Pirate Fest Gala to Serve Beer, Wine, Rum

This year's Pirate Fest Gala will be bigger than ever.

In its sixth year running, the gala will have more tickets and a larger tent, gala chair Linda Goetz told the Harford County Liquor Control Board Wednesday.

Previously the gala has offered 250 tickets; this year, it will sell 300, Goetz said.

The Saturday night gala, part of a pirate-themed weekend, is described as "Havre de Grace's Party of the Year," according to the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House, which hosts the event.

There will be a larger tent this year to accomodate the influx of pirate costumed-guests, with the new tent spanning 120 feet (versus last year's 90-foot tent), Goetz said. Laurrapin Grille will cater the soiree, with live music and silent auctions adding to the flavor of the evening.

After answering questions about security, Goetz got permission for a one-day liquor permit, which will allow for the sale of beer, wine and rum drinks at the gala.

She noted that there would be orange wristbands for attendees under 21 years old and black pirate-themed wristbands for those who are of legal drinking age. In addition, Goetz said a professional bartender would be carding people at the bar.

Another layer of security was the wooden fence and driveway to get to the Lock House, according to Goetz, who is a board member at the Susquehanna Museum.

One liquor board member said he was concerned about people coming in from outside the barricades.

"The pirates are always very well behaved," Chief Liquor Inspector Charles Robbins said in response.

Harford County Liquor Control Board Vice Chair Michael Thomson made a point to say that volunteers and staff are not to drink at the Pirate Fest Gala.

The board unanimously voted to approve the request to serve alcohol at the July 13 gala, contingent on the fire marshal's inspection of the new tent, which Goetz said would be where the alcohol would be served.

The gala is part of the Pirate Fest weekend in Havre de Grace, which also includes an encampment, pub crawl and 5K (see the full schedule here).
The Pirate Fest Gala will be from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, at the Lock House. Gala tickets are $55 each and can be purchased online, at Laurrapin Grille or at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum.