Lubec to be invaded by pirates Staff and wire reports LUBEC – Maine is under threat of a pirate invasion on Aug. 30 by the notorious Eastport pirate captain Butch Harris and his crew of scallywags and wenches. The impending invasion will be supported by a flotilla of smaller pirate vessels carrying some of the most feared pirates on the downeast coast. The Pirate Invasion of Lubec will set sail from the Port of Eastport at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The pirate armada should arrive on the shores of Lubec at about 9:30 a.m. local time. By 10 a.m. the streets, eateries, public buildings, farm lands and stores should be overrun and ransacked by the wildest pirates ever seen on local waters in this century. “Our sleepy defenders won’t have a chance,” says Captain Butch Harris. “Our early morning attack should prove very profitable as we take what we want, including prisoners, grog and local livestock.” The Invasion of Lubec is all in good fun and is the kick-off of the Third Annual Eastport Pirate Festival that happens Sept. 5-7 in conjunction with the Maine Salmon Festival in this historic island community. “We are inviting all pirates on both sides of the border to participate in the Invasion of Lubec,” said John Miller who is organizing the event. “For a minimum donation of $20, anyone dressed as a pirate can be part of the fun on the pirate ship Sylvina Beal and join up with Captain Butch Harris and his merry band of mischief makers when they set their sights for the shores of Lubec. The invasion is the official start of The Pirate Festival and will help support the events of the following weekend.” There are rumors afloat that the people of Lubec are not going to sit idly by and let their beautiful town fall to these scurvy dogs. “I hear they are not going to let the pirates invade the community without some sort of fight,” said Miller. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but my guess is that it’s going to involve lots of water balloons.” But the pirates won’t be put off easily. Miller said that Harris and his gang plan to attack boat by land and by sea, with even strange rumors of pirates perhaps rappelling via helicopter. The Eastport Pirates will leave an invitation for the people of Lubec to invade Eastport the following weekend for the 3-day Pirate Festival. There is something for everyone during the Eastport Pirate Festival, which has quickly become one of the largest festival of its kind in the Maritimes. “[The festival] attracts thousands of pirates,” Miller said. “To walk down the street on any one of those [festival] days, you would have thought you were on the set of ‘Pirates of the Carribean.” Pirates that would like to participate in the Lubec Invasion can make reservations by calling 207-853-4343. For more information on the 2008 Eastport Pirate Festival, including a full list of events, visit www.eastportpiratefestival.com. The Eastport Pirate Festival supports the Friends of the Boat School and the local food bank.