(this event scheduied for Thursday night will be held Friday night on the waterfront at 9 a.m. ....before the fireworks)
Nefarious privateers – that is, PIRATES – are once again massing their forces to disrupt the opening night festivities of Founders Days on July 22.
Forces, loyal to the British Crown, were successful last year in beating back dastardly efforts by a rogue ship of pirates attempting to interrupt the operations of the Shelburne longboats and cause havoc with the New Jersey Volunteers’ encampment.
As a deterrent to any imminent pirate attacks, the Shelburne Longboat Society has requested a warship from the Admiralty to be positioned in the harbour a couple of days prior to Founders’ Days. This warship will provide security and peace of mind for the citizens of Shelburne, and allow the Society and the New Jersey Volunteers to stage an evening of pomp and circumstance worthy of the joyous occasion of the opening night of the annual Founders’ Days festival.
Beginning at 8:45 pm, the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers will present to the public a “sunset ceremony” at the Fishermen’s Memorial after parading from their encampment site to the memorial. Following the ceremony, the regimental troops will parade back to the encampment for an evening of rest and relaxation. Concluding the ceremony, the Shelburne longboats will pass in front of the memorial and salute the audience and the Commanding Officer of the Regiment. The longboats will be accompanied by the Admiral’s personal watercraft. The public is welcome to dress in period costume for the evening, and children dressed in pirate costumes will be invited to parade with the Regiment.
Since all of the longboat and regimental personnel will be occupied with the ceremony, they will have to rely on the assistance of the Town’s good citizens, and the children in particular, who will have to be on the lookout for pirate activity.
If any pirates are indeed spotted, a warning of “THE PIRATES ARE COMING!” must be yelled as loudly as possible to warn the longboats and the Regiment. Should pirates dare to venture into the harbour, the Shelburne longboats and the New Jersey Volunteers will have no choice but to engage those scoundrels in a fierce sea battle - a battle not for the faint of heart that will surely see lots of musket and cannon fire, a burning boat and even a few fireworks.
The opening night festivities on Thursday, July 21 will begin at 8:45 pm on the Town’s waterfront. In case of rain, the events will be held on Friday, July 22nd at 8:45 pm.
The ship attack and burning is sponsored by the Shelburne Longboat Society, Cooke Aquaculture, the Town of Shelburne, Shelburne Founders’ Days, the Shelburne Shipyard, Shelburne Diesel and the Shelburne Volunteer Fire Department. The 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and the Lockeport Rowing Club for will also be taking part.
