10 things to see and do at Plymouth Pirates Weekend

Get ready for a weekend of swashbuckling fun on 18-19 May with the return of Plymouth's Pirates Weekend.

Get ready for two days of family-friendly excitement along the waterfront at the highly anticipated event, which promises to be a spectacular showcase.

Explore 10 activities and sights at this year's Pirates Weekend.

                   

See the UK's first Pirate-themed Fun Run

Plymouth will host the UK's first Pirate Fun Run on Sunday 19 May. Get ready to witness crowds of Pirates make their way through the historic streets, with all the money raised set to go to Jeremiah's Journey charity.

                 

Climb aboard two historic ships 

Two historic ships are coming to Plymouth for Pirates Weekend 2024. Following a successful stay in Plymouth in 2023, Galeon Andalucia is back for a second year.

The 17th-century replica of a Spanish Galeon is an unmissable sight on the waterfront. Clamber aboard and check out what life is like on the fascinating vessel.

Joining Galeon is the Pascual Flores, an original example of a “pailebote", the boat was historically used to export fruit, salt and general cargo across the world. 

Tickets are available to go onboard both ships in advance and on the day at the entrance to the Barbican Landing Stage. The tall ships have been sponsored by the Barbican Botanics Gin Room.

                          

Take your pup to the Gables Dog Show

Get your dog to dress to impress for the Gables Dog Show at West Hoe Park on Saturday 18 May. 

Register your furry friend at the Tourist Information Centre then make your way to the dog show, where competitions include, prettiest girl, handsomest boy, waggiest tail, best rescue, most appealing eyes and more. 

Check out the fun at the Royal William Yard 

A packed programme of actvities are taking place at the Royal William Yard for Plymouth Pirates Weekend. 

Family-friendly events and demonstrations including circus shows and treasure trails are set to take centre stage at the iconic yard.

While you're there, why not check out some of the delicious delights on offer? Restaurants including Pho, the Hook and Line, and more call the Yard their home and are definitely worth a visit. 

                     

Take part in a shanty sing song

A pirate-themed weekend would not be complete without some classic Shanty sing-songs!

There are tunes aplenty taking place across the waterfront throughout the weekend with an array of terrific local shanty bands singing hearty folk songs. 

Find out the full Shanty Band schedule for the weekend. 

                   

Look out for 'Jonty Depp' 

Keep an eye out for Plymouth's very own Captain Jack Sparrow lookalike 'Jonty Depp' who will be back again for Pirates Weekend. Keep an eye out for Captain Jack who will be meeting, greeting and posing for photos at The Barbican throughout the weekend. 

                 

Discover fantastic exhibitors

There's so much to discover at Pirates Weekend with a treasure trove of exhibitors set to host fantastic stalls across the weekend. Showcasing locally made goods, crafts and so much more  along the waterfront, it's a great opportunity to discover something new this weekend. 

Check out the full list of exhibitors at Plymouth Pirate Weekend. 

            

Take on the Pirate Trail

Gather your friends and combine your skills to take on the Pirate Trail across The Barbican. Collect the trail map from the Tourist Information Centre, and follow the clues to win a prize!

                  

Watch live entertainment 

Get ready for a weekend of cracking entertainment! The schedule is jam-packed with exciting live shows, demonstrations, dances, pirate marches and so much more.

There are terrific shows planned to take place across the waterfront and be sure not to miss the live musket and cannon firing on The Barbican, it's going to be a blast! Discover the full entertainment programme for Pirate Weekend. 

                     

Fun for the kids 

The weekend will be full of child-friendly activities for young pirates to get involved in. Learn to fight like a pirate at the swashbuckling school, get the full pirate look with face painting, learn tales of the sea at the Pirate Storytelling and Songs workshop plus more. Find out the event programme for the weekend. 

             

For further themed Plymouth inspiration, exclusive offers and things to do in the city, sign up to our free Visit Plymouth e-newsletter.

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In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner