Blackbeard Pirate Festival for the Daily Press. Ahoo and RRRR! Hampton has been invaded by pirates this weekend. I got a chance to meet the founder of International Talk Like a Pirate Day and saw great costumes. It's considered one of the best pirate festival in the US, according to 2015 USA Today.

RRRRRRRR you at the Blackbeard Fest? Founder of Talk Like A Pirate Day, John Baur "Ol' Chumbucket"@Daily_Press pic.twitter.com/Ypg52h56Fe

— Sonya Paclob (@sonyapaclob) June 4, 2016

Come sail away with me or be captured by Blackbeard 💀⛵. Blackbeard Pirate Festival #757 #hampton #pirates #onassignment #757collective @dailypressnews

See this Instagram photo by @sonyacupa * 5 likes

From left, Living historians Barnabee Wylde of Virginia Beach, Paul Schubert of Virginia Beach and Rusty O'Toole of Gatesville in North Carolina, work together to making rope at the the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, Hampton, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Lenny Temple of Moyock, North Carolina takes a picture with his disposable camera during the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, Hampton, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)  

From left, Hampton residents Gene Sutter, Julie Sutter lets owner Laura Arnette of Cover dem Bones pets the Sutter's parrots Tattoo, Skittles and Maxwell at the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, Hampton, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

 

Jefferson Lab Open House for the Daily Press. Open to the public every two years to share where tax dollars are used and inspire young minds. 

Liam Thomson, 8 walks down the stairs as John Thomson of Hampton holds his hands as they saw the inside of the GlueXModel at Experimental Hall D for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press) 

From left, Newport News resident Brady Vincent, 11 and Virginia Beach Dian Chen, 10 as Tuo Chen, 4, watches them place body parts back into a demonstration on proton therapy at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)  

A rope with a caution sign separates the visitors from the quadruple magnetic equipment at the Accelerator Tunnel South for the Jefferson Lab Open House, Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press) 

From Left, Staff Dr. Paul Gaye holds a Nerf Gun to demonstrate proton therapy to seven-years-old Olivia Waltz and William Waltz of Hampton at the Jefferson Lab Open House in Newport News, Saturday, April 30, 2016. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)  

I avoid Black Friday shopping every year. It's a time where everyone, I mean everyone, is out shopping after the Thanksgiving. Long lines, bad parking and "apparently" great shopping deals. I prefer Cyber Monday. I sit back relax my pajamas while I surf the net for tech deals. 

This time, Daily Press sent me to cover for the Virginia Gazette at Williamsburg's quaint shopping areas, New Town. I didn't see lots of hoppers with multiple bags. Everyone I've talked said they did shopping on Thanksgiving Day or just avoided shopping all together. 

Stuart Brown, Arlington, Va., smiles with his children from left, Kendall Brown, 10, and Peter Brown, 12, with Paul Sheehan as Santa Claus who looks at picture taker Deena Walls, worker for New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. I'm normally the photographer in the family, Brown said, I'm glad I can be in the picture this time." Meeting with Santa and picture taking are free, said Paul. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Nina Gokita, 10, shows off her Black Friday purchase, a heart locket with the letter N at Justice in New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. According to her mother Tonya Gokita, Williamsburg, Nina bought the locket with her birthday money. "I bought this for 40% off and I'm happy, Nina said. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Owner Amanda Wilbourne of Nautical Dog places dog related items in a bag for her loyal customer Amanda Stendardo, Woodbridge, Va., after purchases at New Town Williamsburg, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Wilbourne was offering her customers Nautical Dog cash for every $50 spent towards $10 off purchases in January, she said. She will also offer the deal tomorrow on Small Business Saturday. (Sonya Paclob / Special to the Daily Press)

Pro tip for shoppers: The best time to go shopping is at Midnight closer to 3 am in the morning. Many shoppers are already sleeping and Thanksgiving door busters deals extend till Black Friday evening. I think it's a better deal then staying in line at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Reserve your time with family. 

Pro tip for photographers: Scout your locations earlier in the week. Small businesses are willing to have you around, then big box stores. Bath and Body Works didn't want me in to photograph inside the stores, but was OK with me outside the doors. 

Whats was your best deal that you got from Black Friday shopping? If you didn't go shopping, what other actives did you do? Sleeping till 3 p.m. counts.