PIRATE PARTY

"Ahoy there maytee…. Captain Jack and First Mate Jones invite you aboard, Old Ship Evening Sun. She will weigh anchor and set sail at 5:00 p.m. Walk the plank to: (address)"

For added fun, have guest come dressed in a pirate costume. Wear gold loop earrings, a red kerchief tied over your head, a patch over an eye, for men unshaven stubble (or use eyebrow pencil to simulate), calico-cotton shorts, a sash, a rubber sword, a hook for your hand, and a pirate’s hat. Did you know, that ages ago, when a person signed on to be on a pirate crew, they had to sign the pirate’s articles (rules) and swear over a Bible or ax that he would follow those rules? When guests arrive have them board your ship and sign piracy articles with a quill pen. “X marks the spot”.



DECORATIONS
• Fill mini treasure chest with gold coins and plastic jewelry, place them around the party area.

• Hang large treasure maps on the party walls and/or front door.

• Make signs with wood or cardboard using pirate lingo.

• Cover your tables with red, black or white tablecloths.

• Add pirate paraphernalia to the party area: for example, old kegs, chains, skeletons, old pieces of wood, rum bottles, mugs, flags, barrels, playing cards, net, cannons.

• Place Pirate Parrots on trees and bushes.

• Hang a pirate flag.

• Use Pirate decoration boundary tape to close off a treasure chest.

• Use paddles or oars in a corner or above a doorway.

• Stretch out blue streamers horizontally, for ocean waves, along the walls. Pin or draw a pirate ship on top of waves.

• When decorating the outdoors, think of Robinson Crusoe’s island home. Ivy trees, coconuts, and nestle a crocodile or ticking clock in a corner.

• Nautical flags are always a rave. Use any nautical paraphernalia such as anchors, fish, shells, ship’s wheel, nets, glass floats, and flags to decorate your party room.

• Light old lanterns and place them around the party area. Find an old ship’s telescope or make them with aluminum foil or paper from a craft store. Light old candles and place on the top of glass bottles.

• Mark the party location with a skull and cross bones flag.

GAMES
• Go for the Gold: Materials: A treasure chest and a key that will open the chest. Additional keys that look like “The Golden Key” and treasure. Put treasures in the chest and gather enough keys for each pirate. You may use a combination lock with different combinations. Put all the keys or combinations in a bowl. Each guest draws a key or combination and attempts to open the chest with his key.
• Walk the plank
• Scavenger Hunt

• Dig for the Treasure: Materials Needed: Wading pool/sandbox/treasure trunk. Fill the pool, box, or trunk with sand. Hide treasures inside. Have the pirates search for the treasure. Hide gold coins or pennies.

PIRATE PARTY FAVORS
• Bandannas • Chocolate coins • Compass • Deck of playing cards • Dice • Eye patches • Foil bubble-gum coins • Gold party rings • Jewelry • Parrot pencil toppers • Pirate gold nugget gum • Pirate hat • Pirate hoop earrings • Pirate tattoos • Pirates of the Caribbean DVD or CD • Play money • Rubber swords or knives • Scarves • Sea stories • Telescope • Toy pistols • Treasure Island DVD

FOODS

Serve drinks in mugs or coconut shells.

Fruit, fish, salted meat, bread or biscuits were the main meals for pirates. Use tri-colored spaghetti to represent seaweed. Serve tuna fish finger sandwiches or fish nuggets.

For the adults: Rum, beer, gin, or sherry are popular pirate drinks.