Children’s own festival Lastenpop began with a pirate adventure in sunny weather. The courtyard of the Art Museum was packed with small and big pirates with their swords and face paintings when Captain Kaukoranta headed his ship Pearl to Joensuu. You could go on a pirate adventure course, learn how to play drums and there were musical performances. Taija Tykkyläinen tells us that she came with her 5- and 11 year old daughters out of an impulse. –The adventure seems interesting and we are waiting to get there. Imagination has definitely been used here!

The Pearls cook Fearsome-Hellu feed the little pirates at Lastenpop. Sweet cookies have been popular as well as marshmallow brownies! There’s been hassle in the galley, pots are flying and pans are clanking. The weather would improve if it rained; reasonable amount of misery is always welcome! The treasure was found by the little pirates as our Captain isn’t that good with maps even though he is a seasoned sailor. New and useful crew has been recruited and the Pearl will sail to the seven seas to face new adventures, Hellu tells us.

Skullhead-Kalle is the Pearls’ first mate and responsible for steering the vessel and the crew. He also takes care of the rum stock. –Pearl is constantly looking for new sailors, Kalle tells us. There’re hundreds of new recruits already! He recalls when the Pearl was shipwrecked on the seven seas. –Just before shore a devastating storm caught us and whole crew became seasick! Everybody held on where they could and water just kept on coming in. There were several sharks and I had to wrestle with one. It bit me on the cheek but I could beat it!

Lastenpop continues on Friday the 17th from 12 till 18.30