Ahoy, Mateys! “Shiver Me Timbers – Music and Mayhem” will open the Merrill City Band 2014 concert season on Wednesday, June 25 at Normal Park. Narrator Dastardly Bootz, The Thirsty Night Pirates, and Director Cap’n Darby Deadbones will take the crowd through an evening of pirate fun.
Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with bounty for sale and activities for little ones. The concert will get underway at 7 p.m. and will feature vocal soloist Rusty Pipes Aaaarrrrsted and alto saxophonist Sea Monkey Xena, along with a program of pirate related music.
Residents in and near the park, be ye forewarned!! The pirate cannon will be fired regularly throughout the evening. Bring a buck and you can be one of the lucky ones to help shake up the neighborhood.
The Lions Club will offer burgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, and water. Pirate’s Booty ice cream and other flavors will be available from the Historical Society. They will also be serving up pie, with proceeds going to the band. And, of course, popcorn and lemonade will be available from HAVEN.
Walking the plank, digging for buried treasure, face-painting, and a coloring contest will be available for kids, with prizes in various age categories. Eye patches and name tags will be available, along with other fun pirate items. A little pirate parade will make its way through the audience during the first half of the concert.
Piratin’ can be hard on the body, so the Wellness Center will be offering chair massages for $1 a minute as part of their Massage for a Cause, with proceeds being donated to the band. Good luck gettin’ Cap’n Darby off a chair! Local businesses have donated a little booty to be given out as part of the ever-popular 50/50 raffle.
Though pirates be a nasty lot in real life, this is all in good fun. Band members will be donning their best pirate attire and encourage audience members to do the same, whether you’re a little pirate or just a pirate at heart. In addition to prizes for the best dressed little pirates, there will also be a prize for the best dressed adult.
Concert sponsors include Dave’s County Market, Drew’s Piggly Wiggly, Foto News, Merrill Courier, Merrill Historical Society, Mitchell Metal Products, Reindl Printing, The Wellness Center, Walmart, and WJMT.
A rain date has been set for July 9 in the event weather forces a cancellation. Pirate night in the park will have something for everyone, so bring your lawn chair or blanket and head over to Normal Park. Aaaaarrrrrrr!!!!!!