So ye want t’ plan a pirates birthday party ey? You’ve come to the right site matey! You will find a ton of pirate party ideas here: food, games, decoration and drinks. Savvy? Great… now get yer swagger on and let’s run through this post.
Start by letting everyone know where to find your party with a door sign marking the spot. Why not wave red jolly rogers flags to inform your little buccaneers “no mercy would be shown” for this party will be the adventure of their life time!
Pirates Party Decorations
Let’s start with the big picture: the main two colors for this party are red and black. For an authentic feel, add black netting to a wooden backdrop. A skeleton and a treasure chest are a must have on any table. Setup your table with empty wine bottles, glass jars, corks, wood plating and wooden boxes to enhance your pirate theme. You can also deploy rope, a bird cage and lanterns for that extra touch from the deck.
Hint: if your party is in September, you’re in luck as a lot of Halloween merchandise is available and fits perfectly with the theme.
Let’s not forget that the small details will also make a big impression on your guests. Complete your table decoration with personalized food labels for each offering. Invite your guests to pick their treats using pirate expressions like “pick yer poison”. The food labels are a fun way to live this theme to the max!
Pirates Party Drinks Ideas
Luckily, I found a glass pitcher imprinted with a skull and bones, it fit perfectly with the table. I filled it with “Sea Water” which can be a blue variety of Hawaiian punch called Polar Blast or any fruity blue beverage. The pirate punch can also be made by filling it up with water and adding a few blue food grade coloring drops. Add some ice and top it off with a small pirate ship!
The same drink can be used to fill your bottles. I picked glass bottles with a personalized label for each. Moreover, I used some jolly rogers flags on black straws that are super easy to put together. Simply print, cut and glue one side over the other. You can also use glass jars to offer your buccaneers with a drink. Personalizing the drink bottles/jars adds complements your table decorations!
Why not diversify your drinks by offering some Crocodile Blood. While that sounds disgusting, your crew will be enticed to drink tomato juice which makes for a healthy alternative!
Pirates Party Food Ideas
Playing pirate is so much fun. Your snacks will play a key role in creating an ambiance that will WOW the crew. You don’t need to be chef to put on an amazing pirate themed table table. Most of the food you can offer will be very simple to put together with minor tweaking.
First and foremost, cupcakes! No party is complete without cupcakes. In my opinion, cupcakes are a better option than a birthday cake resulting in less of a mess. They simply pick it up and eat it. They want more? Well then, just pick up another one!
Dress up the cupcakes to fit your favorite pirate theme, it can be as a ship with the jolly rogers, Jake and the never land pirates or even the Pirates of the Caribbean. The template I created turns each cupcake into a 3D pirate ship. What pirate part is complete without a ship raising the jolly rogers flag!
Drums roll, please! Time to dive into my inner child’s imagination to bring to the table the best food ideas for your crew. Match them with their corresponding pirate party food labels to complete your food table decor!
Sea Shells: Use any kind of small pastry and cut them in half leaving the other side intact. Add two candy mints and color the eyes with an edible food pen.
Crab Wishes: Another easy one to make. Simply use mini or normal size croissant. Cut red pepper stripes in a mouth shape and use toothpicks with stuffed green olives for the eyes.
Fish and Chips: This is one of the easiest to do, simply mix some chips with Goldfish fish-shaped cheese crackers, voila!
Sharks: Shiver me timbers, are these sharks in the ocean? Well yes they are and they’re edible! This is simply a combination of blueberry jello and Juicy Blue Shark Gummies. Make an individual portion in small cups or one big bowl for an aquarium effect. Either add the sharks on top of the jello or in the middle of it. Tip: Place the gelatin mixture bowl over an ice bath until just beginning to thicken. Then add your candy and put them back in the fridge until serving.
Glass Eyes: Run a rig on yer crew with these green eyes gummies, that’s how them pirates replaced their lost ones, Yikes!
Jewels: I love those Ring Pop Candy Rings, they make perfect pirate jewels!
Fingers: Offer some dead man’s fingers for your crew with some yummy milk chocolate fingers!
Necklace: Add more candy to the table with these necklaces. They make perfect party favors and add more treasure to the table!
Worms: Why not add some yummy candy gummy worms!
Shark Teeth: Candy corn make the tastiest shark teeth ever!
Pearls: Use cookies to create a shell, decorate the top as you please. Keep the cream to hold the pearl inside.
TNT, Bombs or Canon Balls: The canon balls are made out of chocolate donuts and the TNT fingers are simply made of red Twizzlers licorice candy wrapped with a label!
Treat Boxes: Treat boxes make the perfect distribution medium of popcorn/chips/candy to to your guests. I love this party favor because each mate can have his individual box and the size is perfect for one filling. These fun party treat boxes get personalized with the birthday name and age.
As a reminder, right before Halloween is the best time to plan your next pirate party. You can find a load of decorations that you can use for your table.
Pirates Party Game Ideas
Time to have some fun! A pirate ship is about to unload a crew right into your backyard. Be prepared as those mates will be full of energy and willing to face any challenge.
SWORD BATTLES
The buccaneers are itching for a fight! All you have to do is supply them with foam swords, their imagination takes over from there. A cheap way that guarantees a lot of fun times!
CAPTAIN PIÑATA
If you’re not a fan of sword fighting, here’s a super fun game where you can use the foam swords. Gather the crew outside providing them each with a sword. One of the adults dresses up as a Captain and gets loaded with candy. The Cap’n has to run ahead of the kids as each time they touch him, he has to stand still and give up candy. You’re captain is basically a live piñata running from a bunch of candy crazed little buccaneers!
WALK THE PLANK
To play this game, you will obviously need a plank! You can build your own by nailing the plank to blocks of wood from each side lifting it some inches from the ground. Each guest will have to walk the plank without falling into the water. You can create some effects by placing some objects on the sides such as an inflatable pool (filled with little water) , inflatable shark…
CANNON BALL
Pair the pirates up in the background and have them stand face to face. Players must toss a black water balloon back and forth to their partner and they should not drop it. The team that breaks the balloon will be eliminated. Too easy they say? Play while blindfolded, arrr! The players whose canon ball lasts the longest win!
BUILD A PIRATE SHIP
Each pirate will have to create his own pirate ship. They will receive a large box, fabric for the flag, paint and any supplies to help their imagination flow. Take a picture of each pirate by using their new creation as a photo prop.
BURIED TREASURE
A pirate will not leave empty handed back to their ship! Team up the crew providing each one with a map of a hidden treasure. Each spot gives them a new clue for the next one. Dig clues from the dirt, find them on trees or under pots, your little ones will surely be proud every time they unlock a mystery. The treasure can be gold (chocolate) coins, stickers, ring candy.
Last but not least, if you’re planning the coolest party in town, you need to prep your guests with equally awesome pirates birthday invitations such as these:
SOME PIRATE EXPRESSIONS TO BE INSPIRED BY:
Ahoy = Hello
All hands on deck! = Everyone on the deck
Avast ye! = Stop you!; pay attention!
Landlubber = A person who is uncomfortable, or not incredibly skilled, at sea
Run a rig = Play a trick
Shiver me timbers! = An expression used to show shock or disbelief
Son of a biscuit eater = An insult
Dead men tell no tales = The reason given for leaving no survivors
Booty = Treasure or loot
Yo-ho-ho = Pirate laughter o’course!
