Friday, April 24
12 NOON – Pirate Tattoo Flash Sale
Salem Ink Tattoo & Art Gallery, 201 Derby Street
Our crew of rogue tattoo artists will be slingin’ bold, maritime & pirate-inspired flash! Flash pieces available for $65 & $125. Arms & legs only. Cash only— treasure also may apply. First come, first served—no reservations, no mercy!
6 PM – Kickoff Celebration
Salem Waterfront Hotel, 225 Derby Street
Details TBD.
6 PM – Irish Music & Songs of the Sea
O’Neill’s Irish Pub, 120 Washington Street
Musicians Larry Young & Jeremy John Bell, with special guests “Scurvy Fellows, Indeed,” present a lively program of traditional music.
6 PM – Pirate Pub Crawl
Downtown Salem
Join your hearties for a tour of Salem’s dockside grog shops, with a special themed cocktail at each location. Get your map at Mainstay Social in the Salem Waterfront Hotel.
Saturday, April 25
10 AM – Opening Ceremonies
Charlotte Forten Park, 289 Derby Street
Captains Bellamy & Turner want you to join their crews! Will you seek freedom on the high seas as a pirate, or protect Salem’s waterfront as a pirate hunter?
ALL DAY:
Recruiting Station
Charlotte Forten Park, 289 Derby Street
Whichever team you join, make the recruiting station your first stop. Pick up your treasure map, chat with the captains, and learn more about the event.
Pirate Fun & Games
Charlotte Forten Park, 289 Derby St
Join Real Pirates Salem and The Rogue’s Armada for games, contests, a little bit of shopping, and assorted mischief throughout the day.
Curing the Scurvy Pirate
Charlotte Forten Park, 289 Derby St
The real scourge of the high seas was scurvy. Learn more about this mysterious disease, its causes, and the remedies seafarers used to fight it.
Local Intelligence
Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 160 Derby Street
Got a question? Ask a local! The Historic Derby Street Neighborhood Association will be on hand all day to assist sailors lost at sea.
Maritime History & Crafts
Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 160 Derby Street
Maritime culture is full of traditions and craftsmanship! Drop by Salem National Historical Park to learn new nautical skills, including making rope and creating your own fish print.
Live Music
Charlotte Forten Park, Salem Maritime National Historical Park, & Salem Wax
Enjoy sea shanties and more from Crowninshield Punch, Audi & Peter Souza, and Allysen Callery.
Derby Street Merchants
Use your treasure map to explore the businesses along Derby Street & Pickering Wharf. Many merchants will have activities, photo ops, and decorations for the weekend.
Food & Drink Specials
Fresh seafood and delicious rum have been Salem specialties for over 400 years. We also have everything from pizza to pastries to tempt your tastebuds. Visit one of our many restaurants and taverns for a hearty meal and a specialty cocktail.
Attractions
Explore New England’s nautical history at local museums and historic sites: see the Public Stores & Scale House at Salem Maritime National Historical Park; mingle with accused witches and notorious seafarers at Salem Wax; hear legends of pirates past at the Spirits of Salem Museum; touch Capt. Bellamy’s pirate treasure at Real Pirates Salem; and tour Capt. Turner’s impressive historic mansion, The House of the Seven Gables.
12 NOON – Pirate Tattoo Flash Sale
Salem Ink Tattoo & Art Gallery, 201 Derby Street
Our crew of rogue tattoo artists will be slingin’ bold, maritime & pirate-inspired flash! Flash pieces available for $65 & $125. Arms & legs only. Cash only— treasure also may apply. First come, first served—no reservations, no mercy!
12 – 4 PM – Hands-On History
The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street
Try your hand at the skills of a seagoing merchant like John Turner, and take part in ocean-themed activities for the young and young-at-heart.
12 – 4 PM – Far From the Tree Pop-Up
The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street
Relax on The Gables’ seaside lawn with a hard cider purchased from Salem cider house Far From the Tree, onsite all afternoon.
1 PM – “Salem Pirates, Ghost Ships & Sea Legends” Walking Tour for Kids & Families
Leaving from Real Pirates Salem, 285 Derby Street
Ahoy, young explorers! Set off on a walking tour through Salem and discover real stories from its seafaring past. We’ll search for true tales of daring sailors, mysterious shipwrecks, lost and found treasure, and even a ghost ship. Best for ages 6-14, tickets $18, available at www.salemkidstours.com.
2 PM – “Black Flags, Blue Waters” with Eric Jay Dolin
The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street
Join bestselling author Eric Jay Dolin for a journey through the history of piracy in North America, with a special focus on New England stories. After the talk, Dolin will sign copies of his book Black Flags, Blue Waters—available for purchase in the museum store.
4 PM – The Final Showdown
The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street
The captains face off once and for all on the seaside lawn. Cheer on your side and watch the drama unfold. After the battle, we will draw winners from the completed treasure maps to go home with plunder from Salem merchants.
6 PM – Saturday Night Pirate Pub Crawl
Downtown Salem
Join your hearties for a tour of Salem’s dockside grog shops, with a special themed cocktail at each location. Get your map at Mainstay Social in the Salem Waterfront Hotel.
7 PM – Dead Men Tell Bad Jokes: A Comedy Show
The Lost Library, 282 Derby Street
In collaboration with Witch City Comedy, this pirate-themed stand-up show brings a shipload of comedians ready to unleash their saltiest, silliest, and most unhinged material. Pirate costumes highly encouraged — come dressed to impress the captain! Tickets $25, available at www.salemwaxmuseum.com.
Sunday, April 26
ALL DAY – Whydah Day
Real Pirates Salem, 285 Derby Street
Commemorate the anniversary of the wreck of Sam Bellamy’s Whydah Gally in 1717 with discounted admission to the Real Pirates Salem museum, featuring artifacts and treasure recovered from the wreck site. At 10 am, the museum will host a moment of silence for local seafarers lost at sea, and their families, in Charlotte Forten Park.
3 PM – Chantey Night Pub Sing
East Regiment Brewing Company, 30 Church Street
Haven’t been to a pub sing? Join the fun of easy, repetitive songs that make it simple to learn and join in! Hear some old worker chants, pirate songs, songs that originated in Salem & more!
A special thanks to our partners & sponsors
