Dig out the eye patch and dust off the tricorn hat. Weymouth Pirate Fest is back from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th October, with three days of live music, beach skirmishes and pirate mayhem across the town centre.
The organisers describe it as “Dorset’s big October get-together of pirates of every kind, size, age and nuttiness”. That means everyone’s welcome, costume or not, though you’ll stand out more without one!
The Dolmen Pirate Parade
Saturday morning is the big moment. Pirates gather on St Mary Street by The Tin Cat at 11.15am, and the parade sets off behind the drums at 11.30am. Anyone can join in, “in all your ribbons and finery”, so bring the whole crew.
There’s plenty more around the town and harbour all weekend, including reenactors, the Moonfleet tall ship and skirmishes. The Palm House and the new nautical-themed Harbour Club on the Quay are also worth a stop.
Pirate Weekend at Nothe Fort
Little buccaneers can carry on the adventure at Nothe Fort, which is holding its own Pirate Weekend on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October, 10am to 4pm. There’s a treasure hunt, a pirate ship to storm on the Parade Ground, Sink the Ship water cannons, dress-up and family activities, plus chocolate gold coins to win. It’s included in normal admission and free for Annual Pass holders.
Live music all weekend
Hosts The Dolmen head the line-up, with pirate rockabilly from The Wildcats, Hooligan’s Rule, Blinduz! and Mark Loxley. Hardy’s Hophouse is Pirate Fest HQ for the weekend.
Two St Mary Street pubs have their own Pirate Weekend programmes too.
The Black Dog
- Thursday 1 October: Barbara Gasior & Paul Sandt, 9pm
- Friday 2 October (Purple Pirate Day): Ribble Ribble 5pm, Frankie & The Heartless Rogues 7.30pm, Jolly Boys Outing 10pm
- Saturday 3 October: charity stocks 2–6pm, Barbara Gasior 2.30pm, Jack Off 3pm, Reivers Gallows 5pm, Imprints Duo 7.30pm, The Quartermasters 9.30pm
- Sunday 4 October: Aaron & Barbara and the Best Pirate Queen contest from 2pm, Best Pirate King contest 2–3pm, Ribble Ribble 4pm, karaoke 6.30pm
The Tin Cat
- Friday 2 October: Jaunty 6pm, Captain’s Beard 8pm, The Quartermasters 10.30pm
- Saturday 3 October: Captain Jack’s Pirate Party 12.45pm, Nautical Graffiti 2pm, Ribble Ribble 4pm, Pirates of St Piran 6pm, Pronghorn 8.30pm, East Town Pirates 10.30pm
- Sunday 4 October: Ribble Ribble 1pm, Captain’s Beard 3pm, pirate jam session 5pm, Frankie & The Heartless Rogues 8pm
A town-wide treasure hunt
Plenty of town centre businesses join in too, dressing up and handing out gold doubloons and sweets, so keep an eye out as you walk around.
“Pirate Fest is one of those weekends when the whole town joins in,” says Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth. “You’ll see families in eye patches on St Mary Street and bands playing in the pubs, and the parade gets bigger every year. Dig out a tricorn hat and come and join us.”
Need to know
Weymouth Pirate Fest is free to attend and open to all ages. It runs from 3pm on Friday 2nd October to 8pm on Sunday 4th October in Weymouth town centre. The festival is organised by The Dolmen, and We Are Weymouth is a long-standing sponsor and supporter. Donations on the day help keep it going.
For updates, follow Weymouth Pirate Fest and The Dolmen Pirate Parlay on Facebook, or visit weymouthpiratefest.com.
