The Pirate Festival took place in September 2016 at Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock. (A great way to travel to that part of the city is by “Razzle Dazzle” ferry boat across the Mersey river to the iconic waterfront)
There was a bizarre parade, lead by drummers, featuring pirates, mermaids and members of the public dressed up in fantastic costumes. It was a free event with plenty of swashbuckling, stunts and breathtaking live action. The tall ship the Phoenix (made famous for her appearance in the hit BBC TV drama Poldark) sailed into the dock. The actors and stuntmen in this free show have worked on the Game of Thrones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter movies.
The main event was a re-enactment of a legendary local tale of the Mermaid of Black Rock who, it is said, lured a Liverpool sailor to his death. There was a Pirate Battle, which had all the spectacular exuberance of a pantomime. This drew crowds of happy people to join in the fun.
There is plenty to see and do in the Albert Dock area: you can climb aboard an authentic steamship, view the weird and wonderful artwork at the Tate Gallery, tour the Liverpool museum, see the Beatles Story or ride on the big wheel for an amazing view of this beautiful city.
The good news is that the event is going to be repeated on 16th and 17th of September 2017!