• Pirate Party

  • On Labour Day Weekend, Pirates Invade the Port of Orillia!

    Yo-ho! It's time to batten down ye hatches, because the "Pirates of the Orillian Sea" have their sights set on the City's Downtown Waterfront. They are expected to make landfall just in time for the Labour Day weekend, and are bringing with them a weekend of fun and entertainment for all ages!

     

    The Orillia Pirate Party features:

    • Life-sized "pirate" ships crewed by historical re-enactors
    • Fencing, tactical, and artillery demonstrations
    • Pirate encampment village featuring a blacksmith demonstration, costumed re-enactors, and historical props
    • Live musical entertainment 
    • Downtown scavenger hunt

    Schedule of events:

    Pirate Party Public Schedule

     

    All weekend long you can participate in our Treasure Map and win awesome prizes! Get your map at the Port office or Orillia Public Library. 

    Saturday and Sunday our Pirate Village is open to the public.

    Friday

    All Day – Treasure Hunt

    7PM - Meet and Greet (For Canadian Pirate Community Only)

    8PM – Pirate Invasion of Downtown Orillia (self guided adventure): Put your pirate gear on and journey into Downtown Orillia, Enjoy some grog and fare

    Saturday

    Ongoing all day - Animation of Pirate Village by pirates, duels, cooking demos, blacksmithing, ropemaking, etc.

    On going all day – Pirate Games: Plank Run, Shark Attack, Pirate Art, Face Painting, Tug of War, Pirate Wrestling, Photo Booth (cost associated with games, all other entertainment free)

    Ongoing all day – Treasure Hunt

    1:00,2:00,3:00 PM – Walking Tour – Guns Gangs and Grog

    11:00AM - Attack on Lord Leacock’s manor

    1:00PM - Attack on Port of Orillia

    1:30 - Land Battle: Pirates Vs Lord Mayor’s Garrison. Location: Couchiching Beach Park

    2:30 PM - Walk the Plank

    5:30 - Boat Judging. Awards for: Best Dressed Crew, Best decorated Ship

    7PM - Meet and Greet (For Canadian Pirate Community Only)

    8:00PM: Music at Port – Connor Brothers

    Sunday

    Ongoing all day: Animation of Pirate Village by pirates, duels, cooking demos, blacksmithing, ropemaking, etc.

    On going all day – Pirate Games: Plank Run, Shark Attack, Pirate Art, Face Painting, Tug of War, Pirate Wrestling, Photo Booth (cost associated with games, all other entertainment free)

    Ongoing all day – Treasure Hunt

    11:00AM - Attack on Champlain Sailing Club.

    1PM - Land Battle - Pirates Vs Lord Mayor’s Garrison. Location: Couchiching Beach Park

    1:30PM - Crews retreat to boats.

    2:00 - Battle at Sea

    8:00 - Music at Port – Orangeman

     

    Location:

    The Orillia Pirate Party takes place at the Port of Orillia at 50 Centennial Drive, Orillia, ON. The Port is located steps from vibrant downtown Orillia and adjacent to Couchiching Beach Park which features a sandy swimming area, children's playgrounds, walking trails, gardens, and picnic areas. 

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  • Plan Your Visit

    All attendees are invited to join the pirate ranks by dressing and acting the part for the day, so work on your sea-slang, and start putting together your costume!  The entertainment takes place Saturday and Sunday, and admission is free, although fees may apply for certain activities. Here are some tips for making the most of your day or weekend visit:

     

    Dress as your favourite buccaneer, swashbuckler, or sea-dog

    Get into the fun by dressing up in pirate garb. This can be as simple as donning a bandana and eye-patch, or you can go all-out with a full costume. Steampunkers, renaissance re-enactors, and cosplayers are all invited to join in with their takes on pirate attire.

     

    Learn to talk like a pirate

    There are tons of online resources to help you learn pirate terminology. Here are a couple fun words and phrases to get you started:

    • scallywag - an insulting term for an inexperienced pirate
    • old salt - a sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas
    • Avast ye! - Stop and pay attention!
    • give no quarter - show no mercy
    • hearties - friends and comrades

     

    Accommodations and dining

     

    With the Pirate Party providing three days of free fun at the waterfront, why not spend the whole weekend in Orillia? Accommodation listings are available in our business directory at https://www.orillia.com/list/ql/lodging-travel-14. Orillia is surrounded by nature, and there are several camping options nearby, including three provincial parks. See more camping options in our directory. If you're a boater, consider staying right where the action is at the Port of Orillia.  The Port offers over 200 transient slips with full hook-up, showers, washrooms, and boater's lounge available.

     

    Parking and Access

     

    Due to the construction at the waterfront, Pirate Party attendees are encouraged to plan ahead to make sure that parking and accessing the park is a breeze. While the Port of Orillia and Boat Launch parking lots are not available, there are many other nearby parking options. The City of Orillia's website, www.orillia.ca, has information about parking in and around the downtown, as well as up-to-date information about road closures and detours.

     

    Residents of Orillia and those spending the weekend at local accommodations can take advantage of the city's public transit system or trail network as a convenient and environmentally-friendly alternative to driving to the event. 

     

     

     

     

    How do pirates know that they are pirates?
     They think, therefore they ARRRRH !!!!