Arrr: Pirate-ship float hits Esquimalt today
There will be no big parade, nobody on a loudspeaker telling residents to “wakey, wakey,” but there will be a physically distant alternative to what would have been Esquimalt’s 54th annual Buccaneer Days.
The pirate ship Morgana makes its way through the streets today as part of a scaled-down version of Buccaneer Days. More festivities will be in store, as well, said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, but a big pancake breakfast won’t be one of them.
“Everyone is getting on the bandwagon and what we’re hoping is people are going to have their own pancake breakfast and they’re going to watch for the Morgana,” she said.
“I’m hopeful that families continue to do their dress-up for
Saturday and we can make it a virtual Buccaneer Days.”
Desjardins said people are trying to get in on the fun in one way or another. That can include sharing pictures of physically distant float-watching on social media (use the hashtag #EsqBucDays2020) or colouring pirate decorations, available through the events calendar at esquimalt.ca. “We’re going to do it in the appropriate manner,” Desjardins said.
Mark Miller and Lance Jesson, who own the Morgana float, will be making their rounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Miller said the Morgana, which sits atop a 1988 Ford Astrovan, was built especially for Buccaneer Days and is about 26 feet long “from the bow sprit to the back of it.”
Miller said he is happy to be a part of this year’s event: “Any excuse to pirate and plunder and pillage.”