Sat, 03/14/2015 - 8:30am

Greg Latimer

Kid Pirates: Hundreds of children participate in the Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous, scheduled for June 20 in Damariscotta, helping to take over the town and find the hidden treasure. This group is part of the Pirate Kids Costume Contest. Courtesy of Ellie Busby

Pirate Ship: The S/V Must Roos is the flagship of the Dark Rose Pirates, and one of the attacking vessels during the Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous, scheduled for June 20 in Damariscotta. The vessel is a 57-foot topsail yawl armed with four deck guns. Courtesy of Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous

From buccaneers to belly dancers, reenactors from throughout New England will converge on Lincoln County on Saturday, June 20 to participate in the eighth annual Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous, a fundraiser for Lincoln County nonprofits.

The day-long event begins at 8 a.m. with a Pirate Pancake Breakfast at the Damariscotta Baptist Church. At 10 a.m. piratical activities open throughout the in-town areas of Damariscotta and Newcastle. The event highlight comes at noon, when the Mystic Pirates O’ the Damariscotta rise from the depths of history, sail in aboard their armed 57-foot sailing vessel, and invade the twin villages of Damariscotta and Newcastle.

The invading pirates are joined by upward of 1,000 children, adorned in pirate costumes, who help the Mystic Pirates search for their hidden treasure, and then share a portion of the loot.

The event has always been a fundraiser for local nonprofits, and this year will see major developments in that regard.

“We will be announcing new beneficiaries for the Pirate Rendezvous; all locally based, high impact nonprofits,” Event Director Greg Latimer said. That announcement will be made in the next several weeks, according to Latimer.

The event action is provided by costumed reenactors. “Many of our re-enactors come from Maine, but many others come from as far away as Massachusetts and Connecticut. These folks often stay for the entire weekend, or longer, and I’m hoping that their presence is beneficial to local businesses,” Latimer said. “This is an amazing effort on the part of people who come here and help raise money for local nonprofits.”

A Pirate Bazaar located at the riverside Schooner Landing Restaurant & Marina will feature themed retail stands and daylong music and entertainment. Children will be able to enjoy a variety of games at the Kid’s Pirate Camp on Water Street. Both of these venues open at 10 a.m.

Businesses and restaurants throughout in-town Damariscotta and Newcastle will also be in on the fun, with pirate themed specials and décor.

The Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with pirates attacking at high noon on June 20. There is no charge for admission.

For more information on the Pirate Rendezvous, and great photos from past invasions, check www.piraterendezvous.com or contact Greg Latimer (the pirate “Scribe”) at 207-380-9912 or greglatimer@yahoo.com.