Sea dogs and landlubbers alike descended on Conwy at the weekend for the town's annual Pirate Festival.

The event, now 10 years old, celebrates Wales' rich history of buccaneering seafarers, such as Pembrokeshire's infamous Black Bart, the former Governor of Jamaica Henry Morgan from Llanrumney and Rhuddlan brothers Owen and John Lloyd, who some believe were the true inspiration for Long John Silver in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Thanks to organisers Conwy Pirates CIC, the festival has become a major annual attraction for tourists and pirate enthusiasts alike, with visitors this year arriving from Poland, France, Singapore, Germany Switzerland, America and Japan.

The festival attracts thousands of visitors to Conwy each year to discover more about pirate history, immerse themselves in the music and arts that came out of the period and much more.

As well as arts and crafts stalls, falconry demonstrations and chainsaw carving, visitors could experience pirate stories and watch cannon battles. This year British militia reenactment groups on land took on Conwy Pirates - joined on deck by a the River Rogues pirate group from Oxford - and the crew of the Vilma, a vessel owned and restored by Scott Metcalfe at his Port Penrhyn shipyard near Bangor.

There was traditional folk music and sea shanties courtesy of bands including Port Sunlight Sea Dogs, Reiver's Gallows, Quayside Buccaneers, Christina Dawn, Wombat & Muttley and the Old Time Sailors, period dance demonstrations and a chance for people to learn how some of the tools and weapons of the day were made. You could even spot Conwy mermaid Aurora sunning herself on the sea wall and swimming with children in the  shallows.

This year there was also a gun salute to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI plus the launch of a special range of pirate beers and ciders by Snowdonia Brewery Conwy and four flavoured Conwy Pirate rums by local distillery pHure Liquors. 

As is now the custom, many visitors even dressed up themselves, cosplaying as either pirates or British militiamen, adding to the vibrance and excitement of the event.

"We will definitely be coming back again," said first-time visitor Tracey Lewis-Freeman, who attended with her fiance.

"We came here alone to dress up and enjoy the festivities, but by the time we had left we'd made so many amazing friends, it was really great."

"The festival continues to grow and we are always adding more attractions," said Joy Servaes Mann, Director of Conwy Pirates CIC.

"We want to thank all our volunteers and sponsors for supporting this event, which really puts Conwy on the map. Without grants, donations and the hard work of our dedicated volunteers who give their time freely to benefit the town, it wouldn't be able to happen.