PIRATES OF THE HUDSON Festival Set for Sleepy Hollow, Now thru 7/7

Rollicking bands of pirates will be swashbuckling through Sleepy Hollow at Philipsburg Manor's July Fourth weekend festival, "Pirates of the Hudson: The Siege of Sleepy Hollow."

This family friendly event produced by Historic Hudson Valley takes place today, through Sunday, July 4-7, with timed entries beginning at 1pm, and will feature a mother lode of activity including gypsy sword dancers, live pirate music courtesy of the Brigands, and other entertaining scallywags, who will interact with visitors and skirmish amongst themselves throughout the day.

Adults and kids alike can get their picture taken with a "real" live mermaid princess and a clever, talkative parrot named Peterwick. Visitors can test their aim while trying to sink a ship in the game of Davy Jones' Revenge.

Kids can get a temporary glitter tattoo from a professional artist in Molly Rogers Tattoo Hut, take part in the Pieces of Eight treasure hunt, wiggle their way through a huge pirate shipwreck, and get training in the art of being a pirate. A blacksmith will handcraft tools of the pirate trade like grappling hooks and boarding axes.

Produced by the same team that creates the haunted October blockbuster Horseman's Hollow, Pirates of the Hudson showcases the merchant history of Philipsburg Manor - originally the seat of a 52,000-acre commercial empire - through the lens of a hearty pirate festival.

As merchants heavily involved in the trans-Atlantic trade, the Philipse family had extensive dealings with pirates and privateers. This event celebrates that history and makes those connections for visitors in a festival atmosphere.

Draft brews from event sponsor Captain Lawrence Brewing Company of Elmsford will be available, as well as a multitude of pirate-themed culinary creations from Tastefully Yours of Briarcliff Manor.

The Thieves Market gives visitors the opportunity to bag exclusive Pirates of the Hudson booty including t-shirts, mugs, postcards, key chains, as well as classic pirate accessories such as eye patches, hooks, swords, and bandannas. Other offerings include glittering mermaids, octopus stuffed animals, huge parrot pinadas, pirate cookies, frosted lollipops and chocolates, pirate flags, miniature bottle treasure maps, pirate pop guns, and fish bubble blasters.

Event admission is by advance timed ticket and all experiences are continuous throughout the afternoon. Tickets are available on the hour beginning at 1 p.m each day. The last admission is at 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $16 for adults and $12 for children under 18. Members of Historic Hudson Valley receive a $5 discount per ticket. Pirates of the Hudson is held rain or shine. Proceeds benefit Historic Hudson Valley, the Tarrytown-based non-profit educational organization that owns and operates Philipsburg Manor.

You can follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PiratesHudson and on Twitter www.twitter.com/HHValley using hashtag #PiratesHudson

Philipsburg Manor is at 381 North Broadway (Route 9) in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. For information and tickets: 914-366-6900, www.hudsonvalley.org.

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