Tomm Tomlinson, aka Crudbeard, of the Pirates of the Dark Rose conducts a cannon demonstration at the Hollis Community Pirate Fest on Saturday. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
HOLLIS — Community members and pirate enthusiasts flocked to the Hollis Sports Complex on Saturday to join the fun of Hollis Community Day Pirate Fest.
This was the fourth year the rural town of Hollis, with a population of about 4,500 people, held the festival.
The idea to combine the town’s annual community day celebration with a pirate theme came from former town residents Rande and Dana Gray, said Recreation Director Debbie Tefft.
“They had gone up to a pirate fest up north and had a blast,” said Tefft. The Grays have since moved away, but the pirate theme lives on.
Town recreation staff hosted several pirate-themed activities including Captain Hook’s ring toss, a walk the plank activity over a slippery wet surface, and fishing for plastic sea creatures.
There was also live music, a costume contest, a parade, community group information tables and vendors.
The festival is popular both with town residents and pirate enthusiasts who live in other communities, said Tefft. In fact, about half of the festival committee members are pirate enthusiasts who came to the festival in previous years and wanted to get involved. Though there was no official count, the festival, as it had been in previous years, was well attended.
“People are here, which is what we want,” Tefft said.
Ashley DuBois, Drew Townsend and Allan Rabida of Dayton dressed up to attend the Hollis Community Pirate Fest on Saturday. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
Allan Rabida of Dayton was at the festival with his friends Drew Townsend and Ashley DuBois, and the three of them were in full costume.
“We came last year and had a good time,” said Rabida. He said he and his friends enjoy when people react and “light up” when they see their costumes.
The Pirates of the Dark Rose, a group of pirate enactors, had set up an encampment. Al Simmons, also known as Captain Carver, described the group as “edutainers.”
“We’re all about the kids,” said Dark Rose member Gail Fearing. The group performed puppet shows, hosted map making and balloon sword activities and conducted small fire arm and cannon demonstrations.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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