First Pirate Festival to be featured at Buckeye Lake area this May
HEBRON -- A new Buckeye Lake Pirate Festival will be hosted in the region on Saturday, May 18, 2024. It will officially open in the Village of Buckeye Lake at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 17, with a ribbon cutting and a sneak peak of the Pirate Marketplace.
Pirate Marketplace
The Pirate Marketplace will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and will be held at "Port Royal," which is located at the Harbor Community Center at 5312 Walnut Road, Buckeye Lake.
The Pirate Marketplace will feature over 60 vendors and free family and children's' entertainment throughout the day. The Northern Exposure Landship (Ripley's) "World's Tallest ArrVee" will be 'docked' in front of the Pirate Marketplace. A portion of the Marketplace Tradeshow proceeds will benefit the Harbor Community Center.
Treasure Hunt by Land & Sea
On Saturday, May 18, there will be a Pirate Treasure Hunt by Land & Sea. There will be special Treasure Hunt Maps available at Port Royal and 40 participating businesses (while supplies last). The maps will list area locations where adults may enter a drawing to win a Treasure Chest along with contents valued at $150+; no purchase is necessary. There are 40 Treasure Chests (one for each participating business) that will be given away on the following day.
Special Event Tours
On Saturday, May 18, there will be 13 Special Event Tours offered by select businesses in the area - where people can participate in mini-hunts with special interest groups. These Treasure Hunt Tours include a "Steampunk Whistle Stop Tour," "Shop and Dine with a Mermaid" as well as tours for watercrafts: Kayaks and Stand-Up Paddleboards, pontoon boats, Sea-Doo Switch & Sea-Doo personal watercrafts and other vehicles including golf cars, motorcycles, Side-by-Sides (ATVs), Jeeps, and Trucks.
Community support
Community support for the family-friendly Buckeye Lake Pirate Festival has been overwhelmingly positive. In a recent interview with Tim Rader of Mid Ohio Golf Cars, he said "We are very pleased and excited to welcome the Buckeye Lake Pirate Fest in our community. This will be a fun day in the area and is expected to attract guests to the region which will be great for local businesses as a boost to sales revenue just prior to Memorial Day".
Cindy Disbennett, owner of the Mill Dam Corner Grille, said, "We are so excited to be part of this exciting event in the Buckeye Lake region! Pirate Fest is similar to Winterfest but warmer! Like many area businesses: we'll have our award-winning staff, and Distorted Silence Band, dressed as Pirates, Steampunks and Mermaids to get all into the spirit! The Mill Dam Corner Grille is featuring Breakfast with Pirates, also Scurvy Dogs, Peg Leg (wings) Fish & Chips & Rum Runners! We are also hosting the Jeep Tour kickoff at 11 a.m. with live music on the huge covered patio at 3!"
The Buckeye Lake Pirate Festival
The Buckeye Lake Pirate Festival is produced by Buckeye Events, which is owned by partners Kelly and Neena Collins of Hebron. The Collins met with several area business owners in 2023 to discuss ways of generating early season revenue by promoting a free event for locals and visitors to the Buckeye Lake area.
The concept was inspired by the annual Buckeye Lake Winterfest, which is held in late January, that draws thousands of people to local establishments to celebrate winter and early spring with festive adult-oriented activities. Given that the weather should be warmer in May: plans were made to create an event that was family-friendly in the region with lots of adult-oriented fun as well.
Major Pirate Fest Sponsors include The Island House, Mill Dam Corner Grille, Papa Boo's, Kool 101.7 FM WNKO, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Lynn Tramontano and Buckeye Lake Boater Training.
Please visit the website www.BuckeyeLakePirateFest.com for additional information
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Buckeye Lake area to play host to first ever Pirate Festival this May
