The New England Pirate Faire which ran last weekend (August 11-12), drew some of the largest crowds in the park's 82-year history with well over 1,000 people in attendance over the two-day weekend, according to David Goss, Director of Museum Studies and Scholar-in-Residence with the Institute for Public History at Gordon College. This in spite of the somewhat dodgy weather forecasts for both days.
Crowds of people, many of them families with young children, came from as far away as New Jersey to celebrate all things piratical. The combination of scripted scenario, variety acts, merchants and food vendors, plus the historical setting of Pioneer Village itself, helped to make the weekend a success.
Talks are already underway for a 2013 show.
Salem did not have many pirates. Only Privateers! Now the difference from a pirate and a privateer, a piece of paper. Plus privateers were far more ruthless. They knew you can rob more money with a piece a paper than a sword alone. In Salem they included Joseph White, Elias Hasket Derby, Joseph Peabody, Simon Forrester, and many more. Plus what made them even cooler was they had smuggling tunnels all throughout Salem so they did not have to pay taxes to the British. There is this great Salem walking tour about it. Plus there is a great book called Salem Secret Underground:The History of the Tunnels in the city about it.
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