The Green Dragon will set sail this weekend during the Pirate Invasion Long Beach, with all things pirates, mermaids, music and more taking over Harry Bridges Memorial Park.
From witnessing a pirate battle with cannons and muskets to singing sea shanties on the main stage, Pirate Invasion Long Beach is an action-packed two-day event with something for everyone, organizers said.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31, at the park, 1126 Queens Highway. The event ends at 9 pm on Saturday and at 8 pm on Sunday. Tickets are sold online, ranging in cost from $5 to $75; you can also buy tickets at the event.
Attendees will have plenty to see and explore.
On the Main Deck Stage, there will be bands playing hard rock and folk metal music, as well as marine shacks. This year, there will be all new acts and stage shows, such as black powder and sword fights, and interactive camps such as the Pirate Camp of the Order of the Leviathan.
On Saturday night there will be a fire show that, according to the organizers, should not be missed.
As one of California’s largest pirate and mermaid festivals, people come from all over dressed in their best costumes to enjoy the festivities; even actors from Disney’s “The Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise attend, according to the festival. web site.
“(Pirate Invasion) is fun to see in the middle of summer, people dressed up outside of Halloween,” said Jesel Ortloff, event production coordinator at Beach Ventures, which organizes the festival. “You can see all these people and they’re all in such good character. I mean you’d really believe you’re surrounded by real pirates.”
The festival is special because it creates an opening in the pirate community so that everyone is welcome, said Lycan Hunt, executive assistant of Pirate Invasion.
“What also makes us unique,” he said, is “we focus on the fantasy, the romanticism that people love about pirates, and we encourage people to have fun.”
For visitors who want a closer encounter with pirate adventures and entertainment, there will be a VIP area to mingle with the best of the pirate community, sit in shaded pavilions and get up close to the main stage and cannon battles, and get to know Johnny Depp’s look. -equal and substitute, Ronnie Rodríguez.
Pirate Invasion is also known for its Mermaid Cove.
Attendees can meet the “newts” who have made it to land while taking photos and hearing stories of their adventures.
It’s a great place at the event for kids who want to see beautiful mermaids, Ortloff said.
Mermaid cove is hosted by Merman Jax and run by Mermaid Kairi, and there will be a recreation area for everyone who wants to enjoy the event as a mermaid or mermaid. Donations collected at the cove will help support the annual fundraiser for sharks through the Aquarium of the Pacific, according to the festival. web site.
Children can also enjoy a range of other activities including face painting, crafts, bounce houses and slides. The kids’ zone will be the largest the event has ever had, Ortloff said.
Vendor booths will offer a wide selection of pirate-themed apparel and merchandise, as well as different food and rum bars to complete the pirate experience.
The pirate invasion started at Belmont Pier and has now grown to where thousands of pirates, mermaids and costumed guests come to enjoy a summer day by the sea.
Fred Khammar, founder of Pirate Invasion Long Beach and other well-known events in the city, wanted the event to be family-friendly and fun. This year’s event will continue that tradition, Ortloff said.
“My dad, this was one of the things that he had always envisioned, bringing families together and something that families could do here in Long Beach as a family together,” she said. “Some fun stuff for the adults, and some fun stuff for the kids and they can spend the whole day together.”
For more ticket information, visit the Pirate Invasion Long Beach website at pirateinvasionlongbeach.com.
