Pirates to Invade Ocracoke

ARRRRRGH you ready?

Join us Oct. 25 to 28 for living history exhibits, ship battles, sword fights, historical talks, rowdy songs, food, drinks and more!

Chart your course for the Ocracoke Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of Blackbeard’s historic last battle directly off the shores of Ocracoke Island. From October 25 –28, 2018, step back in time with the sights and sounds of 17th- and 18th-century pirate life as Ocracoke Island comes alive with pirate reenactment crews as they invade by land and sea. The whole family can enjoy musical entertainment, magic shows, living-history exhibits, period encampments, food and craft vendors and a live three-ship battle with cannons on Silver Lake. The event is free to attend, except for a few ticketed events.

This year’s event, sponsored by the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association, is expanded to four days, starting Thursday evening through lunch on Sunday. The event kicks off Thursday night at the Berkley Barn with a lecture by historian and researcher Kevin Duffus discussing “Was Blackbeard Really Murdered?”, rollicking tunes from pirate band the Motley Tones, and delicious hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine and dessert. Tickets for “A Historically Fun Evening with Kevin Duffus and the Motley Tones” can be purchased online or at the door.

Named Historian of the Year in 2014 by the North Carolina Society of Historians, Duffus has done extensive research with primary sources over many decades to discover the true origins of the man called Blackbeard, detailed in his book“The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate.” Duffus’s talk will focus on the political motivations back then.

Among the weekend activities include Brigand’s Bazaar vendor fair, featuring over 25 regional arts & crafts vendors. Find succulent victuals from local and regional purveyors including local eateries and breweries at the food court; street mistrals singing seafaring tavern songs, sword fight demonstrations, pirate magic shows and skits, merchandise commemorating this special year and an expanded living history encampment on the Berkley Manor grounds.

These historically accurate camps teach about the 17th- and 18th-century maritime heritage, from navigation, weaving and cooking to ship board medicine and hygiene.

The centerpiece event Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor will recreate Blackbeard and Maynard’s three-ship battle.

The Jamboree will conclude with the memorial to both Blackbeard’s and Maynard’s crews Sunday morning at 10 with a march from Blackbeard’s Lodge to the beach at Springer’s Point. Lunch with the Pirates will follow at noon in OcracokeOyster Company. A brief schedule is below, and a detailed program of events is available on the island in the Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree Program and online at www.visitocracokenc.com.

2018 Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 25

7 to 10 pm: Historically Fun Night at Berkley Barn with heavy hors d’oeuvres, food, beer & wine featuring historianKevin Duffus “Was Blackbeard Murdered?” and the Motley Tones with a night of rollicking piratical music and fun.Ticketed event: $50 per person. Purchase online at visitocracokenc.com

3 pm to 2 am: Ocracoke Bar & Grille: "Blackbeard's Kill Devil Rum Garden" 

Friday, Oct. 26

11 am to 5 pm: The Pirate Encampment at Berkley Manor grounds: Living history colonial life /pirate encampment, all day plus special events

11 am to 5 pm: Community Square: Information, Jamboree merchandise, food court & beer garden, featuring beer from 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, Outer Banks Brewing Station and Lost Colony Brewery

11 am to 5 pm: Brigands Bazaar at the Wahab House Lawn. A marketplace of seafaring fine arts, wares, books and more!11 am to 5 pm View the Pirate Ships

• “The Meka II” and a Coast Guard Cutter at the NPS docks• “The Ranger” at the Wahab House docks

11am: The Kings Rangers Muster! Drills: Pike, Cutlass and Long Gun: Cannons fire as we kick off a great festival at the King’s Rangers encampment Wahab House dockside!

Books to Be Red Stage

12:30 pm: What Was Blackbeard Doing at Ocracoke? Author and Historian, Kevin Duffus

1 pm: The Shadow Players Stage Combat sword fighting

1:30 pm: The Motley Tones: Family show: Sea shanties, pub songs

2:30 pm: Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers. A wild band of Nashville musicians who dress like pirates and play a rollicking mix of piratical sing-alongs, rave-ups, rock and more.

3 pm Zillie’s: Freakin’ Firkin Heavy Seas keg tapping
3 pm to 2 am: Ocracoke Bar & Grille: "Blackbeard's Kill Devil Rum Garden" plus Pirate duo Crossjacks, 8 pm3:30 pm: The Pirates invade the encampment!
Ocracoke Community Center
$5 per person. Non-alcoholic refreshments.

6 to 9 pm: Family Night

6 to 9 pm: Meet the Pirates

6:30 pm Captain Jim Magic Show

Berkley Barn

7:30 pm-9 pm: Meet the Pirates, sponsored by 1718 Brewing Ocracoke$10 Admission. Cash Bar with Beer and Refreshments

8 pm: The Motley Tones
8:30 pm: Will the Real Blackbeard Please Stand Up? What happens when three men portray themselves as

Blackbeard but only one them is the real notorious pirate while the other two are imposters?

8 pm: Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers. A wild band of Nashville musicians who dress like pirates and play a rollicking mix of piratical sing-alongs, rave-ups, rock and more.

Saturday, Oct. 27

10am-5pm: Community Square: Info, Pirate Jamboree merchandise; Food court & beer garden, featuring beer from 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, Outer Banks Brewing Station and Lost Colony Brewery

10am-5pm: Pirate Encampment Berkley Manor grounds: Living history colonial/pirate encampment, all day plus special events

10am-5pm: Brigands Bazaar at the Wahab House Lawn10am-5pm: View the Pirate Ships

• “The Meka II” and a Coast Guard Cutter at the NPS docks• “The Ranger” at the Wahab House docks

2 pm The three-ship Battle of Ocracoke, Silver Lake Harbor

Books to Be Red Stage

11 am: Meet Black Beard!

11:30 am: The Shadow Players Stage Combat sword fighting

Noon: What was Blackbeard doing at Ocracoke? Kevin Duffus

1 pm: Captain Jim Magic Show

3:30 pm: The Motley Tones: Family show: Sea shanties, pub songs

4:30 pm: Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers. A wild band of Nashville musicians who dress like pirates and play a rollicking mix of piratical sing-alongs, rave-ups, rock and more.

Ocracoke Oyster Co.

5:30 pm The Shadow Players Stage Combat Group8 pm Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers
Berkley Barn

8 pm Bawdy Beer Garden, sponsored by 1718 Brewing Ocracoke. A vivacious and informal round-robin exchange of bawdy songs that date back hundreds of years is sure to make you blush. Refreshments.

Other Events around town

3 pm to 2 am: Ocracoke Bar & Grille: "Blackbeard's Kill Devil Rum Garden" Pirate duo Crossjacks, 8 pm $5 Admission. Cash Bar with Beer

7pm Magic Bean Haunted House

8 pm Ocracoke Alive: A Tale of Blackbeard musical, Ocracoke School gym. $15 Adults, $7 Kids. Tickets at the door or online at http://www.ocracokealive.org.

9 pm Gaffer’s: Train Wreck & Annual Costume Party, Alice in Wonderland ThemeSunday, Oct. 28

10 am Springer’s Point Memorial Service for those killed in Blackbeard’s Last Battle. Join with us as the Pirate andMilitia Crews march to beautiful Springer’s Point to honor those who perished on that fateful day, Nov. 22, 1718. TheMilitia’s cannons will kick off the march at Blackbeard’s Lodge. Join in at any point along the route.

Noon - Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Lunch with the Pirates. Join us in closing out the festival at a rousing brunch with the Pirates. Your chance to sit down with our Pirate Crews and enjoy a great meal.

Ocracoke’s Jamboree is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources promotions this 300th anniversary year.

The Hyde County Tram System will also operate throughout the Jamboree weekend from 10 am – 9 pm, taking visitors around to tram stops throughout the village.

Public parking is available at the NPS Visitors lot at the south end of the island, 4352 Irvin Garrish Highway. For more information, contact 252-928-6711 or email info@visitocracokenc.com
For details about Ocracoke’s Jamboree, visit the events page at www.visitocracokenc.com.
Like us on Facebook for more updates: https://www.facebook.com/BlackbeardsPirateJamboree.

Get your official 300th Anniversary Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree merchandise in our online store. Items include T-Shirts, Moscow Mule Barrel Mugs, and Tank Tops. If you are not an OCBA member, you can check out as a guest. To purchase, please visit business.visitocracokenc.com/store/.

To learn about all that’s going on celebrating Blackbeard statewide, visit the website www.ncdcr.gov/bb300.