Arrrgh ye wee ones crazy fer pirates? Follow the treasure map laid out below to create a fun and pirate-y atmosphere for your next at home birthday party!
Invitations
Get creative with antique invitations by first choosing a pirate-y font like Apple Chancery, Lucida Handwriting, or Snell Roundhand. Now, write your invitation:
| Captain calling! All hands on deck for [name’s] 5th birthday party. Join the crew on [date] aboard the ship departing from [address]. Come dressed as a pirate and ready for adventure! Please RSVP by sending a message in a bottle via e-parrot to [e-mail]. |
Once you’ve written and printed a few copies, use this neat trick to make the invitations look antique:
1. Crumple the pages up.
2. Put them one by one in a baking sheet.
3. Pour a little coffee on top.
4. Sprinkle on some coffee grounds.
5. After a few minutes, dab dry with a paper towel.
Ensure your guests come in their best pirate costume, but have some extra bandanas or scarves to use as sashes (belts) just in case.
Setting the Scene
Upon arrival, give each child a pirate nickname using envelope labels bought at any big box store (Staples, Walmart). You can use simple alliterations for naming fun such as Brave Brendan, Salty Sarah, Jolly Roger Jaxon, etc.
Grab a pack of colourful Mardi Gras beads or the like from the dollar store and give everyone some pirate booty, as we all know pirates love treasure!
Decorations
Take some pirate-y bedsheets/table cloths and drape them across some doweling to make the sails of a pirate ship, leaning them up against the wall where food will be served. The dollar store also has fishnets and large pirate flags you can use as tablecloths or further drape and hang around the house.
Don’t forget “Beware of Pirates” signs drawn on Bristol board and staked into the ground with more doweling. You can also print your own pirate banners or pick up some skull and crossbones balloons from the dollar store.
Decorate dollar store treasure chests with paint, markers, glue and the like. These chests are a buck or two and can double as the loot bag holders!
Games/Entertainment
Rename classic games like Red Light/Green Light (Wind in Sails/No Wind), Simon Says (Captain Says), or Octopus (Kraken). You’ll have the kids running around outside and having a blast (no pun intended).
A pirate party wouldn’t be complete without a plank walk. Set up a plank in the backyard on the ground, slightly elevated or even above a full kiddie pull to create the atmosphere. As part of an obstacle course, include a hopscotch course made using organic twine/rope.
Using the antique technique used to create the invitations, create a series of riddles and clues as well as treasure map to lead the children around the house in pursuit of treasure. For authenticity, put the treasure into a drawstring bag, pick up a small treasure chest storage box from Walmart or other box stores, or even bury it in a sandbox.
Food
Whatever food you decide to make, you can take barbecue skewers and fashion more pirate ship sails to stick into the food you’ve prepared.
You can also make simple PB&J planks, pirate ship hot dogs, and pirate punch! Or, get creative and carve a watermelon shark for the table!
Loot Bags
In your decorated and dry treasure chests place some chocolate coins, gems and jewels from the dollar store. You can also tie up the goodies in bandanas.
Captain Murky, aka Matt Slaman, is a swashbuckling entrepreneur/sailor from Toronto, a child at heart, and lover of the arts. He is waiting for the day when he becomes a stay-at-home dad. Matt steers the ship at Pirate Life on Toronto’s Centre Island; follow @PirateLifeTO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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