Pirates Weekend 2025
May 17 – May 18
Plymouth Waterfront Partnership are hosting two days of swashbuckling fun with plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy across the Barbican and Sutton Harbour on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May.
There is a programme of events and street entertainment, sea shanty bands, watersports and a pirate treasure trail.
What we’re up to
Saturday – Take a VR dive with Shark Trust – get up close with sharks and discover the magic beneath the waves.
Sunday – Hop on the ferry for FREE entry to Mount Batten Tower – climb to the top for stunning views and a slice of Plymouth’s history.
Plastic Plunder – uncover the hidden truths about plastic pollution in our seas and find out how you can help turn the tide.
Crab Cam – see what’s really lurking below the surface, learn about responsible crabbing, and get top tips for rockpool adventures.
Story of the Sound Sand Pit – dig for treasure, match it to our story cards, and discover what it reveals about Plymouth’s wild and wonderful past!
The Parade
Sword and Swashbuckling School – 10am, 11:15pm, 1:15pm, 3:15pm
Learn to fight with a pirate sword and board enemy ships! This consists of two instructors, with child safe weapons, teaching the techniques of sword fighting on board pirate ships. Several sessions throughout each day. Each session lasts around 30 minutes, and is for ages 5 and over.
Pirate coin making
Turn your Pirate silver into pieces of eight, with an interactive coin strike. This activity will run during the day, where customers can form their own pirate coins from an authentic 17th Century mint. 50p charge per each coin struck.
Pirate Cannon Firing (10am, 11:45am, 1:45pm, 3:30pm) and All Aboard Talks
A display of a small ship’s cannon, with lots of artefacts and a “have-a-go” opportunity for younger children to load and fire this electronically operated theatrical ship’s gun.
Washed up Mermaid (11:30am to 1:30pm)
A living statue of a mermaid will come to The Parade during the weekend! Sitting on an unsightly rubbish heap the silvery mermaid is an unforgettable image. Created from ocean waste, recycled plastics and repurposed materials this human statue performance shares with us a glimmer of hope and urges us to rise above the rubbish and do something about it.
Facepainting (last admission 3:30pm)
Both Painty Faces and Lizzie’s Fluid Faces will be making an appearance, creating numerous pirates and mermaids!
Mayhem Border Morris Dancers (11am, Saturday only)
Mayhem Border Morris are a mixed adult Border Morris side based in Plymouth doing traditional and original Border dances. We dance a happy brand of Border Morris and have a brisk style, some cheeky moves and we’re not too stompy. We write many of our own dances and have ‘adjusted’ a few Border standards suit our style.
Quay Square and Sutton Harbour
Pirate Puppet Show – 10.30am, 12.30pm and 3pm
A good old fashion puppet show for the children, watch Yo Ho Ho and Jack Tarr and the Pirate.
The Society of King George III Canon / Musket Firing (10am, 11:45am, 1:45pm, 3:30pm)
The Society of King George the Third (SKG3) was formed over 30 years ago with the aim and ambition to bring to life something of the elegance and pageantry seen during the reign of King George III. At this year’s Pirate Weekend, members will be dressed as officers and ratings of His Majesty’s Royal Navy in the year 1793. Complementing the displays of musketry and cannon firing will be an artefacts table and surgical equipment found onboard a tall ship of the line.
Pirate Storytelling & Songs – 10am, 12pm and 2pm
Davey Jones lunchbox will be back to tell Tall tales of the sea, perform songs and shanties; (with Dave Oliver of Rattlebox Theatre) with verve, humour and gusto on Saturday! On Sunday, Davey Jones Lunchbox pirate band will entertain you with a treasure chest of songs, shanties and musical ditties to tickle your ears with!
Southside Street
Jonty Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow
With fair winds and kind seas, the lovable rogue Captain Sparrow (Jonty Depp) will be sailing back to Plymouth for the Pirate Weekend on the Barbican. Jack is looking forward to meeting and greeting all the pirates making port in Plymouth. Who knows where on the Barbican you might spot him as they parade around avoiding the authorities and keeping an eye out for treasures of every kind…for not all treasure is silver and gold shipmates!
The Drake Corps of Drums (10am)
Watch on as s band of marines walk through Southside Street playing live music.
Barbarossa’s Band of Buccanneers (10am, 12pm and 2pm)
Setting sail for Plymouth this summer are a pirate crew like no other! Get ready to meet Black Bart, Barbarossa, Cut-throat Jake and Shanty as they cause chaos at Plymouth’s Pirate weekend! These incredible masked pirate characters have been a huge international success with appearances all over Europe and even as far as Bahrain! Cheeky and lovable with hand embroidered costumes, this band of buccaneers create magical meet and greet and photo opportunities for any Pirate event. They could pop up anywhere at any time, so keep your eyes peeled for the crew, just part of an amazing pirate weekend! Drink up me hearties yo ho!
Higher Beings Pirate Stiltwalkers (11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm)
Look out for two pirate stilt walkers roaming around the The Barbican who promise to entertain onlookers with impressive juggling tricks and pirate charm.
Mermaid Sea Quest – 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm
A Mermaid Sea Quest led by Melody the Mermaid. The Sea Quest will comprise of clues around the Barbican which participants will have to find accompanied by Melody the Mermaid as we complete each quest together. At each clue there will be an interactive activity…storytelling, singing songs, poems for the audience to participate in. The Quest itself will be educational as well as fun, incorporating the history of Pirates, Mermaids and The Barbican as well as addressing environmental issues. At the end of each Quest each child will receive a shell to keep as a prize for completing the Quest to add some extra magic.
Meet opposite the Tourist Information Centre.
Swing Boat and Children’s ‘Try your Strength Game’
Hop aboard the swing boat by the sea and have a go at the try your strength game by the water’s edge.
Commercial Wharf
Mayhem Border Morris Dancers (1pm, Saturday only)
Mayhem Border Morris are a mixed adult Border Morris side based in Plymouth doing traditional and original Border dances. They dance a happy brand of Border Morris and have a brisk style, some cheeky moves and they aren’t too stompy. They write many of their own dances and have ‘adjusted’ a few Border standards to suit their style.
Jerimiah’s Journey Pirate Fun Run (Sunday only)
The Jeremiah’s Journey Pirate Fun Run (18 May) will see hundreds of people dressed as pirates take to the city’s historic waterfront as they walk or run on the 5k/2.5k route. Find out more about Pirates Fun Run.
Gables Dog Show – 2pm (Saturday only)
Bring your furry friend to Pirates Weekend and enter them into the Gables Dog Show on Saturday 18 May. Rosettes are awarded to the dogs from 1st to 4th place.
Please register at the Gables gazebo in front of the Tourist Information Centre on the Barbican before 1.30pm. Entry £2 per class per dog, all proceeds will go towards the welfare of the dogs and cats at Gables.
Classes include: Cutest Puppy (12 months and under), Young at Heart (7 years or older), Prettiest Girl, Most Appealing Eyes, Waggiest Tail, Handsomest Boy, Most Talented Trick and Dog the judge would most want to take home.
There will be a championship class for all first-place winners after all classes have finished.
West Hoe Park
Treasure Island
Join us for some swashbuckling fun at Treasure Island, Plymouths only outdoor Pirate themed adventure park. We have 18 hole adventure golf, Panning for gold, Bumper Boats, Ice Cream, make your own Slush and much much more. You will find us on Pier Street, West Hoe
Treasure Island
Join us for some swashbuckling fun at Treasure Island, Plymouth’s only outdoor Pirate themed adventure park. We have 18 hole adventure golf, Panning for gold, Bumper Boats, Ice Cream, make your own Slush and much much more. You will find us on Pier Street, West Hoe.
Pirate Pandemonium (11am, 1pm, 3pm)
Get ready to set sail for adventure on board the Scurvy Shark Pirate ship!
Captain Catt and Bo’Sun Brains are joined by the most useless, half-witted crew this side of Port Royal! Together they learn what it takes to be a real-life pirate with sword fighting practice, map reading training and plenty or “Arrrs”. A silly sabre slashing interactive pirate show full of swashbuckling, swordfighting, X marks the spot and of course biscuits!
Royal William Yard
Set sail for Royal William Yard’s swashbuckling Pirates Weekend.
As the Yard celebrates its 200th anniversary, prepare for a treasure trove of free family fun with a historic twist.
Hunt for hidden treasure across the Yard, transform into a fearsome pirate or magnificent mermaid with face painting, and master circus skills like a nimble deck hand. Celebrate the Yard’s heritage and feast like a salty sailor by making your very own ship’s biscuit to take home!
Adventure waits for all ages, with pirate films at Everyman cinema, and grub and grog galore from the Yard’s resident restaurants, bars, and cafes.
Circus skills
Test your mettle with a pirate twist – walk the plank, juggle like an octopus, and find your sea legs on the roller bowler
Treasure hunt
Grab a map and embark on a daring quest to uncover hidden treasure concealed around Royal William Yard to claim your bounty!
Craft zone
Visit the pirate craft zone to make your own pirate mask, take part in pirate puzzles and get creative.
Face Painting
Transform into a fearsome pirate or a mystical mermaid
Live music
Enjoy live music and rousing sea shanty performances throughout the weekend
Pop up Stalls
Check out the local traders on show at The Yard throughout the weekend.
RNLI visit (Sunday only)
Meet the RNLI team and learn more about their work.
For more information on the event: Pirates Weekend – Visit Plymouth
