Keelhaul Productions presents pirate-themed event in Guelph
The Pirate Festival celebrated its tenth year of swashbuckling fun, offering ordinary citizens a trip back in time for a weekend of treasure hunting and pillaging the Seven Seas. The festival was originally held in Fort York, then Milton’s Country Heritage Park, and this year marked its first time at Guelph’s Marden Park from July 30 to August 1. The Pirate Festival was organized by Anthony DeCoppi of Keelhaul Productions, which specializes in interactive theatre experiences.
The Ontarion spoke to DeCoppi at the event who said that festivals like this are important to the wider community because “they’re not too expensive, they’re outdoors, and they support local artists.”
“A lot of our vendors actually make everything by hand, and a lot of them are from the community,” said DeCoppi. “It’s a way of promoting the arts, but also a way of stepping out of your comfort zone because we invite you to come and participate as opposed to you coming as […] a customer.”
The festival programming was jam-packed with three shows going on at any given time, in addition to the costumed actors, games, and musical entertainment. The Pirate Festival was an event for all ages but, despite the kid-friendly games, the content of some of the performances catered towards an older demographic.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all three days, the festival offered pirate-themed games for kids such as Krakens and Riggin’ (a life-sized, pirate-themed Snakes and Ladders) and family-friendly entertainment (such as Prior and Sons Mudpit).
Zoltan the Adequate entertained the audience with better-than-adequate illusions, such as eating fire, swallowing a balloon, and hacking into his own arm. Much of the commentary during his show contained sexual content and politically questionable statements, though no one seemed particularly put off by these instances.
From 7 p.m. until close on the first day of the festival, patrons were offered an “adult party” called the Captain’s Keg.
At the Captain’s Keg, the lyrics became raunchier after a quick warning about content followed by what was announced as “a song about oral sex.” The Pub Sing-Along, for which songbooks were handed out to kids and their parents, consisted of a series of sex and impregnation puns.
While the festival was for all ages and offered a range of family friendly fun and games, the knavish spirit of the high seas was ever present. Those who are faint of heart in the face of the politically incorrect may not find this festival to be their cup of rum but those who appreciate sexual innuendo, raunchy lyrics, and being transported to a fantastical time may enjoy themselves immensely.