Bill Johnston's Pirate Days: Swashbuckly Pillaging in A Bay Near You
/Aaargh!
The lore of Dread Pirate Bill Johnston lives yet again in Alexandria Bay, where we celebrate for the zillionth time the legacy of
Thousand Islands' most dreaded pirate was the notorious smuggler and War of 1812 privateerBill Johnston. Dubbed the man the British most wanted to hang, fortunes were blown on the pursuit of Johnston as he was hunted by United States and Canadian authorities.
His most notorious project was the May 30, 1838, attack on the passenger steamer Sir Robert Peel (which was docked at Wellesley Island on the St. Lawrence River). Johnston ordered his men to loot the ship and burn it, which they did while chanting "Remember the Caroline." Johnston eventually surrendered to United States authorities.
So of course it stands to reason that almost 200 years later, we'd create a holiday in honor of this guy.
Hey, it worked for Christopher Columbus.
Events officially started on Friday, but you can get your pirate on any day this week. Here's the full run-down of scheduled outlaw activities, courtesy of the
Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce
(feel free to make your own!):
Friday, August 12th:
5:30pm: Pirate Magic Show by Jason the Entertainer @ the Entertainment Tent
6:30pm: Balloon sculpting @ Entertainment Tent�
8:00pm: Block Dance by Upper James Street dock…. “Bad Husbands Club”
Saturday, August 13th:
8:00am-1:00pm…Vote for the BEST DECORATED BOAT at the Village Dock
10:00am…Children Boats, Treasure Chest, & Cannon Crafts @ Park Pavilion;
11:30am…Children Parade Lineup @ the Scenic View Park; 11:45am…Children Parade through Village; 1:00pm…Capture of the Pirate Scouting Party @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
2:00pm…PIRATE INVASION
;
4:30pm…Balloon Sculpting thoughout the Village
Sunday, August 14th:
12:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;
12:30pm…Buried Treasure @ Scenic View Park Beach;�
3:00pm…Duck Races to benefit Minor Hockey Assn @ Scenic View Park
Monday, August 15th:
10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park;
1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh (archaic weapons demonstration @Scenic View Park;
2:00…Reptile Exhibition @ Entertainment Tent;
3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;�
4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;
5:00pm…Balloon Sculpting throughout Village
Tuesday, August 16th:
10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park Pavilion;
12:00pm..Tales from Remikreh weapon demonstration @ Scenic View Park;
1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh @GO-KART 500
3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
4:15pm…Magic Show w/Obie Obrien @ Entertainment Tent;
5:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside;
Wednesday, August 17th:
10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
11:00am…Fight a Pirate @ Scenic View Park;
12:00pm…Tales from Remikreh weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;
1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh @Mazeland;
3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallarios Bayside;
5:30pm…Balloon Sculpting throughout Village
7:00pm…Concert in the Park @ Scenic View Park….featuring Double Barrell Blues Band
Thursday, August 18th:
10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
11:00am…1st Mate Competition w/Tales From Remikreh @ Scenic View Park;
1:00pm…Tales from Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;
3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
4:15pm…Magic Show by Obie Obrien @ Entertainment Tent;
5:00pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallario Bayside
Friday, August 19th:
10:00am…Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
11:00am…Pirate Tournament (Tales of Remikreh) @ Scenic View Park;
12:00pm…Tales from Remikreh weapons demonstration @ Scenic View Park;
1:00pm…Reptile Exhibition @ Entertainment Tent;�
3:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
4:15pm…Pirate Skit @ Cavallarios Bayside;
6:00pm…Dancing Bear Puppet Theatre presents “Littlest Pirate”
8:00pm…Block Dance on James Street between Skiffs & Downtown @ 11 James….”String of Pearls”
Brockville Infantry Encampment on Casino Island
Saturday, August 20th:
10:00am…Childrens Boat, Treasure Chests, & Cannon Crafts @ Scenic View Park Pavilion;
11:00am…Childrens Parade Lineup at Scenic View Park;
11:30am…Children Parade throughout Village;
1:00pm…Capture of Pirate Scouting Party@ Uncle Sam Boat Tours;
2:00pm: PIRATE INVASION
;
3:30pm…Dancing Bear Puppert Theatre presents “The Littlest Pirate”
6:00pm….Melanie Zimmer Storytime
Sunday, August 21st:
11:00am…Live Drill & Demonstration by The Brockville Infantry by Upper James Street docks
2:00pm…Bill Johnstons Pirate Days Grand Parade (school, to Walton, to Church, to Market and back to school)
3:00pm…Parade Winners Announced
