Indiana Pirate Fest 2018

As some know, Jade and I do like history OTHER than Civil War era. To be honest, one of the areas I first studied was the "Golden Era of Piracy."  For the last three years I have attended the Indiana Pirate Festival in Mishawaka, Indiana including this year.  Sadly Jade was unable to attend with me.

Pirate Ship/Parade Float

This festival is a miniature one day Renaissance Faire, featuring a number of vendors, entertainment, educational and musical acts. Spending almost the entire day there, it was fun to talk to some of the friends that Jade and myself have on the Renaissance circuit.

Vendors

More Vendor tables, with the Corporal in his Renn "peasant" look.

 

For entertainment the festival brought the high speed, high comedy of The Rogue Blades sword fighting comedy show. I have watched their shows in Indiana and Michigan for many years now when I've attended Faire.  Of the normal three man show, Dave the Knave and Captain (Squire) Paul attended and performed. Dave has written two "Knovels" as he calls them and I highly recommend them for reading.  They can be found as kindle books or sold at any Faire he is attending.

Captain Paul (Left) and Dave the Knave

 



Swords move fast in the duel between Dave the Knave and Captain Paul

For education the festival had Hooka Joe from the Brethren of the Great Lakes Black Powder Show talking about weapons of the pirate era.  I'll admit I failed to take a huge number of pictures but there are some that will appear in a future post with his permission.  If you ever get the chance to see their education/entertainment show at a Faire, do so.  They mix education with mildly destructive bangs. Tomatoes tend to be exploded at the end of their musket barrels is all I can say...

Hooka Joe explaining a Flintlock and the Plug Bayonet

Also for education was the local historian T.S. Rhodes. She gave talks on life aboard ship in the pirate era, including the story of a little cabin boy who lost his life in a shipwreck off the future American coast. While I lack pictures of her, her books can be found on Amazon as well as bought in person. I highly recommend them.


For music the groups Red Rum Band and "The Minstrel and The Mayhem" were in attendance as well.  Both groups are highly enjoyable to listen to.  I sat to listen to both for one show each and bought a CD from the Minstrel. Already had Red Rum's albums or I'd have bought from you guys too.  The joy of this venue is it is small enough that even if you aren't sitting in the "audience" the entire hall filled with music so everybody is the audience after a fashion.

Red Rum Band

The Minstrel and the Mayhem

This event is held the second to last weekend of March every year.  This year was Saturday, March 24th.