It will be pirates versus pilots at Harbour Grace summer festival
By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Harbour Grace’s annual Pirates to Pilots Festival begins Friday, July 18 and will run until Sunday, July 27.
“This pirate festival used to happen back historically and was pretty significant,” said Christina Hearn, a community volunteer and the secretary and communications officer of the Harbour Grace Board of Culture, Innovation, and Business. “They used to have pirates coming in on the boats and cannons firing off. That was back in the heyday, so we’re not there yet, but this is the third year now back since COVID, and each year we’re growing it.”
Hearn says the festival organizers aim to include people of all ages in the celebrations in some way during the 10 days of festivities.
“That’s what our focus is,” she said. “We try to have something each day during that period of time so that if you can’t get to the big pieces, at least you’ll be able to pick up on some of the cultural heritage here in the community that we already know is very extensive, but is not always highlighted in day-to-day living.”
The organizers try to hold events throughout the community. The festival will begin with an opening concert at the Old Court House, one of the community’s most historical buildings. It will take place at 8:00 p.m. on July 18.
Hearn said the festival gets a lot of support from local businesses, such as R. Tetford and Sons, the major sponsor for the opening concert. The event is also being sponsored by MusicNL.
“We try to keep everything to just enough fees to cover our expenses. It’s not about making any money or anything,” said Hearn.
The admission cost for most events is minimal, if not free.
On July 19, the Pirates’ Landing and children’s activities session will be held at S.W. Moores Memorial Park from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is sponsored by Harbour Grace Ocean Industries. There will also be a guided hike of Gibbet Hill sponsored by the Town. If the weather is suitable, the 4th Annual Kite Festival will be held on July 20 at the Harbour Grace Airstrip from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the case of rain it will be rescheduled to July 27. The Kite Festival is hosted by the Harbour Grace Civic Events Committee and sponsored by TaDa! Events, and will include entertainment and a visit from Amelia Earhart.
From Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25, various community groups will be participating in Open Doors for the public to drop by and pay a visit. These include the local Royal Canadian Legion, the Knights of Columbus, Masonic Lodge, and others.
The Splash Centre will be hosting an intergenerational cornhole tournament, as well as a seniors’ prom. For the first time, the festival will also include a quilting display at St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s Churches on July 23 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hearn said that, through feedback, they learned the festival mostly had activities aimed at young people and seniors. They are now aiming to include events that will interest people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. The cornhole tournament is one such event. “We’re hoping to get 16 teams to host the first annual,” said Hearn. “Someone will be crowned Harbour Grace’s first cornhole champions.”
The historic Harbour Grace Regatta will happen during the festival, as well, taking place on July 26 at Lady Lake. In the case of rain, it will be held the following day. In the spirit of the festival, two teams dressed as pirates and pilots will race against each other. Other fun events and activities will be offered at the regatta, as well.
The festival will conclude with Aviation Day at the Conception Bay Museum on July 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“Stuff with Amelia this year is really sensitive,” said Hearn, referring to the theft of the town’s Earhart statue, “because we always host her birthday party every year. So that’ll be happening in the museum. But we also wanted to try to bring a little bit more emphasis on the aviation (history) so we’re going to conclude with that down at the museum.”
Hearn said it will be a chance to showcase the contributions of aviation enthusiast David Williams who built and donated model planes associated with the town’s history. Williams died earlier this year, but his passionate craftwork is on display in the museum’s Aviation Room for all to enjoy.
And that’s only some of the events on offer during the Pirates to Pilots Festival. “There’s so much there,” said Hearn. “If people want to be involved, there’s something there for everybody.”
With tourism on an upswing, Hearn is hopeful the festival will grow too.
“We’re small but mighty,” she said. “None of this is possible without the support of the businesses in the community, the different agencies in the community, and the citizens themselves. We can plan it, we can put it together, but unless people take the time to come out and actually participate, it doesn’t go anywhere.”
The full schedule updates about events can be found on the Pirates to Pilots Festival Facebook page.