Seafair Pirates Appear at Alki Beach
The Seattle Seafair Pirates made an unscheduled appearance at Alki Beach, drawing a crowd of onlookers. The costumed group is a well-known part of the city's annual Seafair festival, and their visit provided an unexpected spectacle for beachgoers, according to the Seattle Times.
- The Seafair Pirates were founded in 1949 by members of the Washington State Press Club's Ale & Quail Society to help promote the city's first Seafair festival in 1950. - While this appearance was unscheduled, the Pirates' official landing at Alki Beach is a planned annual event that traditionally kicks off the multi-week Seafair festival. - The choice of Alki Beach is significant as it is the historical landing site of the Denny Party, the first white settlers to arrive in what would become Seattle, in November 1851. - The group travels to events in a notable land-based vehicle shaped like a pirate ship, known as the Moby Duck, which features a cannon that fires loud blanks. - In a 1953 publicity stunt, the Pirates "kidnapped" the British consul and vice-consul, playfully attempting to claim a historical British fund worth over a million dollars that was established to ransom subjects captured by pirates. - Despite their disruptive public image, the Pirates are a volunteer organization that conducts charity work, making numerous appearances at hospitals and nursing homes throughout the year. - Membership in the elite troupe is highly selective; prospective pirates undergo a year-long testing period to ensure they can safely entertain and interact with the public.
