The Port of Orillia is celebrating the end of the summer boating season this weekend with the annual Pirate Party.
Allan Lafontaine, executive director of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce and harbour master for the Port of Orillia, says the Pirate Party has become one of the most popular annual community events.
“Everybody loves a nautical mystery,” he said. “It’s a bit of swashbuckling fun.”
The event is a free way for families to have fun during the Labour Day long weekend.
“All you have to do is get a bandana, throw an eye patch on, and you’re a pirate,” Lafontaine said. “It’s all free entertainment and a great way to spend a glorious weekend of weather.”
The Port of Orillia is sold out to boaters this weekend, and Lafontaine says the event connects with them.
“They seem to love it. Boating and pirates kind of go hand in hand,” he said.
The Pirate Party resumes Sunday with the all-day treasure hunt. Maps can be found at downtown businesses that are flying pirate flags this weekend. Participants in the treasure hunt could win tickets to Herman’s Hermits at Casino Rama. A full list of scheduled Pirate Party events can be found here.
Lafontaine asks those attending the party to not cross the construction site on Centennial Drive.
“Walk in safely through the Legion or Jarvis Street entrance,” he said. “It may be a few extra minutes of your time, but it will be well worth it for you.”
He hopes the event will bring many people to the waterfront for the first time this summer.
“Come see what changes are taking place without walking onto the site,” he said. “You will be able to visualize that, by next year, things are really going to start coming together.”
Not only was foot traffic scarce this year with the construction in the area; traffic on the water was also down.
“Construction did slow us down a little bit,” Lafontaine said. “There were many other factors, including it raining on what felt like every weekend this year.”
The Illinois River was closed for scheduled maintenance this summer, which kept typical visitors from the United States at bay.
“I think the high price of inflation and fuel has also made some people consider other choices,” he said. “I also believe that boaters from 2020 to 2022 boated as much as they could and are now catching up with some other activities that they didn’t get to do during COVID.”
The Port of Orillia will officially close its gates to boaters on Oct. 8.
“I think, by next, year things will get a little more back to normal,” Lafontaine said. “We expect to have back a lot of our U.S. visitors, the weather will be better, and construction should be moved into the other end of the park.”
He thanks Tom Hurlbut, Simcoe Squadron, and MD Marine for helping to make the Pirate Party happen each year.
