THE Skull and Crossbones pirate flag will be fluttering over St Helens town centre this October half term when the town is over-run by a seafaring crew.

One of our lucky readers will win a special prize to mark the pirate ‘invasion’.

Starting on Monday, October 22, until Saturday, October 27, the pirates will take over Church Square to host fun-packed free events.

Every day between 11am and 4pm there will be entertainment, including puppet shows, inflatable pirate ships, face painting, balloon modelling and much more.

The Pirate of Northants, The Cornish Pirates and Captain Crook and Crock will be joined in the town centre by their latest catch, a giant 50-foot whale. Throughout the week children will be able to go inside the whale and listen to pirate tales and stories.

 

For a chance to win a Family and Friends package at Dark Star, for four people, which includes two games of Laser Tag, two large pizzas and four medium soft drinks, answer the following question.
 

How big is the giant whale coming to town during Pirate week?


Send your answer with your name, age and address and a daytime contact number to news@sthelensstar.co.uk.


The closing date for entries is October 25.

 

Here is the timetable for Pirate fun in St Helens:

 Monday to Thursday:
Pirate puppet shows every day at noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.
Inflatable pirate ship – 11am to 4pm.


Monday to Saturday –
Pirate funfair rides throughout the day between 10am and 5pm.


Wednesday, October 24:
Balloon modelling at noon, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.


Thursday, October 25:
Pirate craft workshops between noon and 4pm.
Special appearance by Cbeebies Octonauts characters Captain Barnacles and Kwazii at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
Street entertainment from the Pirates of Northants at noon, 2pm and 3pm.


Friday, October 26:
Street entertainment from The Pirates of Northants at 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
The amazing Pirates’ Misadventure Show – taking place alongside a 50-foot whale! Exciting pirate tales will be told inside. Performances at 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Pirate-themed face painting between noon and 3pm.
Pirate craft workshops between noon and 4pm.


Saturday, October 27:
Street entertainment from:
Captain Crook and Crock at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
Captain Jack Sparrow at 11am to 12 noon, 12.30pm to 2.30pm and 3pm to 4pm.
The Cornish Pirates at noon, 1pm and 3pm.


Children aged 10 and under can join in the fun. They are encouraged to come to Church Square on Saturday, October 27, in their pirate fancy dress outfits. Judging and booty prizegiving is on Saturday at 1pm by our very own Captain Jack Sparrow look-alike. The winner of each competition will receive 10 free passes to the Treasure Island soft play centre in the town centre.

 

For more information about what’s happening in St Helens go to www.whatsoninsthelens.com or telephone 01744 675492. For regular event updates go to facebook.com/whatsoninsthelens and ‘like’ our page or follow us on twitter.com/whatsonsthelens