Pirate Festival (Fort York)

If you’ve seen all you can at the CNE and Ontario Place, the new August waterfront event to check out is Fort York’s Pirate Festival. Last year’s was the first, and things went off well and clearly it’s now going to be an annual tradition. The event centres around the village stage, which runs family-friendly shows all day. Those include pirate magician Captain Thom Bedlam, performers Men in Tights and Ship of Fools and the Celtic sounds of Ceol Cara. Between shows you can browse the cluster of over 40 vendors, who are selling all sorts of pirate-like things such as jewelry and period costumes. But there’s also a strong educational bent to the day, with live demonstrations of blacksmithing, leatherworking and boat building. Plus, you can learn how to sword fight, like a pirate! Pirate Festival runs weekends from August 18 to September 3, 10-6. Admission is $16 for adults, students $12 and kids 12 and under $10. 100 Garrison Road, 416-840-6504, www.thepiratefestival.com.