Blackbeard's Ship "Adventure"

05/09/2026

Once again for the 2026 Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival we will have an entertainment lineup second to none!

On Friday, June 12, 2026 for the Pirates Grand Bash at the Virginia Air & Space Science Center we will have three of the best: Rusty Cutless, The Brigands, and Clan MacCool Band!

Throughout the both days of the 2026 Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival June 13 – 14, 2026 in Mill Point Park, Downtown Hampton and Waterfront:

The most famous of all pirates Blackbeard himself, along with at least 150 additional pirates, living history interpreters, reenactors, and character actors!

Chaste Treasure

Clan MacCool Band

Field Musick Virginia Fife and Drum Corps

Helena the Mermaid

Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann

The Brigands

The Motley Tones

Rusty Cutless

Bedlum Bones

In addition to some of the finest sea shanty and musical performances anywhere, there will be fireworks, sea battles and the firing of the “Guns of Hampton” throughout both days and the festival. The “Guns of Hampton” is one of the very best collections of black powder cannons to be found anywhere!

At the 2026 Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival there is something for everyone in the family the matter the age or interest with the dedicated children’s area, a historic living history encampment with period vendors as well as food, craft and merchandise vendors throughout the downtown area.

The Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Friday 2026 Pirates Grand Bash can be obtained from Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services website www.hampton.gov/2008/Blackbeard-Pirate-Festival.

04/11/2026

Good news! The 2026 Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival wristbands are made and have arrived! One more item marked off the Captain's to-do-list before the festival gets here. And yes, to my spell check fan club! SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL is spelled correctly. 🏴‍☠️⚓☠️

02/08/2026

01/18/2026

The York-Poquoson Department of Social Services will host a Paint & Popcorn Event for teens (ages 13-17) with a guardian at the Poquoson Public Library (500 City Hall Ave) 2-4PM on Saturday, February 14. Paint supplies and popcorn will be provided. Attendees must provide proof of Poquoson residency. Visit more details and to register visit https://www.yorkcounty.gov/4413/Family-Engagement.

01/18/2026

Jan 13, 1776 (250 years ago) -- Dixon & Hunter’s Virginia Gazette reported that Capt. John Manly of the privateer Lee had captured a British sloop which was transporting Tory passengers and patriot prisoners to Boston. One of the passengers aboard the sloop Betsey was a wealthy South Carolina Tory, Mr. Moses Kirkland, who carried important letters from Lord Dunmore to British General William Howe. (Manly confiscated the letters and sent them on to General George Washington.) In a remarkable coincidence, two of the prisoners aboard the Betsey were Mr. Thomas Matthews and Mr. William Robinson of the Princess Anne County Militia. They had been captured by Lord Dunmore’s troops at Kemps Landing in November.

Called “the famous Capt. Manly” in the Virginia Gazette, he had just captured four British ships during the month of December. Washington would soon promote him, “for his great vigilance and industry,” to commodore of “George Washington’s fleet,” a fleet of small and agile armed ships, fitted to harass British shipping and capture supply vessels along the east coast. John Manly would serve his country for the remainder of the war, either in the Navy or as a privateer, capturing a total of 10 British ships and assisting in the capture of others.

Image: Woodcut Portrait of John Manly from the Peabody Essex Museum

01/18/2026

Ahoy Pirate applicants,

There was an issue with the Application submission process on our website www.blackbeaerdscrew.org . That situation is now resolved . However anyone who tried to submit application through the web recently should Resubmit them . Sorry for the inconvenience . Our Webmaster dug deep and resolved the issue .

Pressgang Master

11/17/2025

Today in Hampton History
1718 - An expedition sails from Hampton to hunt down the notorious pirate Blackbeard.

The sloops Jane and Ranger, led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard, had been dispatched by Virginia governor Alexander Spotswood.

Maynard attacked Blackbeard on November 22 at Ocracoke, North Carolina, waging a furious battle in which Blackbeard was killed. Maynard and his expedition returned to Hampton with Blackbeard’s head and several prisoners.

Image: Blackbeard the Pirate, from Johnson’s General History of the Pyrates, 1725.

Explore more:
https://www.qaronline.org/

https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evm00003217mets.xml

11/09/2025

https://youtu.be/71T8YNyJCEQ

In Honor of our fallen

11/07/2025

The Hampton History Museum serves to increase the awareness and understanding of the history of Hampton by maintaining an educational and research center for the collection, exhibition, interpretation, preservation and promotion of the vast historic resources of the city.

10/24/2025

Professional re-enactor Alex Foster portrays Lt. Robert Maynard during the recreation of Blackbeard’s Last Stand at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the NPS boat dock. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Obs…