It’s not every day a giant pirate ship and moving pirate skeletons make an appearance in Richmond, but that is exactly what is happening this weekend.
What started off as a simple sketch on a sheet of toilet paper has turned into a 26-foot long by 12.5-foot wide wooden pirate ship that is now sitting outside Jonny’s Towing and Recovery Ltd.
According to Jonny So, owner of Jonny’s Towing and Recovery Ltd., the ship is the highlight of the event and aims to bring back the Halloween spirit that the community “so desperately needs again.”
“Halloween has been an important part of my life and it’s more important now than ever since the pandemic has limited what we can do,” said So.
“It has been one of my favourite holidays since I was a kid because I remember going somewhere for Halloween and I just miss the feeling of being in the community and just seeing people.”
The pirate ship, he added, is made out of 150 wooden pallets, which were donated by a local construction site and community members. It took a total of three and a half weeks of solid work, over the course of three months, to build.
“My idea of the ship was to be about six feet by three feet — but oops!
“I guess you either go big or go home.”
The pirate-themed event will have groups follow a one-way path to individual docks and stations decorated with motorized pumpkins and skeletons, onto the pirate ship followed by a face painting station and lastly a goodie bag stop for kids.
And if you don’t want to join the pirate crew or walk the plank, So is advising visitors to not go astray and stick to the marked path throughout the event.
He added that, while the event is free, visitors have the option to purchase a unique pirate token designed and made specifically for the event.
When asked what will happen to the ship after Halloween, So said he has already had offers from families to rent the giant pirate ship for birthday parties. He said it would be a shame to have to say goodbye to it after spending the effort to build it.
“These last two years has been pretty bad, so I hope I can bring some enjoyment to people.”
The pirate event will take place at 12371 Bridgeport Rd., near Vulcan Way and Bridgeport Road, between 6:45 and 11 p.m. from Oct. 29 to 31.
