hampton blackbeard festival 2012, june 1-3

[William Brand]

Is there a new website?

[Lily Alexander]

Try this one :

http://www.blackbeardfestival.com/

[James Smythe]

Not too sure if my ticket order went through. I will give a call tommorow.

[Capt. Sterling]

damnation my arse! grace was on the shellphone while i was typing and the contract was changing as i was typing.

Was that before or after we spoke?

[James Smythe]

Ticket situation has been handled. Can't wait to see everyone there.

[Capt. Sterling]

Safe trip

[James Smythe]

Just as a side note. It might be easier to call and reserve for the ball if you are going. When I tried to reserve online it did not go through.

[Dutchman]

thanks for letting us know. i just passed it on to the organization sponsoring the ball

[James Smythe]

Loading up and heading out. I won't be part of a crew this year, but I will be glad to meet any I find. Hope to see you there.

[William Brand]

The Hampton Blackbeard Festival just got hit by a tornado. I just got off the phone with Kitt Madden and everyone is fine. The camp was leveled and there was no shortage of debris, but everyone cleared the camp before the tornado came through, so there are no serious injuries reported.

A few reoprts from people at the site...

"One way or the other we are going to shoot cannons tomorrow. All Pirates are accounted for, No major injuries. But we took a direct hit. All the Crews want to continue with the show. Not much more we can do until day brake. Most of the camping crew members will be spending the rest of the night at the Virginia Air and Space Center. No power but at least it's dry."

-Randy Gnatowsky

"Well, everyone is fine. But the Camp is leveled. We rebuild tomorrow."

-Robert Jack Permenter

[William Brand]

I just spoke with Haunting Lily. They saw the tornado pass their hotel and flatten a whole mess of tents and not a few cars. The power is still out at their hotel and people are doubling up in hotels. Their hotel has offered to move them down the road to a place with power, but they're in the dark at the moment. There are emergency generators at the camp and a tree is laying on Jack's tent, so they'll be bringing out the chainsaws in the morning.

[William Brand]

The power was just restored at the hotel where some of the Archangel crew is staying.

[D B Couper]

_{Local tv coverage of tornado.}

http://wtvr.com/2012/06/02/witness-tornado-sucked-items-from-hotel/

[Fayma Callahan]

I have talked to Dutch and he asked me to let everyone know that no one was hurt, but there was a lot of damage to the area. Please say a prayer for all our pyrate family that was at the festival, and thank God that we lost no one. There will be more infomation to come, but a lot of the vendors have lost a lot. Stay tuned for more information.

Sending out our love and prayers,

Momma and Poppa and the entire Fort Taylor Pyrate Invasion Crewe

[Animal]

Has anyone heard about Julie and Capt'n Finbar and the Wolf??? They were supposed to be at Blackbeards this year.

[William Brand]

When I asked Kitt about the tallships last night, he said that they were all fine. I've heard no other reports about them.

[William Brand]

Some pics from Jack...

https://picasaweb.go...eat=directlink#

...his poor tent.

[Brig]

http://wtkr.com/2012/06/02/more-photos-from-fridays-tornadoes/ More photos of the festival grounds and surrounding areas. The festival is open and packed today, with crowds waiting for hours at the entrance while the rest of the debris was removed. I can honestly say this was one pirate event I will NEVER forget!

[Silver]

just returned from the blackbeard fest in hampton. the whole area around and including the camp was hit hard. tree limbs had to be cut and removed, a home near the stage had a huge hole in the roof from were a handicap ramp had been ripped from the stage and propelled through it. items from the camp were picked up and tossed into the hampton river. all the crews pulled together and put the camp back together and visitors were premitted in by 3pm. the weather cleared it is a great day dry and cool, they had cannon firing from the point and other pirate activities. there was a lost of vender items and tents. black bear was there along with the scarlet scarab and one other, all was set up open air because their tents were torn up.

[peglegstrick]

Prayers for all our pyrate family at that was at the festival. May God hold them in his hands.

[Bright]

Our thoughts and prayers are with our pirate brethren in Hampton Virginia tonight where there was a tornado in town that pretty much trashed the Blackbeard Festival pirate camp. Thank goodness almost all the pirates were at the Pirate Ball rather than in camp when the winds came. You might want to watch the video... It's the second video down the webpage, actually from the pirate encampment.

http://wtvr.com/2012...y6xDVXK3l059US1

Edited June 3, 2012 by Bright

[Jas. Hook]

Astonishing news on the festival. I'm glad all the participants are well and return home safely.

Jas. Hook

[James Smythe]

Honestly, it was amazing how everyone took the tornado at the Ball. The power was out, there was no food, but there was music, dancing, and singing. Everyone in garb socializing by candlelight with The Brigands providing ambiance was amazing. It seemed reminiscent of the old tavern scene wood block prints. If anything alot more like what a pirate party in my mind.

[Mae]

So glad you're all safe...hope to never get a call like that from Brig again.

[Dutchman]

ahoy all.... checking in, finally! SOOOOO, if your story of Blackbeard 2012 doesn't start with "no kidding- there we were.........." you weren't there!

The tornado hit at 8:10, by 8:30 we knew all were safe- that took a while as we were spread out over ten blocks of canvas and party. We reentered the camp around 9 and began the clean up. we endured a couple downpours but the crew captains reported in and said they would continue with what was left. The festival committee and city officials met, and lamented, and met, and cried. at 0100, they looked at the two pirates on the committee and asked if it could be done...... they were told we were going to plan for a festival until they told us to stop. at 0900 the camp was half way up, city works was clearing the downed trees and debris, Dolphin Laundry mat showed up to take our wet clothes, sand came from a local contractor to fill the pond in the middle of camp. and the fire marshal proclaimed the site safe.........and by 1500, the rest is Pirate history!

Thank you all for your calls, prayers, offers of help and support. Thank you to our reenactors who came to me as were still hunkered down in the parking deck who said they wanted to continue. We had three vendors leave and one group had to leave due to a personal emergency saturday evening, otherwise all remained and we had one of the largest visitor turnouts in the events history. I met with sallie, the city festival boss this morning and on behalf of the city of hampton- HUZZAH! well done mates.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU one and all! I'll chime in again after some rest.

I'm off to bed now, its been a long weekend. ...dream sequence begins here " but aunty Em, we're not in kansas any more!"

*edit* just saw the tall ship concerns. Wolf was not in port yet, they are arriving tomorrow and all are safe. All the small boats were fine and the three large boats remained at the dock for safety due to possible floatsom damage. Pride of Baltimore II took a knock on her bowsprit when a loose boat hit her, but she is already repaired.