ALEXANDRIA BAY – Cannon blasts, sword fights and family fun mark another 10-day run of the Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days, beginning Friday, Aug. 6 through Sunday, Aug. 15.

The Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce and local business community welcome visitors for the largest and most popular summertime festival in the Thousand Islands. The 2010 run of Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days marks 30 years of pirates in the Bay.

As the story goes, Bill Johnston, the popular Thousand Islands pirate, returns to his roots each summer to wreck havoc on the small town of Alexandria Bay. He arrives on his wooden ship and engages in sword fights with the town guards in an effort to claim the town as his own. When he has prevailed, he is granted access to the town as the Mayor presents him with the key.

Below are a number of highlights during the coming days –

Pirate Invasion(s) – Aug. 7 and Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. – view from shore at Scenic View Park/Casino Island or from your boat just off the channel in front of the park. Pirates sail in blasting cannons and muskets while aboard a tall wooden “pirate ship.”

Block Dance(s) – Aug. 6 and Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. – James Street in downtown Alexandria Bay featuring live music.

Parade(s) – Aug. 7 and Aug. 14 at 11:45 a.m. (Children) and the Grand Parade on Sunday, Aug. 15 (all pirates)

The complete 2010 Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days schedule can be found below:

Friday, Aug. 6: 5 p.m., Twin Magicians – throughout the village; 7 p.m.Pirate Magic Show - Entertainment Tent; 8 p.m., Block Dance - located on James Street featuring Mojo Filter Band

Saturday, Aug. 7: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Best Decorated Boat Contest at the Village Docks; 10 a.m., Children’s Boats, Treasure Chests & Cannon Crafts – Scenic View Park; 11:45 a.m. Children’s Pirate Parade throughout downtown; 1:15 p.m. Capture of the Pirate Scouting Party will start at Uncle Sam Boat Tours. The Guard & Villagers will capture & arrest the pirates downtown and escort them to Scenic View Park; 2 p.m. Pirate Invasion - pirates, led by legendary Pirate Bill Johnston, will be arriving via tall ship, the Lotus. Cannon and musket fire rock the village as the pirates invade Alexandria Bay in an attempt to take over the town. If victorious Pirate Bill Johnston will receive the key to the village from the Mayor – Scenic View Park/Casino Island; 4:30 p.m. Children’s Magic Show - Entertainment Tent; 5:30 p.m. Twin Magicians – throughout the village; 7 p.m. Pirate Magic Show - Entertainment Tent;

Sunday, Aug. 8: 12 p.m. Pirate skit performed at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza; 12:30 p.m. Buried Treasure - Scenic View Park Beach; 2 p.m. Raft Races - launching will be at the Scenic View Park Beach. This age old tradition of homemade rafts is one of the many highlights of Pirate Days. Teams & individuals paddle their way to the finish line. Open to anyone, call the Chamber for details. Prizes Awarded; 3 p.m. Duck Races - Scenic View Park to benefit Alexandria Bay Minor Hockey Association.

Monday, Aug. 9: 10 a.m. Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours – All Children 12 & under dressed in pirate apparel will board for free and enjoy a two-hour cruise. Pick up the day’s password at the Entertainment Tent; 11 a.m. Fight a Pirate - Scenic View Park; 12 p.m. Children’s Pirate Magic Show - Entertainment Tent; 1 p.m. Tales From Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration – Scenic View Park; 2 p.m. Reptile Exhibition - Entertainment Tent; 3:15 p.m. Pirate skit at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 4 p.m. Balloon Sculpting & Juggling – throughout the village; 5 p.m. Pirate skit performed at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza; 7 p.m. Children’s Magic Show - Entertainment Tent;

Tuesday, Aug. 10: 10 a.m. Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 11 a.m. Fight a Pirate - Scenic View Park Pavilion; 12 p.m. Tales From Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration at Scenic View Park; 1 p.m. Tales From Remikreh at Mazeland located on Route 12; 3:15 p.m. Pirate skit at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 4:15 p.m. Magic Show with Obie O’Brien - Entertainment Tent; 5 p.m. Pirate skit at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza;

Wednesday, Aug. 11: 10 a.m. Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 11 a.m. Fight a Pirate - Scenic View Park Pavilion; 12 p.m. Tales From Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration at Scenic View Park; 1 p.m. Tales From Remikreh at Alex Bay 500 Go-Karts located on Route 12; 3:15 p.m. Pirate skit at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 5 p.m. Pirate skit at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza; 7 - 8:30 p.m. Concert in the Park featuring Country Stompers – Scenic View Park

Thursday, Aug. 12: 10 a.m. Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 11 a.m. First Mate Competition featuring Tales From Remikreh – Scenic View Park; 1 p.m. Tales From Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration - Scenic View Park; 3:15 p.m. Pirate skit at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 4:15 p.m. Magic Show with Obie O’Brien - Entertainment Tent; 5 p.m. Pirate skit at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza.

Friday, Aug. 13: 10 a.m. Little Pirate Adventure Cruise on Uncle Sam Boat Tours ; 11 a.m. Pirate Tournament featuring Tales From Remikreh - Scenic View Park; 1 p.m. Tales From Remikreh archaic weapons demonstration - Scenic View Park; 1 p.m. Reptile Exhibition - Entertainment Tent; 3 p.m. Balloon Sculpting & Juggling – throughout the village; 3:15 p.m. Pirate skit at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 5 p.m. Pirate skit at Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza; 5:15 p.m. Pirate Magic Show – Entertainment Tent; 8 p.m. Block Dance - located on James Street in front of Skiff’s featuring Bad Husbands Club.

Saturday, Aug. 14: 10 a.m. Children’s Boats, Treasure Chests & Cannon Crafts – Scenic View Park Pavilion; 11:45a.m. Children’s Pirate Parade throughout downtown; 1:15 p.m. Capture of Pirate Scouting Party at Uncle Sam Boat Tours; 2 p.m. Pirate Invasion - Scenic View Park/Casino Island; 3:30 & 7 p.m. Pirate Magic Show - Entertainment Tent; 5 & 8 p.m. Balloon Sculpting & Juggling - throughout the village.

Sunday, Aug. 16: 11 a.m. Live Drill & Demonstration by the Brockville Infantry; 2 p.m. Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days Grand Parade.

For more information, and to see photos of previous years’ pirates days, go to www.myspace.com/billjohnstonspiratedays.