Pirates and ships, ahoy!

The owners Windjammer Emporium also organize Windjammer Days.

Mark and Dianne Gimbel, owners of four stores in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, are also heavily involved in the community as directors of the town’s biggest celebration, Windjammer Days.

Windjammer Days, normally the last week of June marks the kick-off to summer in the Boothbay region and is a time to reconnect with family, friends and neighbors after the long winter, an opportunity to support local businesses and welcome visitors. The festival honors the region’s maritime history and celebrates the vital role it plays in the community.

More than 30 volunteers work behind the scenes meeting monthly with the Gimbels to make the celebration special. Windjammer Days includes a parade, live music, a cod fish relay race, fireworks and of course, pirates.

The pirate re-enactors even have their own pirate ship. They host puppet shows, show off their pirate weapons and even do battle re-enactments aboard their ship. The kids love to take their pictures with the bearded barbarians too.

2020 would have been the 58th annual festival, but it has been moved to 2021. 2020 was also Maine’s bicentennial and celebrations for that were also put on hold. As part the bicentennial celebration, Tall Ships America will also be making a debut in Boothbay Harbor. Five majestic ships are scheduled to be on display June 25-27, 2021.