The Seafair Pirates will perform their annual invasion of Alki Beach today July 6 between 11:30am and 12:30pm depending on the tide.

Massive crowds attend this event which actually opens at 9:30am with vendors, music and more lining the Alki Beach Promenade near the Alki Bathhouse at 1702 Alki Ave. SW. Bring your camera and in the afternoon kids who dress up like pirates can win prizes in a look-alike contest. It's also the start of West Seattle's annual Hi-Yu Summer Festival. Hi-Yu is a non-profit organization, established in 1934 by West Seattle's service clubs to produce a summer festival to promote the West Seattle Community.

The annual Hi-Yu Summer Festival is held the third week of July. Dozens of events occur throughout the neighborhood during this week. The kick-off event is the Pirates Landing, and it finishes over a week later with the Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship Program.

Here's how the Pirates themselves put it:

The 65th annual Seattle Seafair Pirates Landing festivities officially begin at 10:00 AM at Alki Beach Park. The event features live music by Shelly and the Curves starting at 10:30 AM and several food and merchandise booths. A new feature this year is the addition of the Beer Garden featuring our sponsors Sailor Jerry’s and Alaskan Ale.

The Seafair Princesses will arrive at 11:30 to meet the public. The Seafair Parade Marshals and Seafair Commodores will be there assisting with the production of the event, a special thank you to our Seafair Families. Other guests include the West Seattle Hi-Yu Court representing the Hi –Yu Festival.

The Seafair Pirates will storm the beach between 12 Noon and 12:45 PM (at the mercy of the tide). Once the seafaring swashbucklers hit the beach it’s time to entertain the crowd with songs and antics. A knighting ceremony by Seafair President Beth Knox and 2012 Miss Seafair Veronica Asence will be featured along with a few surprises by Seafair’s Captain of Summer Chip Hanauer.

Let’s not forget those little pirates with several bouncers and the Costume Contest at 2:30 PM. The Pirates will invite them to participate in 3 age groups 0-5, 6-8 and 9-12. The public will vote by applaud for their favorite in each age group then the three finalists will compete for a Ride Along with the Seafair Pirates in the West Seattle Hi Yu Parade on July 20th.