If piracy doesn’t work out for a few of the contestants in Corunna Captain Kidd Days costume contest, stand-up may be a back-up career.
Advertisement 2
Article content
During a pause while waiting for the judges’ decision Friday evening, Jim Kilbreath, who was playing Captain Kidd, told a joke and asked the young contestants if they knew anything.
Several did.
One went, “What’s a pirate’s favorite letter? You’d think it’s the rrr, but it’s really the sea.”
Gignac said the pirate costume contest is always a lot of fun but she was surprised at how quickly the youngsters jumped in with jokes.
“We didn’t ask them to bring anything, they just happened to have them,” she said.
About seven youngsters came on stage at Corunna Athlete Park in pirate gear for the contest on the second night of the annual community summer long-weekend event and fundraiser.
Koara Hagan, 8, earned a trophy for looking most like Captain Kidd. Carter McCormick, 3, won best homemade costume and his brother Reece McCormick, 6, took home the scariest costume prize.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“It’s a fun contest,” said Sharon LaPier, one of the judges and owner of LaPier’s Flowers and Gifts, the costume contest’s sponsor.
“It’s the biggie,” LaPier said about Captain Kidd Days in the community. “You don’t go anywhere out of town on this weekend.”
The four days of music, tournaments and family events in the park are organized by a community committee and generally attracts several thousand attendees while raising an average of $40,000 for local charities.
“We had a little bit of a hiccup with our setup today,” chairperson Geoff Dale said. Weather was threatening and some rain fell on the park earlier Friday.
“It put us a little behind schedule, but no big deal,” he said.
A movie night in the park Thursday, along with other activities, attracted several hundred people and there was a good crowd Friday evening.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“We’re very happy with the turnover,” Dale said.
Friday’s events included Kilbreath and his “crew” landing by boat at Corunna’s ferry dock where he was met by a small crowd and made his way to the park for events which included the costume judging, a youth talent contest and, new this year, a battle of the bands.
“We have six bands this year,” Gignac said about the lineup taking part in the battle. “We were delighted.”
More live music followed Friday evening’s contests.
On the schedule Saturday: a parade at 11 am, ball hockey, two-pitch and beach volleyball tournaments, a popular “kidd zone” starting at noon, and more live music.
Sunday: a car show, wrestling, live music and fireworks.
It was the 39th running of Captain Kidd Days, an event initially organized by the local business improvement association that came up with the story that Captain Kidd, a well-known figure from history, had buried his treasure on Stag Island, which sits off Corunna in the St. Clair River.
Marianne Gignac, right, is shown on stage with Captain Kidd, also known as Jim Kilbreath, and contestants in Friday’s Corunna Captain Kidd Days pirate costume contest.
Article content