A CELEBRATION of all things pirate is coming to Weymouth, me hearties.

Weymouth Pirate Festival will draw on the maritime history of the seaside town and look back to the 18th and 19th centuries when pirates rules the waves.

Weymouth's position on the south coast saw the town become a hub for contraband - and so the battle between smugglers and customs men began.

The festival, taking place from Friday, October 14 to Sunday, October 16 will draw on this pirate history with a family friendly festival featuring events and re-enactments throughout the town.

Presented by We Are Weymouth (BID) and Celtic and folk/rock group band The Dolmen, activities begin at 8.30pm on the Friday with a Dolmen Pirate Quiz in the ‘Pirate’s Keep’ at The Belvedere near Boot Hill.

The morning of Saturday, October 15 sees 'pirates' from Weymouth, the UK and Europe gather by the old Boot Inn at 10.30am for a pirate parade. The parade will move on to the spirited sounds of pirate band The Boarding Crew before going through the town with The Dolmen and their troupe of drummers at the lead.

There will be a host of live performances on the main stage near the Boot Inn, including international bands The Dolmen and Perkelt with more to be confirmed. There will also be a traders’ Pirate Bazaar, selling plenty of treasures.

To conclude the weekend’s pirate fun on the Sunday, the team at The Belvedere will be serving a hearty breakfast between 10am and noon for any sore heads, followed by the 'Survivor’s Party' from 1pm.

Dawn Rondeau, We Are Weymouth’s Chief Operations Officer said: “We Are Weymouth is excited to see the return of pirates to Weymouth for this brilliant celebration of our coastal past.

"With a focus on family friendly events, we aim to support local organisers such as The Dolmen to put on events such as Weymouth Pirate Fest. We want to encourage locals and visitors alike to enjoy the town’s hospitality and head into the Town Centre, taking part in a fun-filled weekend of Piracy in Weymouth."

Taloch Jameson, of The Dolmen, said: “We’re all really looking forward to bringing the pirate clan back together in Weymouth this October.

"We invite everybody of all ages to travel back with us and our re-enactors into the Golden Age of piracy, to enjoy a great day of live music and shenanigans, to visit the Pirate Bazaar and to march with us in our pirate parade."