Remember the 1985 movie “The Goonies“? A group of pre-teens find an old map, and to save their homes from demolition, they go on an adventure to unearth One-Eyed Willy’s hidden treasure. It was a hit for the same reason that “Pirates of the Caribbean” is coming out with a fifth sequel: Pirates make a child’s imagination run wild.
There is ample room for pretend play at this week’s “Pirates of the Hudson: The Siege of Sleepy Hollow” at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow.
At this pirate-themed festival, kids of all ages can trade barbs with boisterous pirates — and learn how to joust like one too! They can eat “Eye Patch Scream” (ice cream) or drink “Mermaid Tears” (lemonade), but beware: thieving pirates may try to steal your booty.
For the festival, the grounds of Phillipsburg Manor, a historic site which includes a 300-year-old manor house, will be transformed into a pirate playground. “You really feel like you’re in a pirate village,” says Rob Schweitzer, a spokesman for Historic Hudson Valley, a nonprofit education and preservation organization, who is putting on the event. “Kids really respond to that atmosphere — they love the pirate training, learning how to handle a foam sword and getting ready to ‘go on the account,’ which means signing up to be a pirate.”
There’s a large pirate shipwreck near the wharf area that kids can explore, while performances of all kinds, from musical pirates to gypsy sword dancers, will roam the grounds. Be prepared to laugh if you run into The Two Stoopid Guys, a slapstick duo that appeals to kids and adults. ”They’re brilliant,” says Schweitzer.
Don’t miss Princess Marina’s treasure hunt or the talking parrot, both sure to be favorites with the kids.
The festival runs from Saturday, June 30 to Sunday, July 1 from 2 to 8pm; then returns Wednesday, July 4 through Sunday, July 8 from 2 to 8pm. Timed tickets are required.
Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow; For tickets, call 914-631-8200 or buy them online at www.hudsonvalley.org.
