Young pirates are being given the chance to make history by naming Sundown Adventureland’s much-loved giant Galleon – with the winning name set to take pride of place on the ship at a special reveal event.
Sundown Adventureland is calling all budding buccaneers to come up with a brilliant pirate name for its huge wooden Galleon, which has been at the heart of Smuggler’s Cove in the award-winning theme park for under-10s for more than 30 years.
The hidden treasure for the lucky winner is their chosen name unveiled on a brand-new sign on the ship at a special BIG reveal pirate event on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Saturday 19 September.
There’ll be plenty of swashbuckling fun for the whole family to enjoy on the day. Visitors are invited to come dressed as pirates, join Honey & Sunny and the bears for pirate-themed entertainment in the Four Seasons Arena, and try to avoid getting splashed by the Sundown Pirate gang on the Jolly Pirate water barrel ride – before watching the grand unveiling of the Galleon’s new name.
Standing an impressive 10 metres high, the Galleon has always been a firm favourite with generations of Sundown visitors. Located in the seaside-themed Smuggler’s Cove play area, the huge wooden ship is packed with places for children to explore, hide and hunt for smuggled treasure while trying to evade capture.
The much-loved attraction also underwent a £250,000 restoration this spring, including new windows, a new ship’s wheel, soft furnishings and a meticulous repaint, helping to ensure the Galleon remains ship-shape for generations of young adventurers to enjoy. New stairs to reach the upper decks were also installed, where a three-metre plank and brand-new slide await little sailors for a swashbuckling private adventure.
To enter, budding shipmates simply need to visit the Sundown Adventureland Facebook page and comment with their best pirate-inspired name. Entries close on 6 September, with the winner contacted by 13 September and invited to attend the big reveal event on Saturday 19 September.
Shaun Malvern, director at Sundown Adventureland, said:
“The Galleon is one of our most popular attractions here at Sundown, with many families having nostalgic memories of playing on the pirate ship over the years.
“Family fun is at the heart of everything we do here, and what better way to celebrate this much-loved attraction than by giving children the chance to name the Galleon? It’s not every day you get the opportunity to name a ship, and we think the winning name will be a fantastic talking point for years to come.
“Whether or not you are lucky enough to win, we promise our event will be full of fantastic Sundown pirate fun. We can’t wait to discover all those pirate-inspired names and see everyone arriving in their best pirate costumes. We wish everyone the best of luck in the competition.”
Visitors can make the most of a full day at Sundown Adventureland, with more than 30 rides, attractions and play areas to explore and the pirate-themed entertainment, excluding the name reveal event, will also be taking place on Sunday 20 September.
Traditional, imaginative and exploratory play is encouraged throughout Toy Town, Storybook Village and Market Square, while children can let off steam in a host of indoor and outdoor adventure play areas, including Angry Birds Activity Park and Fort Apache.
Discounted tickets booked online in advance cost £20.95 for adults and children over 90cm, while tickets purchased at the gate cost £25.95. Children under 90cm enter free, with discounts available for disabled guests, seniors and carers.
The annual Sundown Fun Pass also includes access to the BIG reveal Pirate event and offers unlimited return visits for 12 months.
To submit a new name for the Galleon and for full Ts and Cs, visit: www.facebook.com/sundownadventureland/
For more information about Sundown Adventureland and to plan your adventure, visit: www.sundownadventureland.co.uk
Posted on 01 September 2026
