Arrrrr! Avast, mateys, Friday be international Talk Like a Pirate Day, so brush of your eye patch and hoist the Jolly Roger. This annual holiday takes place every Sept. 19 and was created because a powerful need was seen for a large dose of the silly. You can learn more about the origins of this fine beauty of a holiday as well as tips, lingo and pirate pick-up lines at www.talklikeapirateday.com on the interweb, don’t yer know.

Some of the scurvy scallywags here in the valley have decided that one day’s not big enough for Talk Like a Pirate day, so they’ve jumped the gun a bit on the special events. That’s all jake. Pirates aren’t big on sticking to the land lubbers’ rules or calendars.

Everyone is invited to a Talk Like a Pirate family fun workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight, Sept. 17, in the Community Room of the  Centennial Hills Community Center at 6601 N. Buffalo Drive. Supplies and light refreshments are included with the admission. The price be five shilling… pardon, I mean five doubloon… What!? Alright, $5, whatever that be. For more information, call 229-6729.

There be another Talk Like a Pirate day event from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Malcolm Library at 2690 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Suite 100, in Henderson. Activities be planned for bilge rats ages 8 to 12. Registration required, admission is free. For more information, call 263-7522.

Finally,  Pirates Ahoy, a Talk Like a Pirate Day event featuring stories, sea shanties and crafts for the wee sprouts 6 and younger will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Storyroom of the Spring Valley Library at 4280 S. Jones Blvd. Although the event be for the young ‘uns, all ages are invited, and costumes are encouraged. Admission is free. For information, call 507-3820

Have fun and try to keep the pillaging to a minimum. It frightens the lubbers, don’t ya know.