Throw a birthday bash worthy of the Seven Seas with our Pirate Party Ideas! Read on for general party planning tips as well as great pirate-themed decorating, food, game, and activity suggestions.
Party Planning
For peace of mind, begin planning 6 - 8 weeks in advance to allow time to purchase and mail invitations, as well as to give your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase attendance.
To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, take a look at our When & Where to Have the Party page, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.
What Do I Need for the Party?
If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be helpful when placing an order. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.
Decorating & Food Ideas
Fun Ideas to Set the Mood
- Make a treasure chest by covering a large shoebox with brown construction paper and strips of gold foil or glitter paint. Fill it with shells, plastic necklaces, craft "jewels," and plastic gold coins.
- Hang fishing nets from the ceiling and/or walls.
- Cover the table(s) with disposable, blue-colored tablecovers, sand, seashells, and faux pearls.
- Make a skull and crossbones out of white construction paper, and hang it on one of the walls of the party area.
- Perch a stuffed parrot on a table, chair, or shelf in the party area.
- Play the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack or a sea sounds music CD.
- As the guests arrive, tie bandannas around their heads and place eye patches on them. You can even dot on rough beards with face paint and clip on gold hoop earrings.
Swashbuckler Snacks
When it comes to food, partygoers are usually perfectly content to eat pizza or hotdogs, which is certainly much easier on the hosts! However, if you have the time and would like to serve some sea fare, consider these ideas:- Make "Sea Water" by coloring pitchers of apple juice with blue food coloring. You can even add plastic plants purchased from a local aquarium- or pet-supply store.
- Mix up a batch of "Quicksand" for your guests by preparing several packages of vanilla or butterscotch pudding and topping it off with "sand" made from crushed vanilla wafers or sugar cookies. For added effect, put the pudding in a new sand bucket, add the crumbled cookies and a few chocolate shells, and serve your concoction with a sand shovel.
- Make a batch of Ginger "Beer" for your guests by filling frosted mugs ¾-full with ginger ale and ice. Top off each mug with root beer to give the drinks a frothy head.
- Serve up a snack attack by mixing Goldfish crackers and shark-shaped fruit snacks as a fishy trail mix.
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