The second annual Tennessee Pirate Fest is on the horizon. This regional daytime family friendly costume-play event is being produced by Darkhorse Entertainment, LLC. The Fest will be held at the Tennessee Medieval Faire site in Harriman, just 30 miles west of Turkey Creek. Patrons will feel transported to the fictional town of Port Royale in the Tortugas, circa 1700-1800’s.
“Our first Pirate Fest was well-received. So, this year we have added more fun activities and entertainment and expanded the site. We are throwing a pirate party, and everyone is invited,” said Barrie Paulson, VP-Manager and Entertainment Director.
Patrons are encouraged to dress in costume and enter the Costume Contest to win a prize. There will be two categories, ages 5-12 and 13+, and winners will be decided by audience applause. New this year is the Pirate Gong Show where patrons are encouraged to share their talents onstage. Also new is the Trail of Doom, a 7-10 minute walk in the woods with humorous pirate displays and interactive characters. Other free activities include porthole (corn hole), volleyball, tetherball, stocks, and steel drum. There will be other games to play for $1 each and a treasure hunt for $2.
Professional entertainment will include Irish, Celtic, Pirate, and Caribbean music by The Muckers, Three of The Lost Boys, Henry Culpeper, Patrick Compton, and PanEZ Steelband. Interactive comedy shows will include Einstein Simplified (performing as Blackbeard Simplified), 3 RRR’s, and Fools Gold Pyrates.
There will also be Children’s Shows, the Governor’s Variety Show, and Kombat Kroquet performed by interactive street characters. On Saturday patrons will be invited to participate in a maypole dance led by Lark in the Morn English Country Dancers. An entertainment schedule will be available online as well as at the entrance.
Merchants will help create the village by selling custom crafts, festival food, and cold beverages (including beer--21+ years with valid ID). Vendor applications are available on the festival website under the vendor tab.
The Pirate Fest will be held on October 7 & 8, from 11am-6pm ET -- rain or shine. Ticket prices are $16 for ages 13+, $8 for ages 5-12, and will be free for ages 4 and under. Parking is free, and tickets may be purchased with cash or credit at the ticket house on show days. Patrons are encouraged to bring cash for their convenience.
The festival is located at 550 Fiske Road, Harriman, TN (about 1 mile Southeast of Hwy 27). Festival rules exclude sharp weapons or loaded guns (stage weapons must be sheathed and zip-tied), pets (service animals only), outside food or drinks, visibly intoxicated persons, and onsite patron camping. For a list of local accommodations, please visit www.roanetourism.com/stay/list/. For more information on the festival, please visit www.TNPirateFest.com.
