Pirate Weekend in Brixham, South Devon, UK
The Brixham pirate festival is one of the biggest events in the town’s calendar. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Brixham in South Devon to take part in the festivities, enjoy food and drink, and dress up as pirates.
Brixham has a fantastic community and the bustling fishing town is always making the most of any celebrations, events and milestones.
Read on to find out what the pirate festival is, when the annual event takes place and when it first started.
What is The Brixham Pirate Festival?
Since 2007 when the festival began, the event has become one of the largest pirate gatherings in the world.
You’ll find a LOT of pirates from all walks of life, live music, and re-enactors with guns and canons so be prepared for lots of noise!
Sea shanties, pirate rock, sword fights, and ships being boarded feature throughout the 3-day weekend with a family area to keep the little ones entertained.
Anyone can dress as a pirate and it adds to the fun, although there are some restrictions when it comes to the law. Swords are allowed as part of your costume, but they must be peace-tied to your outfit. Otherwise, security will be on hand with zip ties should you need to fasten your sword on securely.
Closer to the event, the Brixham community will release the schedule for the 3-day event so keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss any of the festivities!
When is Brixham’s Pirate Weekend 2024?
The Brixham Pirate Festival always takes place on the first May bank holiday weekend of the year.
In 2025, the dates for The Brixham Private Festival are 2nd May 2025 – 4 May 2025.
When did Brixham Pirate Festival start?
Brixham’s annual pirate festival started in 2007 when the community in Brixham decided to begin an event to liven up one of the bank holiday weekends.
It was a tremendous success and every year, apart from a break during Covid-19, the bank holiday weekend has become more and more popular with people travelling from all over the country.
Where is The Brixham Pirate Festival?
The 3-day festival takes place across the entire town, with its epicentre around the harbour (the centre of Brixham), and the main stage under the Old Fish Market.
Where to Park for Brixham’s Pirate Weekend
Brixham is a small town and gets extremely busy during the Pirate Festival weekend so it’s best to have parking planned beforehand so you know where to go.
There are a number of car parks and places to park around Brixham but the parking is limited during this weekend so our recommendation is to use the Park and Ride just outside of the town.
If you’re staying at a hotel, such as the Quayside Hotel, parking may be available so make sure you check beforehand.
Are dogs allowed at Brixham’s Pirate Festival?
Yes, The Brixham Pirate Festival is dog friendly and there are no restrictions in place.
Summary of The Brixham Pirate Festival
It’s one event you won’t want to miss. If you’re looking for accommodation in Brixham for the bank holiday weekend, take a look at the Quayside Hotel. The hotel is located directly in the centre of Brixham so you’ll be in the heart of the events throughout the weekend.