Seriously, how could you NOT want to party with these folks? You're buying the first round. Photo by Poppa Ratsey, without whom none of us would remember anything about most of these events.

The festivities began “unofficially” on Friday night with the Order of Leviathan Devil’s Dozen Induction Ceremony, which I’ve already discussed extensively. It was a fine, fun time, and an excellent way to start the weekend. Immediately following was Swashbuckler Soiree, only a few blocks away. Where the Induction Ceremony was strictly a pirate audience, the Soiree was a mix of pirates and non-pirates, although most of the non-pirates still did their level best to look pirate-party-appropriate. Local restaurants provided an excellent assortment of food, and music by The Brigands and Inishowen added to the festive atmosphere (The Brigands are a band that I’ve actually played on Bilgemunky Radio for some years now, but I gotta say that if you’ve never seen them live, you’re missing half the fun – no CD can capture the energy of their live performance). While the Soiree lacked the Induction’s exclusive pirate atmosphere, it did allow for a more casual opportunity to meet up with friends before the festival began “in earnest” the following morning.

Being a privateer day, Saturday was the true bulk of the scheduled events. 30 or so vendors were set up in the town square, while the HMS Bounty and the Pride of Baltimore were docked alongside. Two outdoor stages hosted a range of entertainers, including The Brigands, Captain Thomas Flint, the Valhalla Pirates, and some Q&A time with Vince Lozano and Treva Etienne of Pirates of the Caribbean. There was also a first-rate historical encampment, although it was just removed enough from the casual line-of-sight that I worry not all patrons knew to visit it.

As festivals go, Fell’s Point is decent. The vendors were sadly lacking for anyone with much experience in the pirate circuit, being mostly geared to the local family sort of shopper (inflatable swords, scented candles – that sort of thing.) There were a few exceptions worth note, including the Pirates Magazine Booth which featured the wares of several worthy pirate artisans (Baltimore Knife & Sword, Quicksilver’s Pirate Pots, No Quarter Given, etc.) However, what the festival grounds might have lacked, the simple magic of having a few hundred pirates in a waterfront town with a large number of local watering holes more than made up for. Drinking rum all day is great fun, but even more-so when done alongside other piratey sorts that you haven’t seen in years, or are only meeting for the first time.

Bilgemunky and Treva, after a few too many. Photo credit to Kendra Guffey, who likely hoped to extract some sort of blackmail.

Daytime festivities were largely drawn to a close by a ship-to-ship battle between the Bounty and the Baltimore. Being as I was crewing the Baltimore, I can’t say how the skirmish looked from ashore (but I imagine it looked like we pirates handed the navy their royal buttocks on a platter.) Upon docking, precious little time remained to scrounge up some dinner before the evening Pub Crawl began in force. According to the schedule, no less than 17 local bars were participating with drink specials – many of them involving Pussers and Goslings (two of my all-time favorite rums.) The crawl had no central leadership or structure, so pirates were left to wander from bar-to-bar as they saw fit – my own group hit maybe three or four before we began to wonder where the evening had gone, and found ourselves merging with other folks in the middle of the town square to finish off the night (and our bottles) with pirate song, random chatter, and candid pictures that will surely haunt us for the rest of our days.

Fell’s Point Privateer Day (Weekend) was indeed a blast, although I’m unclear as to where the official Festival ended and the Pirates Magazine/Order of Leviathan supplemental events began. For the purposes of 2010 one could merge into the next and it would hardly matter. But last I heard, the Order of Leviathan may well migrate between events for future Induction Ceremonies, and this could spell the difference as to whether Fell’s Point is a must-hit event for the long distance traveller. It was indeed the day and a half of partying that made the weekend so grand, and might well be lacking should Pirates Mag and Leviathan turn their attentions elsewhere in 2011. Or perhaps not, if Fell’s Point manages to expand their format on their own.

Whatever the case, Fell’s Point is definitely one to watch – 2010 was overflowing with piracy, rum, and great times, and it will be worth monitoring how 2011 shapes up over the coming year!

Editorial Comment: Some of ya need remindin’ – the Order of Leviathan is meant to be a position of honor, and one which you all richly deserve. But it doesn’t come with the title of pirate lord, pirate king, or pirate demi-god, so please stop bandying such terms about, lest ya discover that yer not too big for a swift kick in the seat!

Last I checked, the official Fells Point Privateer Day website was still from 2009, but Pirates Magazine has their own info up to date. And don’t let the name fool ya, either – this is a pirate weekend (not a mere privateer “day”.) Oh, and before any of you non-Leviathan sorts need to ask, yes, these events are open to ALL of us. Some are free, and some (Privateer Soiree, cruises) will have admission fees, but I don’t believe any are exclusive to the Devil’s Dozen winners. Keep checking the linked websites for details, and I hope to see  many of you there!

Ahoy mateys!
There be big doin’s afoot here at Pirates Magazine. We’re holding a contest to pick the nation’s best buccaneers. With your help, we’ll scour the globe to find “The Devil’s Dozen”; 13 scallywags that best exemplify the spirit of piracy. That’s right, YOU can join the ranks to be one of the 13 official Pirates Magazine Devil’s Dozen of 2010.

Here’s how the contest works:
If you’re part of a cosplay pirate crew, parade group or a pirate reenactor, send in a photo of your captain along with a short paragraph about him (or her). The editors of Pirates magazine will pick twelve captains from east of the Mississippi and twelve captains from west of the Mississippi (Aye, we’re splittin’ the world right in half like a cutlass through a cooked goose!) to comprise a total of 24 captains from which 13 proud pirates will be picked by their peers and the readers of Pirates magazine via www.piratesmagazine.com. So e-mail a photo and paragraph about your captain to me at: davenichols@piratesmagazine.com

Your entry for the Devil’s Dozen must reach us by:
July 31st, 2009

Watch the Summer 2009 issue of Pirates Magazine to see the 24 captains chosen for step one of this here contest and we’ll fill you in on how you can help pick the final 13!

The identities of the Pirates Magazine “Devil’s Dozen” for 2010 will be revealed at a lavish pirate banquet during next April’s “Fells Point Privateer Day” in Baltimore, Maryland.

If chosen, you will receive that rarest of all prizes, the Pirates Magazine Devil’s Dozen sterling silver ring by Skinny Dog Designs, makers of the Pirates of the Caribbean rings for Disney!

Remember, you must travel to and attend the Fells Point gathering (at your own cost) next year to become one of the “Devil’s Dozen”, and must be willing and able to vote on important issues in the pirate community such as the naming of the 13th member of this foul company. We’ll also present the Pirates Magazine Pirate of the Year for 2010 with “THE GOLDEN HOOK” award!

Sound intriguing? Just think, as one of The “Devil’s Dozen” ye’ll go down in history without having to swing from a gibbet. You’ll also appear on the Pirates Magazine masthead in our prestigious “Order of Leviathan”. So get busy and send in a photo and bio on your captain today so we can run this killer contest up the main mast.

-Dave Nichols

Talderoy adds:

A Custom Sword Cutlass by the Famous Tony Swatton of www.swordandstone.com and one from renowned Matt Stagmer of Baltimore Knife & Sword www.baltimoreknife.com will be presented to the “Devil’s Dozen” and they will then roll dice in pirate fashion for these blades! This is going to be a high quality yearly event, don’t miss the ship on this!

Welcome ye to the “Order of Leviathan” if ye dare!

Keep an eye out, mates – we’ll surely be talking about this more as it comes to fruition. Meantime, these prizes sound pretty sweet. If you think you’re a pirate worth such honor and booty, make sure to get your name in the running