It's a plunderful life: Pirate Viking Summer Festival wants your booty in Edgewood

For several years, pirates and Vikings have been docking their ships in search of treasure in Edgewood.

The Pirate Viking Summer Festival returns for its fifth year, celebrating the culture and history surrounding seafaring people. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25, at the Wildlife West Nature Park, 87 North Frontage Road, in Edgewood.

The event, which started in 2019, was originally meant to be a prelude to the renaissance festival in March.

It's a plunderful life: Pirate Viking Summer Festival wants your booty in Edgewood

“We were asked if there was any event to put on in-between the renaissance festival and people kept telling me there were no big pirate-themed events in New Mexico so we tried it out,” said Eric Vigil, director of the event.

The first show had roughly 120 people, and this year the festival is expected to host 8,000-10,000 people in its two days.

“Our guests wanted more so we gave them more stages and more shows,” Vigil said. “We have entertainers people have probably never seen before.”

The festival will feature five different stages with 62 performances throughout the weekend from a variety of groups including pirate-themed bands, comedy troupes, fire spinning and belly dancing. Over 42 vendors will sell crafts throughout the weekend.

The demos stage will highlight themed activities like a weapons workshop, a weapons exhibition tournament and time for guests to free spar. There will also be a Viking camp and ship building historian.

“We want to make sure that we’re committed to bringing a culturally dynamic experience and embracing the history of world cultures in a fun and educating environment,” Vigil said. “We want people in New Mexico to see and experience other cultures.”

Guests will have the opportunity to live out their nautical dreams by competing in the costume contests. Adults and children will have separate contests.

“Kids get a kick out of dressing up, but adults don’t really get the chance and many of them say they still want the chance to do that, and now they have it,” Vigil said.

Adults will have the chance to enjoy an all-adult after-party if they purchase a special ticket.

“A lot of adults reached out to me to see if there was a way to make an adults-only section,” he said. “The after-party will feature performances that are made for adults in a space just for them.”

Kids ages 17 and younger are free to attend the event.

“It can put a lot of financial burden on parents to pay for an adult ticket for their teenagers,” Vigil said. “Parents can save that ticket money and spend the extra money on food and drink and items from the vendors. It works out well for us because for every adult that comes, they bring 2.5 children with them.”

A range of family-friendly games will also make an appearance at the festival with activities like a dunk tank and a ring the bell competition.

Adults will have the option to visit four beer taverns and taste mead. Offerings from Dark Mark Mead, Lizard Tail Brewing, Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, Pixie Mead and Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery will be on the taste testing menu. Adults do not have to stay within a beer garden to drink and will be able to roam the festival with their beverage.

Vigil felt it was important to support a variety of nonprofits, which is why he decided to host the event on the Wildlife West Nature Park property. University of New Mexico graduate students will run the tomato toss booth and proceeds will go toward the students, and there will be a donation-based petting zoo by the Masleña Rescue Foundation.

“Our goal is to make sure there’s so much new entertainment that it gives true value to a ticket holder,” Vigil said. “We want this to be a unique event for everyone who comes, and eventually we hope to make this the worldwide destination for pirate and Viking festivals.”