Aye m'lovely lass it be the same Alex Bay, NY :)
I can't think of a more Piratey town in all Upstate, NY.
The Pirate Days there are all in celebration of the infamous Bill Johnston.
He was an Early American Patriot who became a renegade pirate in the early 1800s. He was involved, with a band of men, in the movement to take Canada as part of the US. He and his men launched a border attack against the British, who of course still had a hold on Canada, though they had lost the US colonies in the Revolution. The most infamous act they perpetrated was of blowing us the British ship, The Sir Robert Peel. They all became wanted by both the Canadian and American Governments, and managed to evade them by hiding out amongst the 1000 Islands. Years later Johnston was pardoned of all crimes by whichever US President was in office at the time, and became a lighthouse keeper of one of the lighthouses along the St. Lawrence.
Go figure!!! A pirate story with a happy ending!!
Anyway, Alex Bay celebrates Johnston for 10 days. This year its August 12th - 21st. There are things going on each day, but the most active times are the 2 weekends that the festival runs through. Each weekend features a Childrens parade, strolling pirate and sword acts throughout town and the famous "invasion" by Johnston and his men, where they sail in at the main port on the St. Lawrence II, invade, and are awarded the keys to the town. There be deals throughout the week for those who come "dressed as a pirate". There be night block dances, magic shows, treasure hunts for great prizes, and all sorts of chortling fun!!
The second weekend also features a bigger parade as well, on the final Sunday.
It be VERY worth checkin out.