PHOTO GALLERY: Pirate's Day in Barnegat A Success, Despite Some Windy Conditions
Event drew about 150 vendors from all over the area
Photos
The wind gusted and sent some of the vendor tents flying like a pirate ship's sail, but the winds and a little bit of rain did not stop Barnegat's Annual Pirate's Day event from being a hit with visitors.
Thousands came out to the event yesterday, which features everything from food, to music, to singing pirates.
Barnegat Chamber of Commerce President Ginny Melchiondo said this year's event attracted about 150 vendors, who, despite some wind gusts that blew tents around, managed to have a great day.
Pirate historian and children's book author Steve Buckley came up from Maryland to share his Blackbear the Pirate books. He said he was very pleased with the turnout and was eager to share some local pirate lore with locals.
Buckley said one of the characters in his book, La Kidd, is actually named after William Captain Kidd, who is famed for depositing some of his treasures on Gardiners Island, and has been linked with the "buried" treasure lore surrounding many pirates.
Marcie Smith, of Stafford, brought her two boys, four-year-old Chase and 20-month-old Carter, because she said Chase loves Pirates of the Caribbean and other pirate stories. Chase, wearing face paint that gave him a skeleton appearance, watched happily as people dressed up like pirates sang and entertained the crowds.
One of the "pirates," Marauding Maeve from Munster, also known as Patch blogger Frances Avnet from Long Island, said she's been attending events like these for years, and loves to attend and entertain crowds.
"I travel to festivals all over," she said, waving at a crowd of passersby and bidding a jolly "ahoy!"
The event is made possible through a joint sponsorship between the Barnegat Chamber of Commerce and the Barnegat Recreation Department.
Mike Howard
7:07 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I spent hours at Pirates Day and had a great time. As I walked around I met old friends, made new friends, heard the bands and just enjoyed people watching. A short period of rain and a gusting wind didn't stop everyone from having a great day.
Mike Howard
8:00 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I wasn't going to make this comment, but I just have to. The Town put a great face on for Pirates Day except for one big faw, The Cox House. As I stood across Rt.9 in the park, I couldn't believe the condition of this once great house. As I checked further,I found, not only is this Township property in need of major work, but it no longer has electricial service going to it. Barnegat taxpayers can not afford to make the repairs that would cost us hundreds of thousands of dollar. so the Committee is just letting this once grand building fall appart. The Township Committee should turn this historic building back to the County or to the family that donated it to Barnegat. I've hear some say that the Cox House should be repaired using Open Space money. Well that is not the proper money to fund the repairs even if there were enough in the fund to do so. Turn it over to the county, so the repairs can be made using money from all Ocean County residence rather then just the 22000 Barnegat residence. The Cox House is becoming a black eye in what is the Barnegat Town Center. We, along with the Cox House deserve better then that.
charles o'connell
1:34 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
i would rather the money come out of the open space money , then it be used for fireworks at pirates day like it was last year . since they got caught with their pants down last year, when it was revealed, where the open space money went , it was good to see that the money was not used for that this year . can only imagine on what that money is being spent on this year, since no one is being held accountable.
clyde
1:54 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I have to say I stumbled on this event on Saturday. What a disaster !! I live in Brick & never saw a sign about that part of the road ahead (bay ave) being closed. One lonely officer directing traffic on Rt 9. That was the most unorganized event I have seen recently. How about a few signs directing me toward parking instead of a free for all. I saw 3 or 4 do not park here signs but not one of where parking was permitted.
Rick
11:16 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
It's nice to know that there is never any traffic congestion in Brick.
BeyondReality
5:01 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I dont think it was disorganized at all. The officers did a good job directing traffic, there was never to big of a backup beyond what is to be expected. The shuttle bus and parking had been well advertised for this event and I did say a sign that said parking. The fact that there was no fireworks was the only let down but honestly weather wouldnt have permitted for it anyway.
God Bless America
11:37 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
It's just the fleecing of the taxpayer. The police have milked a nice overtime paycheck off of this every year. Public works manpower down the drain. The open space fund was raided to pay expenses. The guy from Brick is lucky, he didn't have to pay for this disaster... The foolish tax payers of Barnegat did.