Pirates Weekend 2024: Everything you need to know!

Avast ye! Have you heard? Pirates Weekend is back! So get your Jolly Rogers, eye patches and treasure maps at the ready to enjoy a rip-roaring weekend of fun celebrating life on the high seas.

Head to the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, West Hoe Park, Royal William Yard and Waterfront to enjoy all the action – there’s loads of activity taking place along Southside Street, Quay Square, West Pier, The Parade, Commercial Wharf, West Hoe Park and Royal William Yard.

                

What’s On 

Enjoy a weekend of swashbuckling fun at Pirates Weekend in Plymouth where the streets come alive with an array of talented performers and entertainment including pirate storytelling, demonstrations of canon and musket firing, mermaid encounters, stilt walkers, arts and crafts activities, face painting and appearances from lovable rogue, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Check out the full entertainment schedule

                  

Historic Ships

Returning to Plymouth this year is the Galeón Andalucía, located in Plymouth Sound – this impressive full-size replica of a 17th Century Spanish galleon is a floating museum, and will be open each day for visitors to explore (booking in advance or on the day available). She will be alongside on the Barbican Landing Stage.

Accompanying Galeón Andalucía is the Pascual Flores, an original example of a “pailebote” (Spanish for pilot’s boat).

The Pascual Flores is for free to visit by showing an Galeón Andalucía ticket but Water Taxi charges will apply as she will be moored in Plymouth Sound.

Find out how you can book your tickets to go onboard the two ships.

               

Plymouth Pirate Fun Run

Register for the Plymouth Pirate Fun Run taking place on 19 May starting at 10.30am in the Barbican. Be part of the UK’s first pirate fun run in aid of bereavement support charity, Jeremiah’s Journey. The Plymouth Pirate Fun Run will see hundreds of people dressed as pirates take to the city’s historic waterfront as they walk or run on the 3k route.

Register for the Plymouth Pirate Fun Run.

           

Sea Shanty Bands

Listen to sea shanties performed by talented local shanty bands, who will be performing a mix of traditional shanties, folk tunes and original songs from various points across the waterfront. (Plus, some of them will be performing at nearby pubs from 4pm over the weekend, if you want to listen to some more).

Check out the full live music programme

                   

Treasure Trail

Follow the Pirate Trail over Pirates Weekend, to discover clues to Cap’n Jack’s twelve missing crew members.

Pick up your free trail map included in the Pirates Weekend entertainment leaflet, available Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May from the Tourist Information Centre and return your completed clues to claim your prize.

               

How to get here

We encourage visitors to travel to the event by public transport. Transport options include:

• FREE Plymouth Citybus service: hop aboard a free bus linking all of the waterfront sites during Pirates Weekend, thanks to Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and Plymouth Citybus. The service will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 18 May and 12pm to 4pm on Sunday 19 May. It will run in a continuous loop every 45 minutes, beginning at Royal William Yard, before doing pick-up/drop-ff stops at Union Street Post Office, Connexions, Royal Parade, Batter Street/Vauxhall Street, Lambhay Hill, The Belvedere, West Hoe Post Office and back to Royal William Yard. The double decker bus is wheelchair friendly.
• Ferry service: brave buccaneers can hop on board Plymouth Boat Trips’ ferry, setting sail from the Barbican to drop anchor in Royal William Yard Marina.

If you’re travelling from further afield check the GWR website for train times and tickets.

Find out further travel information for Plymouth Pirates Weekend 

Access information

Pirates Weekend is a very popular event so it can get very busy. If you prefer to visit when there are fewer people around then we’d recommend aiming to be there for the first hour of the day, between 10am and 11am, when it’s quieter.

If you find yourself needing any help on the day, pop into the Barbican Tourist Information Centre or look out for the stewards wearing high-viz jackets as they’ll be happy to help.

View access information for Plymouth Pirates Weekend

The event is supported by Barbican Botanics as History Ship sponsor and Sutton Harbour Group.

  

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