Shoreline Park in Long Beach was invaded by pirates on Saturday for a planned two-day takeover.

Thousands of pirates plundered for fun, drank flagons of ale, gulped grub and competed in garb contests. Zaftig pirate wenches showed off their pulchritude and made merry with the buccaneers.

The day was filled with sword fights, cannon blasts, musket battles and troupes of musicians. (But they did not play pirated music.)

And in keeping with pirate lore there was the requisite pirate bouncy house and face-painting booth for the wee scalawags.

This is the 12th anniversary of the event. Crowds of more than 50,000 are expected to take over the island this weekend.

Of course, pirate actors are famous for the “aaarghs” and also for their corny jokes.

And speaking of corny….

  • How much did the pirate charge for corn at his roadside stand? … A buck-an-ear

We asked a few of Saturday’s pirates for their favorite pirate joke:

  • Why couldn’t the pirates play poker on their ship? … The Captain was standing on the deck.
  • Why didn’t the pirate take a shower before walking the plank? … He knew he would wash up on shore.
  • What happened when Red Beard fell into the great blue sea? … He got marooned.
  • What does a pirate with heartburn say? … “Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of Tums.”

For more bad pirate jokes, you can head to Shoreline Village on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Mermaid Claudia Torres and pirate Steve Flores were among the thousands who attended the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
A pirate takes a brief nap during the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
“Robert Lord Raider” was one thousands who attended the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Nicole Hanley waves a pirate flag near the lighthouse during the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Sword swallower Cyrus Pynn shares a laugh with a volunteer from the audience during the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Sword swallower Cyrus Pynn entertained the crowd at the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
A group of pirates watched a band during the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
A pirate ship floated past the Queen Mary during the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Dianna Condon of Badlands Savages entertained guests at the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Zakory Serbanich put on pirate gear and called himself Captain Zak. He was watching a performance at the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
One of most popular costumes at the Pirate Invasion was Jack Sparrow, the Johnny Depp character in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach was held at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Antonio, an Italian Greyhound, was dressed in a Pirate costume at the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer
Pirate ship canon fire was too loud for this young visitor the 12th annual Pirate Invasion of Long Beach at Shoreline Aquatic Park on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Photo by Bill Alkofer