to Junk Queens. A second stage for music and entertaining will be midway down Marina Drive.
With such a mighty event to organize the Chamber needed help, and they found it when Mike Vassar, a 15-year Pirate Daze veteran, offered his services. As the event MC for the last three years Mike knows not only most of the entertainers, but many of the festival goers that come year after year. If you are one of those, you probably know Mike as Jack Sparrow, his go-to pirate persona. His cosplay is so convincing that he’s been invited to make appearances at special events around his hometown of Saint Helen’s Oregon. He says when he first started dressing like Sparrow he felt the thrill of stepping outside his comfort zone. “People wanted photos with me,” says Vassar. “ I kind of felt like a rock star.”
Mike Vassar as Captain Jack Sparrow
Not everyone dresses up for Pirate Daze, but those that do add to the atmosphere of the three day festival. “I’d say 75% of the crowd is dressed in some sort of pirate manner,” says Vassar, who is usually accompanied by his wife dressed as Sparrow’s love interest Angelica Teach. “People like to be somebody different for a day. Kids especially enjoy it. They usually get just one day a year (Halloween) to dress up in costume, so its really a fun time for the whole family.”
The young ones especially love the pirate crew fondly known as Paula’s Porch Pirates. This band of pirates- hailing from Olalla, Poulsbo, Bremerton, Tacoma, Lakewood, Federal Way, Lacey and Portland will be celebrating their 10th year at Pirate Daze. Every year they decorate the deck above Seabird Gifts and Candy and over the weekend toss out near 1000 stuffed animals, beads, trinkets, and coins to kids. Paula Bird, owner of Seabird donates over 200 pounds of taffy to the Porch Pirates as part of their booty. She recalls the first time they rented the Airbnb above her business. “I had just put it on the market and it was immediately booked for Pirate Daze,” says Bird. “A group showed up with so many pirate themed decorations, they literally transformed the deck. They named themselves Paula’s Porch Pirates, but I can’t take credit for all the amazing stuff they do.”
Bird adds, “They are a little bit crazy and have silly pirate names like Captain Sparklebutt, but they are a great group of people.”
In addition to ensuring all the kids have a jolly good time, the Porch Pirates are also active in raising money and donations for the care and keeping of the Jetty Cats. Rumor has it the Porch Pirates will have a new character named Willow in their crew this year. Will she be a jetty cat pirate?
With such a big busy weekend in Westport, there are many volunteer opportunities available. The Ocosta School PTO is looking for helpers in Scallywag Alley. Their Facebook page has more information or you can fill out this Google form to sign up today.
There is too much happening at Pirate Daze to list here. From acrobats to fire shows, magicians to musicians, cannon shows to pirate games, it’s best to view the schedule of events and plan your weekend accordingly.
Lastly, no pirate related article could be complete without a little pirate talk. If you’ve ever wondered why the festival is named Rusty Scupper’s Pirate Daze, well Vassar (aka Jack Sparrow) shared the legend he was told. And as tall tales go, we can never know if there be truth or yarn in the following words.
The Legend of Rusty Scupper
(please note- the following words have been manipulated by a chatGPT pirate )
Ahoy, matey! Gather 'round and lend an ear to the legend of Rusty Scupper, the most notorious Irish Black pirate ever to sail the seven seas. This be a tale of shipwrecks, revelry, and the mark one rogue left on the good folk of Westport.
Many a year ago, when the moon shone bright upon the restless waves, ol' Rusty Scupper's ship met its fate upon the treacherous rocks near the shores of Westport. With a heart as black as the night and a soul full of fire, Rusty emerged from the briny deep, his vessel naught but driftwood and memories.
Rusty Scupper, with eyes that twinkled with mischief, wandered into the town of Westport. The townsfolk, unsuspecting, soon found themselves captivated by this devilish pirate. His ways were wild, his tales tall, and his thirst for adventure unquenchable.
Aye, Westport was never the same. The ale flowed like a river, and the laughter echoed through the night as Rusty regaled the people with stories of buried treasure and battles fought on distant shores. His charm was irresistible, and his legend grew with each passing day.
Years turned into decades, and Rusty Scupper's name became woven into the very fabric of Westport. His wild spirit lived on, and generations later, the town decided to honor the pirate who had left an indelible mark on their history. Thus, the Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze Festival was born—a grand celebration of music, dancing, and merriment.
Each year, the streets of Westport burst into life - the townsfolk and visitors alike don their best pirate attire, raising their mugs in salute to the wildest pirate to ever roam these shores.. The festival is a time of joy and remembrance, a tribute to the legendary Rusy Scupper who had sailed into their lives and left behind a legacy of adventure.