Midwest Pirate Fest 2026

Midwest Pirate Fest 2026 takes place August 22–23 at Bellevue Berry Farm, Papillion, Nebraska, with daily hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event brings pirate-themed entertainment, interactive games, a $100 cash treasure hunt, sword play, fencing displays, artisan vendors, food, and family activities to one of Nebraska’s best-known seasonal event venues.

⚓ What to Expect

Midwest Pirate Fest is a two-day, family-friendly pirate festival built around live entertainment, themed characters, games, merchant stalls, food, and hands-on activities. Visitors can dress in seafaring gear or attend casually, with the atmosphere centered on playful pirate adventure rather than historical reenactment alone.

A major highlight is the daily treasure hunt, where participants follow clues for a $100 cash prize. The event also includes interactive puzzles, contests, games, and activities throughout the grounds. Families will find children’s crafts, scavenger-style fun, and plenty of roaming pirate characters, while adults can enjoy select paid experiences such as rum tasting.

For readers planning other themed weekends in the same season, the event fits naturally alongside other Renaissance Faires & Medieval Festivals in August 2026 and pirate-themed gatherings listed under Pirate Festivals.

🕒 Opening Hours

🎟 Admission and Tickets

Tickets are available online, with admission costing $2 more at the door. Online ticket purchase is available through the event’s ticketing page: Purchase tickets.

Parking is listed as free, with premium paid parking near the entrance for $5 cash only.

⚔️ Program Highlights

• 10:00 a.m. — Black powder report / cannon shot warning
• 12:30 p.m. — Pirate’s Rum Tasting
• 2:00 p.m. — Grand Parade & Treasure Hunt
• 2:10 p.m. — Black powder report / cannon shot warning
• 2:30 p.m. — Pirate’s Rum Tasting
• 4:30 p.m. — Pirate’s Rum Tasting
• 6:00 p.m. — Black powder report / cannon shot warning

The Pirate’s Rum Tasting is a 21+ paid activity with a $25 cash-only ticket sold at the information table inside the festival grounds. Seating is limited, and the experience includes rum samples, a souvenir shot glass, and a sweet treat.

The Grand Parade & Treasure Hunt brings the cast and crew through the festival grounds before ending at the Stranded Pirate Ship, where the day’s cash treasure clue is announced. Sword play and fencing are also part of the event, with Omaha Metro Armed Combat Academy offering fencing lessons and freestyle foil displays throughout the day.

🏰 Venue: Bellevue Berry Farm

Bellevue Berry Farm is a rural-style event venue in Papillion, listed in the city’s visitor guide as one of the local attractions. The grounds host seasonal events and provide an open-air setting well suited to themed festivals, vendor areas, stage entertainment, and family activities.

📍 About Papillion

Papillion is the county seat of Sarpy County and part of the Omaha metropolitan area. The city had an estimated population of 25,127 residents in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Its name comes from the French word papillon, meaning butterfly, a reference connected to early French accounts of butterflies along the local creek valley. The community developed in the 19th century around rail connections and became an important Sarpy County center. Local historic sites such as the John Sautter Farmhouse and Portal Schoolhouse help preserve the area’s pioneer and educational heritage.

🚗 How to Get There

By road, Papillion is easily reached from the Omaha metro area using I-80, I-680, Highway 370, and local routes toward South 48th Street. Visitors coming from Lincoln can typically approach via I-80 eastbound before connecting through the Omaha–Papillion road network.

The nearest major airport is Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska’s largest commercial airport, located north of downtown Omaha. Rail travelers can use the Omaha Amtrak station, while intercity bus passengers can connect through Omaha bus services before continuing by car, rideshare, or local transport to Papillion.

📏 Approximate Distances from Papillion

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