Pirates, barbecue competitions, rock bands, a worship service and dog agility demonstrations all are part of the fifth annual Bi-Mart Willamette River Festival that starts Friday in Albany.

The event opens at 5 p.m. at Monteith Riverpark and runs through Sunday.

Pirates entertain Saturday and Sunday and when not performing, festivalgoers can visit them in their encampment. Pirates will take part in a vaudeville show that features music, dancing, sword fights and "all manner of piratical behavior."

Youngsters 12 and under are invited to dress up like pirates for the Custom Eyes Pirate Parade and Costume Contest.

On Saturday "The King's Navy" will arrive looking for pirates. Flintlocks will fire and cutlasses will swing as the foes engage in a "Battle Royal."

The Outdoor Chef Competition is for anyone who wants to create their favorite food on the barbecue. Any heat source - charcoal, wood or gas -is acceptable.

At the sanctioned Ray's Food Place regional Kansas City Barbecue Society Competition, contestants will prepare chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket and pork butt. The dishes will be judged on appearance, taste and texture. There will be $10,000 in prizes given away.

People are asked to bring dry cat and kitten food to donate to SafeHaven Humane Society. Pet lovers can join in a pet parade, pet/owner look-a-like contests and more.

On Friday there will be a police canine unit on hand, and dogs that assist the handicapped will show off what they can do.

The humane society will have a booth at the festival where people can find out about adopting, volunteering, fostering or donating. Especially needed now are people who can foster cats and kittens.

Teens are invited to participate in a rock band competition that starts at 5 p.m. Friday. Those in the finals will perform on the Main Stage at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Other competitions this year include an adult rib-eating contest and a children's pie-eating event.

Saturday the festival wraps up with a performance by country and western singer Amy Clawson.

Sunday morning, several churches will present "Praise in the Park," a worship service starting at 9 a.m. and featuring contemporary Christian music. The Knox Bros will perform.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JULY 31

10 a.m. - Sales at downtown antique and specialty stores

5 p.m. - Bi-Mart Willamette River Festival opens

5 p.m. - Army Rock Band Battle of the Bands, preliminaries

5 p.m. - Calapooia Brewing Co. Beer Garden opens

5:15 p.m. - Petco Pet parade, adopt a pet

5:30 p.m. - WAG agility dogs demonstration

5:45 p.m. - Pet/Owner look-a-like contest

7 p.m. - Pet awards ceremony

7:30 p.m. - Movies by Moonlight, "Princess Bride"

10:30 p.m. - Calapooia Brewing Co. Beer Garden closes

11 p.m. - Festival closes

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

9 a.m. - Oregon outdoor chef cooks meeting

10 a.m. - Bi-Mart Willamette River Festival opens

10 a.m. - Pizza Hut River Bend Market opens

10 a.m. - Downtown Treasure Hunt begins; maps available at the Albany Downtown Association booth and festival site

10 a.m. - Coldstone Kids Zone opens, Safety Street opens

10 a.m. - Pirate enactment with Navy on beach

10 a.m. - Taqueria Alonzo Kids Q cooks meeting with fire and food safety tips from the Albany Fire Department and OSU Extension Service

10 a.m. - BBQ sample vending starts, visit Soroptimist's booth for script

10:30 a.m. - Albany Dance Academy performs Main Stage

11 a.m. - Pirate puppet show

11:30 a.m. - Custom Eyes Kid's Pirate parade and costume contest

Noon - Taqueria Alonzo Kids Q turn in and judging

Noon - Calapooia Brewing Beer Garden opens

12:30 p.m. - Pirate Vaudeville Show, Main Stage

1 p.m. - Shari's Pie Eating preliminaries, Main Stage

2 p.m. - Gene's Meat Market Rib Eating Contest, preliminaries, Main Stage

3 p.m. - Pirate Vaudeville Show, Main Stage

3 p.m. - Pirate Puppet Show

4 p.m. - Pirate Enactment with Navy on beach

5 p.m. - Army Rock Band Battle of the Bands finals, Main Stage

6 p.m. - Go Wireless Text Marks the spot text messaging challenge preliminaries, Main Stage

7 p.m. - Ray's Food Place KCBS Cooks meeting, mandatory

7 p.m. - Pirate Puppet Show

7:30 p.m. - Pirate Vaudeville Show Main Stage

7:30 p.m. - Pirate Enactment with Navy on beach

9 p.m. - Amy Clawson Concert presented by Bi-Mart, Main Stage

10:30 p.m. - Calapooia Brewing Co. Beer Garden closes

11 p.m. - Event closes for the day

SUNDAY, AUG. 2

9 a.m. - Bi-Mart Willamette River Festival opens

9 a.m. - Knox Bros, Main Stage, Riverbed Market opens

9 a.m. - Pirate Enactments in camp

9 a.m. - BBQ sample vending starts, visit Soroptimist's booth for script

9:45 .m. - Parable Praise in the Park

10:30 a.m. - Jesse Elliott, Main Stage

11 a.m. - VegiTales Larry Boy, on site with free photos

11 a.m. - Knox Bros performs, Main Stage

11 a.m. - Pirate puppet show

11:30 a.m. - Ray's Food Place KCBS BBQ turn-ins begin

Noon - Pirate Vaudeville Show, Main Stage

1 p.m. - Calapooia Brewing Beer Garden opens

1 p.m. - Shari's Pie Eating finals, Main Stage

2 p.m. - Gene's Meat Market Rib Eating Contest, finals Main Stage

2 p.m. - Pirate enactments in camp

3 p.m. - Pirate Puppet Show, Go Wireless Text Marks the Spot text messaging challenge finals, Main Stage

4 p.m. - Ray's Food Place BBQ Cook-off awards

5 p.m. - Festival closes