The Hatteras-Ocracoke Council of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce will present the inaugural Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree, a free, two-day pirate fest Oct. 26-27 on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands.
The jamboree will feature an all-day, family friendly encampment Oct. 27 by Blackbeard’s Pirate Crew, an 18-member group from Hampton, Va., on the grounds of the Wahab House, 161 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke, next to the Anchorage Inn.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Crew is a living history performance group dedicated to the accurate representation of seafaring life in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, specifically 1650-1730.
Included with this group will be the Devilmen of Cape Feare, who will arrive in Ocracoke in their 27-foot open boat, and Captain Horatio Sinbad with his pirate boat, the Meeka II.
“We wanted to have an event to promote both islands,” said Daphne Bennink, who owns the Back Porch restaurant on Ocracoke and who spearheaded the event. “This was one of Blackbeard’s favorite places. There’s a lot of Blackbeard history here.”
In subsequent years, organizers hope to build the jamboree to a grand event in 2018, the 300th anniversary of the death of Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard.
The festival begins the evening of Oct. 26 with refreshments at Hatteras Landing as the local business community comes together to network and meet the pirates who will entertain and educate during the Oct. 27 festivities.
While details of the encampment are still being finalized, among the Oct. 27 activities will be the following:
• Scalawag School — three 30-minutes skits at different times during the day — for aspiring young pirates;
• 18th-century seamanship demonstration;
• 18th-century navigation demonstration;
• 18th-century games;
• 18th-century naval weapons and tactics.
In addition to the encampment, Kevin Duffus will be on hand at Books to be Red, School Road, to talk about and sign copies of his historical book “The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate.”
A scavenger hunt through Ocracoke businesses is being planned.
Details on the event will be finalized in the next several weeks and posted on the event webpage: www.piratejamboree.com.
More information will be posted on the Facebook page.  Search for “First Annual Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree.”