| Creating a party for the little pirates in your life is | | | | "Entering the Bermuda Triangle," "Captain Billy's |
| both easy and fun. Use the ideas below as a | | | | Hideaway" (substitute the name of your birthday |
| springboard for your imagination. | | | | child).Drape fishnet or netting, nautical objects, |
| Most supplies can be made at home or purchased | | | | treasure chests, swords, etc. around the room. |
| nearby inexpensively. | | | | Pirate Party Activities and Games This one is called |
| If you don't have the time or inclination to do it all | | | | Pirate Plunder. Supplies: Gold coins (gold wrapped |
| yourself, there are wonderful resources online which | | | | chocolate coins will serve nicely), black felt tipped |
| will provide you with complete party packages. | | | | markers, and paper. |
| So feel free to pirate (I could not resist) as many | | | | Split the guests into two teams. Give each team a |
| suggestions as you want and modify them as you | | | | handful of gold coins and assign one room per team. |
| wish. | | | | Each team will go into their room and hide their coins. |
| Invitations Nothing gets one's attention like a | | | | Once the coins are hidden, the kids return to a table |
| message in a bottle. | | | | to draw a treasure map to the coins. When both |
| Create yours with empty 6.5 oz Perrier or similar | | | | teams are finished, they exchange maps and race to |
| sized bottles, some beige or tan paper and black felt | | | | see who can find the coins first. |
| tipped marker. | | | | A Variation This activity is designed to take place at |
| Soak the bottles overnight to loosen their label. Peel | | | | the end of the party. |
| the label off and you're ready to go. | | | | Make a small personalized treasure chest (or goody |
| Take a blank sheet of paper and create a treasure | | | | bag) for each guest and hide the treasure. Give each |
| map on one side. On the other, write in the invitation | | | | guest a corresponding treasure map. Let them search |
| detail. Photocopy onto tan or beige paper. | | | | for their treasure. |
| Distress or tear the edges. Fold in half lengthwise, roll | | | | Peg Leg Race 'Peg Leg' race is a three legged race. |
| it up and place it in the bottle. | | | | The kids may want to watch a pirate movie. Rent a |
| Take a piece of paper, write the name of the guest, | | | | DVD. "Pirates of the Caribbean,' "Treasure Island," |
| or draw a skull and crossbones. Glue onto the outside | | | | "Captain Kidd," are some that come to mind. Or |
| of the bottle. | | | | commandeer the mini-van to take the crew to the |
| Take the finished product and leave it on the | | | | local movie theatre to see the latest Pirates of the |
| doorsteps of your guest. | | | | Caribbean flick. |
| Pirate Costumes A bandanna and an eyepatch for | | | | Pirate Grub Skewered hot dogs, meat balls. "Treasure |
| each child. Eyepatches can be made with a piece of | | | | chests" full of snacks. Tankards of "pirate punch." |
| black construction paper or cloth and elastic. | | | | Have fun and use your imagination. And have a great |
| Decor Black and gold balloons. Signs that read... | | | | day on the high seas. |