Pirate Days brings boats, music and parade to Alexandria Bay

Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days returned to Alexandria Bay over the weekend with children’s activities, live music and business specials, along with the event’s traditional boat invasion and parade.

The Fair Jeanne, a Canadian tall ship, joined the festivities. The annual celebration honors Thousand Islands pirate Bill Johnston, who was a privateer during the War of 1812 and later sank a British steamship in 1838 before hiding among the islands to avoid capture.