Shake a peg leg

“We?re celebrating Fells Point?s maritime history,” said Jason Sullivan, executive director of the Fells Point Development Corporation. “Last year was fun ? but this year, we?re going to blow you away with all of our activities.”

Privateers were a form of “legal pirates” ? they were authorized by a country?s government to attack foreign ships, keeping most of the bounty for themselves and handing over a certain percentage to the government. In the War of 1812, privateers living in Fells Point helped the U.S. Navy fight off the British ? the reason behind celebrating Fells Point Privateer Day.

“This year, we?re getting much more toward the historical side of privateers and what they had to do with breaking the British blockades,” Sullivan said. “We even have a living history camp to show how privateers lived, the kind of food they ate.”

The Fells Point Privateer Day and the Baltimore Pyrate Invasion were two separate events until two years ago. “They both have a piratical theme to them, so we decided to join them together as one big day,” said Ken Miller, an organizer of the Baltimore Pyrate Invasion.

During the day, Fells Point will be invaded by several ships offering free onboard tours, including The Pride of Baltimore II, the Skipjack Martha Lewis and the Black-Eyed Susan. Family-friendly activities include historical re-enactments, live music, storytelling and costume contests. A sea battle with cannon fire and sword fighting takes place at 5:30 p.m.

The Pyrate Invasion begins at 6 p.m. with 18 participating bars, pubs and restaurants around Broadway Square.

Miller said there are already pyrate wannabes coming from as far away as Ohio, Vermont and Connecticut. “Our slogan is ?Embrace your inner pyrate,? so we want people to come out, tie a bandanna around their head and throw in a gold earring. The bars will be full of pyrates, and it?s going to be a blast.”

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