Dressing up for the Pirate Festival

What do I wear?

Many people choose to dress up to attend The Pirate Festival, which we love – it is great way to show your love of all things piratical. Putting on a costume can help you feel part of the action in a whole new way – whether you are dressing up as a family, forming your own band of pirates with friends, or simply wearing that “Ahoy” shirt that has been tucked into the back of a drawer! The important thing is that you are comfortable, so always take the weather into consideration when planning – and please remember to keep it family-friendly! For those who want the assurance that they won’t feel “silly” in their wardrobe choices, here are a few ideas – mix & match, or just do a piece or two, or go all out – whatever you choose, you will fit right in!

Remember that there are a wide variety of vendors at the Pirate Festival that carry excellent options for shirts, bodices, pants, skirts, hats and many other accessories that will allow you to build your own unique ensemble – pieces that are not available in stores. Halloween style pirate costumes are available in many stores – a quick solution, but you may see someone dressed very similarly to yourself! Most pirates like to express themselves through their clothing – so have some fun – it is almost impossible to go over the top!

Historically, Pirates tended to wear the fashion of the day – and while most pirate movies display a certain flamboyant style, most pirates probably would have tried to blend in a little more. For those who prefer a more historically accurate portrayal – The Pirate festival spans many cultures and years in history so any pieces reflecting clothing between the years of 1550 up to about 1790 will fit in very well, and whether you choose to portray Pirates, Navy, Mercenaries, or common folk, you will fit right in! Of course the pirate festival is all about fun, and so whether you choose to wear historically inspired garments, or take a cue from the movies, you will have a wonderful time! We are always delighted to see crossover genres at the pirate festival as well – so feel free to wear medieval, renaissance, or even Steampunk garb to the Pirate Festival if that is your particular flavour of fun!

For the closet raiders & thrift store shoppers:

Hats – look for something with a brim to protect your face from the sun – traditionally pirates are know for wearing large hats with a side (or 3) pulled up, and often ornamented with bunches of feathers. Either felt or straw make excellent choices.

Bandanas – the brighter the better – look for non winter scarves, or bandanas to wrap around your head, or waist as a belt. 

Shirts – big baggy shirts are a great option, and few ruffles (80’s fashion, anyone?) will fit right in. The colour is completely optional – white & black are usually the most popular. Remember that some fabrics (cotton, for example) are more summer friendly than others. T shirts – especially stripes automatically bring to mind nautical themes. Sleeves are optional – pirates did not have dress codes (but the navy did!) so perhaps a dress shirt without collar & sleeves may be an option for you.

Vest / Bodice / Jackets – Always optional – vests are appropriate for both men & women, and cooler than jackets. Some ladies prefer a bodice (like a fitted vest), or a corset style of top. Pirate coats are more difficult to find – but also hotter to wear! Vests and bodices are a great way to display some colour in your ensemble!

Belts – anything with big buckles, or scarves as sashes work well! Try looping a belt over a shoulder to make a bandoleer.

Pants / Skirt – these can be short or long! For pants, sailors tended to wear a wider pant (although Errol Flynn certainly liked his tights!) Some ladies like to layer a few skirts on top of each other, pulling up the outer one on one side to show off the lower layers.

Footwear – keep in mind that the Pirate Festival is an outdoor venue – grass covered for the most part. Boots are popular (but hot!), but sandals were also often worn on board ship.

A quick reminder about weapons – many pirates enjoy the opportunity to wear a weapon – please ensure you check our  Weapon Policy for a detailed description of what is acceptable. Parents – if you choose to equip your children with toy weapons, please ensure your children understand how to act responsibly – even a foam sword can be wielded improperly and cause injuries!

 Maybe dressing up isn’t your thing – you can still enjoy The Pirate Festival in your “normal” clothes! Dress for the weather – and remember that August is usually quite warm - we work hard to provide plenty of shade – at stages, for lunch, and in the tavern, but many guests find a hat and some sunscreen go a long way to making their day pleasant!

We are looking forward to seeing you at The Pirate Festival!