Awesome Pirate Birthday Party Ideas For Kids

Ahoy there, Matey! If it’s swashbuckling pirate birthday party ideas your looking for we’ve got lots of them for you to pillage and plunder!

Suggested Ages & Stages

Our Ages & Stages birthday party ideas are only general guidelines … not hard and fast rules!
Although Kids go through different stages, some develop at different rates and what’s fun and exciting for one group of kids may need to be tweaked a little for another group.

So, don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit!

When you find a really cool pirate birthday party idea that seems a little too old (or too young) for your kid – feel free to change it a little so that it better fits your kid’s age group.

By picking and choosing from all the great pirate birthday party ideas listed below (and tweaking as needed) you’ll be on your way to throwing an absolutely awesome birthday party that your kid will long remember.

√ Preschool (2-5 years)

√ School Age (6-9 years)

√ Preteen (10-12 years)

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Pirate Birthday Party Invitations

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These are no run of the mill, pirate birthday party invitations!  When you’re done they’ll actually look like old pirate treasure maps.

Use brown paper grocery bags cut to size, and and singe the edges. Soak them in coffee or tea to make them look more authentic. Then write your pirate party details in pirate jargon something like this:

“Ahoy there, Matey!”

“Aye … ye be invited fer some birthday spirits at Captain (kid’s name) Buccaneer Bash.

Chart yer course fer the (address) on (day of month).

We be a meetin’ at (time) fer some swashbuckling fun, grub and kiddie spirits. We also be havin’a pirate party treasure hunt, too!

Wave yer flag if ye be attendin’ or have yer mum send a message by yer phone to (phone number).

Sees ye there … Aarrgh!!!

No liver-belly cowards or landlubbers need attend this (kid’s age)-year-old’s birthday celebration!

Here’s Some More Awesome Pirate Birthday Party Invitation Ideas

• If you have time, it’s fun to make up pirate names for all your guests and address the invitations using those names (i.e.: Peg Leg Peter, Cutlass Katie, Dirty Dog Dan, and so on).
• Depending on the number of guests you plan to invite, this could take awhile, but it’s really worth the extra effort. After receiving invitations personalized with their own pirate names your guests will be looking forward to your pirate party for weeks to come.
• Instead of using envelopes, roll up each invitation, tie it with ribbon and slide them into clear plastic bottles. (If you can get glass coke or root beer bottles that would be even better!) Leave the ribbon long enough so that it hangs out of the bottle so that the invitation can be easily removed from the bottle.
• Make up labels with each kid’s “pirate name” and some pirate clip art (i.e.: skull and crossbones, sword, pirate hat or ship) and attached them to the bottles.
• You can even add a little beach sand and some plastic confetti (fish, parrots, palm trees, etc.) to each bottle.
• If your kid’s into it, how about letting your little pirate hand deliver the invitations … dressed in pirate garb!

Want A Really Cool Way To Introduce A Pirate Birthday Party Treasure Hunt?

No pirate birthday party is complete without a pirate game treasure hunt. And here’s a great idea that will get the whole crew looking forward to that fun and exciting pirate party treasure hunt.

Draw a map of your party area on a big piece of paper (use a waterproof marker). To make the map look more authentic singe the edges and soak it in coffee or tea.

Mark the area on the map where you’re going to hide the first clue for the treasure hunt with a skull and crossbones or an “X”. (i.e.: The big tree in your front yard.) You’ll need one puzzle piece of every invitation you’re going to give out, so cut your map up accordingly.

Include one piece of the puzzle map in each invitation. Be sure to let the kids know that they should bring the enclosed treasure map puzzle piece to the party (keep a copy of every piece just incase someone forgets theirs.)

When it’s time to launch the treasure hunt have the kids gather around and assemble the puzzle to reveal where the first clue is hidden.

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Printable Invitations, Clip Art & Coloring Pages

Party Decorations, Props & Costumes

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»Pirate Birthday Party Color Scheme:

Lots of red, black and gold balloons and streamers work well for a pirate birthday party. Cover the tables with red or black tablecloths and use red or black plates, utensils and napkins.

»Pirate Birthday Party Decorating Ideas:

• Make posters to hang on the front door and all around the party area that says things like: “Ahoy Matey,” Welcome Aboard!,” Welcome to (kid’s name) Pirate Party Adventure,” “Pirate’s Cove,” “Beware of Pirates,” and so on.
• You can also find lots of great pirate pictures on the Internet that you can print out and hang all around the party area.
• For an indoor pirate birthday party, decorate the floor with “sand” (pieces of brown or tan confetti).
• If you can get your hands on a skeleton, (You might just have one hanging around from Halloween!) dress it up like a pirate with all sorts of plastic rings, necklaces and gold coins around him. Give him a Jolly Roger flag to hold. Add a treasure chest and don’t forget to put a parrot somewhere close by!
• Every pirate birthday party needs at least one treasure chest. Decorate a small black toolbox with yellow ribbon and make a lock out of yellow poster board. Then fill it with chocolate foil covered coins, plastic jewels and other pirate treats. You can make a treasure chest by painting a cheap white Styrofoam cooler (use black paint and accent with yellow paint).
• Make or purchase an assortment of pirate flags and place them all around the party area.
• Cover the tables with a red or black tablecloths and scatter with an assortment of “gold” chocolate (or plastic) coins, plastic jewels, plastic sharks or crocodiles, fish, seashells, and palm trees.
• Put netting on tables or hang it from the walls or ceilings. Hang some rope lines and rigging around.
• Get a pirate chest piñata and use it as a party decoration (of course, later on it will be used to play the piñata game!)
• Use inflatable pool floats, like sharks and crocodiles, to add to the festivities!
• If you happen to have some wooden barrels place them somewhere in the party area, too!
• As the kids arrive, play some pirate music. Skip Henderson’s “Billy Bones & Other Ditties” CD is a great choice. It’s a collection humorous and boisterous traditional and contemporary sea songs. It’ll help set the mood for your pirate birthday party and the kids will love it.
• Make a Pirate’s Ship! Get a few large appliance boxes and line them up to make the foundation of your pirate ship. Open the boxes at the top, and cut openings between the boxes to form sections of the ship. Cut some round “porthole” windows along the sides. Cut an opening on one side of the ship to form a “walk the plank” entrance. Leave the flap attached at the bottom and let it lie on the floor to resemble the plank.

Bend the cardboard boxes at both end of the ship into a point to form the fore and aft. Paint the whole ship brown (adding some small details would be nice, but not necessary). Use a coat rack or old pole lamp for a crow’s nest. Attach a pirate flag and the crew will be all ready to set sail!

»Pirate Birthday Party Costumes:

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You could ask the kids come to your kid’s pirate birthday party in costume. An even better idea, is to supply pirate costumes for each kid.

As each kid arrives lead them to the pirates “Garb Shoppe” and then to the pirates “Tattoo Parlor” where they’ll be magically transformed into pirates.

At the pirates “Garb Shoppe” have an assortment of the pirate-ware party clothes and accessories for them to choose from. You can also have the kid’s make some of these things (see icebreaker activities below).

• Eye patches
• Bandanas
• Pirate hats
• Pirate tattoos (removable of course!)
• Red and black pirate sashes
• Plastic necklaces and rings
• Empty swag bags – to hold all their pirate party treasures.
• Pirate swords
• Hooks
• Pirate earrings
• Compasses
• Spyglasses or telescopes
• Toy parrots

Next, it’s off to the pirate “Tattoo Parlor” (for some face-painting). Add the finishes touches to your little pirates by having them choose from a scurrilous selection of beards, curling mustaches, scars, and pirate tattoos (skull-and-crossbones, swords, anchors, etc.).

As each new crew member is dressed in full pirate garb send them off to join the captian for a fun and exciting pirate birthday party icebreaker activity.

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Pirate Birthday Party Icebreaker Activities & Crafts

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Get the crew all warmed up and ready for a swashbuckling adventure with one of these great pirate birthday party crafts:

»Ocean Treasures In A Bottle
Prepare plastic water bottles filled with 1 tsp mineral oil, water and a few drops of blue/green food coloring to create a pretty ocean color. Give each kid a bottle and have them add a variety of shells, glitter, and plastic confetti (look for fun fish, palm tree and parrot shapes) to make their own unique pirate party ocean treasure. Make sure you hot glue the tops on so they can’t open up.

»Pirate Treasure Chests
You’ll need to recycle some diaper wipe boxes (one for each kid) for these pirate treasure chests. Lightly rub the sides to the boxes with sandpaper to scratch up a bit. Then spray paint them black. Have the kids decorate the treasure chests with strips of gold felt and plastics jewels.You can also make these yourself and use them as individual prizes for your pirate birthday party treasure hunt. Just label each one with a kid’s name, fill them with all sorts of pirate booty and “bury” (or hide) them for the kid’s to find at the end of the treasure hunt.

»Pirate Telescopes
Give each kid a paper towel tube, a two pieces of colored cellophane and two rubber bands. Have them put the cellophane over the ends of the paper towel tube and secure with the rubber bands. (For younger kids assemble these items ahead of time.) Have the kids decorate their pirate telescopes with stickers, glitter, plastic jewels, feathers, colored markers, “sticky back” craft foam shapes, etc.

»Pirate Swords
Ahead of time cut out short lengths of cardboard and round the tips. Then, cut two smaller pieces of cardboard for the crossbars. Glue or staple the crossbars to the swords. Paint the blades silver and the handles black.Give the kids an assortment of craft supplies (stickers, glitter, plastic jewels, colored string or yarn, colored markers, craft foam shapes, etc.), and let them add the finishing touches. For older kids, have them wind string around their sword handles. They’ll each have their very own unique sword to keep with them through out their pirate party adventure.Although, play swords are very popular at pirate parties, it’s easy for a boisterous group of kids to get carried away. A good alternative is to get some long balloons and have an adult make “balloon” swords.

»Pirate Hook Hands
Ahead of time cut out “hook” shapes from cardboard (make one template, trace as many as you need) and slit them bottom of each cup. If you have an older group you may want to have them do this prep work.) Give each kid a plastic cup, cardboard hook, and some tin foil. Have them cover their hooks with tin foil and insert the hook into the bottom of the cup.Give them an assortment of supplies (permanent markers, pirate stickers, “sticky back” craft foam shapes, work well on plastic cups) to decorate the cup portion of their hook hands.

»Pirate Flags
Let the kids create their own pirate identification flags. Provide the kids with some pictures of real pirate flags (you can print these out from the Internet) just to give them some ideas to start with.Give each kid a rectangular piece of fabric and let them design their own pirate flags. Supply some permanent felt-tip markers, glitter glue, craft foam shapes (get sticky back foam type if you can) and other art supplies. When the kids are done staple or hot glue the finished flags to dowels.

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Pirate Birthday Party Games

You’re just a click away from a whole page of really awesome pirate birthday party games like: “Swab The Deck,” “Here Comes The Captain,” and “Pirate’s Treasure Hunt.”

Oh, and while you’re there take a quick peak at our Games & Activities Party-Savor Tips, too! (You’ll be glad you did.)

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Pirate Birthday Party Fare — Fun Food, Drinks & Cake!

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After so much pillaging and plundering, it’s time for a feast fit for a crew of hungry pirates.

»Pirate Birthday Party Food & Edibles:

Since pirate’s weren’t know for their table manners, finger food rules at any pirate birthday party!

• Hot Dog Schooners – Take small pieces of paper and spear them with wooden skewers to make schooner sails and set it in the middle of some hot dogs.
• Seaweed Supreme – Spinach pasta (linguini or any other flat and wavy shapes).
• Pirate Potato Boats – Twice baked potatoes served on a blue platter with curly carrots (waves). You can also add a sail like the schooners above.
• Fish-N-Chips – An old pirate favorite!
• Golden Nuggets – Macaroni and cheese a favorite young pirates!
• Octopus Dogs – Slice a hot in quarters (the legs) leaving about a half inch at one end uncut (the head). Then boil the hot dogs and the legs will curl up.
• Hardtack or “Tooth Dullers” – Baby teething biscuits.
• Pirate Swords – Bread sticks
• Treasure Island – A tropical coconut and fruit delight to prevent scurvy!
• Dark Colored Grapes – Cannon balls
• Hershey Gold & Silver Nuggets
• Skeleton Bones – Meringue piped in the shape of crude bones.
• Sunken Treasure – Blue Jell-O made with bits of diced peaches or gummy worms.
• Octopus Legs – Gummy worms
• Cheesy Puffs – More golden nuggets!

»Pirate Birthday Party Drinks:

• Red Ruby Punch – The night before, make ice cubes out of red fruit punch. Then serve lemon lime soda in clear plastic cups with bright red ruby ice cubes. The kids will be really surprised as their drinks clear drinks turn pink as the ice cubes melt. You can also call this pirate drink Shark, Crocodile, or Alligator’s Blood.
• Kiddie Spirits – “Soft” apple cider
• Cool-N-Frosty Ale – Ginger ale
• Pirate’s Grog – Root beer in mugs (plastic!)

»Pirate Birthday Party Cakes:

• Treasure Chest Cake

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Pirate Birthday Party Favors & Goodie Bags

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With all the loot they’ve collected during the party (treasure hunt goodies and other game prizes) they’re probably pretty laden down with lots of loot.

So, why not add one more surprise for their pillaging and plundering pleasure. Tell the kids that they get to take home their costumes home as part of their pirate party treasurer (in pirate lingo, of course!). Surely you won’t be hearin’ no growlin’ or grumblin’ from the whole lot of ‘um!

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