JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- Cannons go off and pirates fire back at Alexandria Bay. It's all a part of a big show for Bill Johnston's Pirate Days.
"We kicked off last friday with a block dance and then throughout the weekend we had children's crafts and children's games. We've got skits at each end of town every day," said Keri Jobson, the Executive Director of the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce.
The 10 day event celebrates Bill Johnston, a renegade after the Patriot War who hid in Alexandria Bay after blowing up a British ship. It attracts thousands of people each year.
"We pretty much fill the town. we're almost at a maximum, there's no more space available. These are the 10 biggest days of the year for our merchants," said Tom Feinberg, the Vice-President of the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
An event that draws one of the biggests crowds is the invasion. Pirates sail to shore, take over the bay, and throw out gems and beads to the audience.
Volunteers aren't the only ones dressed up though.
"This year we really wanted to make it special for my daughter who's here from Albuquerque, New Mexico, so we decided, 'let's all dress up,'" said Syracuse Resident Terri Levasseur.
Levasseur has been attending Pirate Days for 10 years.
"We just love the people watching it and love the reenactment itself," she said. "It's really cool."
As long as there are fans, Pirate Days will continue to invade Alexandria Bay.
Sunday is the last day of Bill Johnston's Pirate Days. There will be a live infantry demonstration at 11:00 a.m. and the grand parade at 2:00 p.m.