Pirate Party Games, Food, and Ideas for Children's Pirate Themed Birthday Parties

How to create the most imaginative children's pirate themed birthday party ever: Tips and ideas for Kids Pirate Parties including ideas for Pirate party Food, Children's Pirate Party Games, Pirate and Princess birthday party costumes, how to talk like a pirate, where to get pirate party goods and supplies, not forgetting pirate party music. To make it easier you can also buy Pirate themed balloons, invitations, books and accessories , and learn about the history of pirates and the age of piracy on the high seas, and why children love pirates.

Professor Paradox is proud to announce the publication of the first edition of the

Pirate Party Games eBook

Just click the image for more details

Now all Pirates need to be able to count treasure so here are a couple of very useful eBook sto help children to learn Multiplication

Pirate Party Essentials

Pirate Flags are esential!

And so be Bunting

You'll be needin' these Assorted Pirate Balloons too

An' ere be a bumper pack of Pirate Party Tableware

Not fergettin the door banner

Pirate Stickers

Pirate Stickers, value pack of 600 stickers

 Pirate Treasure Gold coins (pk of 144) Pinata Party bag Filler

Pirate Party Costumes

Boy Pirates

Daddy Pirates

Children's Pirates and Princesses Party Ideas

How to organise a fabulous Pirate Party for kids

If you are organising a Children's Pirate Party, or want to know more about a Pirates and Princesses party theme, then welcome aboard and worry not, for it is not as daunting as you might think. In fact I would go as far as to say, that there is no easier themed children's party than that of Pirates and Princesses, and here you will find all ye need to know about pirate party games food, ideas, pirate costumes, pirate music and more.

For a start Pirates is the most popular theme, so there are plenty of pirate party ideas around, and you'll find all the tips you need right here, so read on.

You'll have to think about what you need to do and what you need to purloin. You'll be needing to organise Pirate Party Games, Pirate Costumes, a Pirate Show from a good party entertainer, and some Pirate party Food, and if ye scroll down you'll find everything you need to know right here.

As for what you need to buy, you'll be needing Decorations, Pirate Costumes (don't forget the big pirates) Pirate Prizes, Treasure Maps, Pirate Tableware, Pirate Treasure for prizes, Pirate Themed Invitations, Booty Bags (that's party bags to you landlubbers) and that's about all there is to it so lets get started.......

You'll find some of the most popular swag right here and we have a new  online shop, so instead of spending days at sea trawling through all the different on-line catalogues by which time you'll be old and probably ready for Davey Jones Locker, you can get yer basics right here. It's an Amazon Associate Shop, so you you can rely on Amazon service as well as low prices and sensible shipping charges (usually free).

First a Few Pirate Party Tips

One of the reasons a pirate theme is so easy is that children really get into character and they know what to do - fight! They will quite happily charge around having sword fights for half an hour or more which leaves you with very little to do apart from preventing them from actually killing each other. Some of the girls will come as pirates, others will be princesses, and girl pirates can be the fiercest of the lot, so keep an eye on them and also insist that only eye patches with a hole in can be worn. You don't want children charging about wielding weapons with half their vision obscured as even plastic swords can hurt. As for the princesses, they'll be happy standing around lookin' pretty.

A few particular points worth noting before we go into detail~

• The more you create an atmosphere, the more the children will get into it, so decorate the hall according to your time and budget.

• Getting the music right is really important. Any old pop music just won't do and the best, easiest and most cost effective way to create a pirate atmosphere is to play the right music: Sea Shanties or Pirates of the Caribbean is perfect and if you glance to starboard you will see a selection right here. Get the music right and everyone will agree it was the best Pirate Party ever!

• When you play a knock out game with younger children, have a very small prize for being out - a pirate sticker does the job nicely, just look over to port (that's left to ye landlubbers) and you'll see the link to get some

• If you are having an entertainer then send everyone for a wee before the start of the show - It's handy to have the knock out game before a show then as children are 'out' they can go to the loo, or the heads as Pirates calls it.

Our aim is to create the best free resource for children's parties in the World and there's an easy way you can help if ye would be so willin' 

First, spread the word - You can put a message in a bottle, but these days Links to this page on Facebook, Twitter and any blogs and forums you use will help us a lot. So, please use the share this button at the top of the page, and if you have a website, you can always put a link on that for us.

 Pirate Costumes - Princess Costume

Costume and accessories are not expensive - you'll find some links here if you want to buy them, or you can just make them all up -  A striped tee shirt, a hat or headscarf, a painted moustache, baggy trousers, and a belt, along with a sword or other weapon, a hook maybe, and perhaps a parrot. You can get the whole kit for surprisingly little.

Pirate Themed Decorations

At the very least you'll need pirate balloons and bunting and maybe a few pink ones for the princesses. Suitable pirate theme music makes a huge difference, and all readily available - we do get a small commission if you click through the links here

Pirate Themed Party Games

Never underestimate a child’s imagination: Adaptations of traditional games are great because everyone already knows how to play them. There are a few examples here, but for the really good games click the link below to find out about the three dozen games, many of them new and original in the Wonderfool Book of Pirate Party Games

This eBook contains over three dozen games, along with Pirate Lore and History and even explains the educational value of Pirate Party Games and how they came to be invented. Click the image for more details

And here are the more common ones ...

Captain Says: A straightforward adaptation of Simon Says. An adult, or one of the children, is the leader. The leader tells everyone what to do; Captain says run on the spot, Captain says hands on heads, Captain says swap places with the person next to you, etc. Occasionally the leader misses out ‘Captain says’ – anyone who does the action is out.

Freezin Pirates: This is musical statues in pirate gear and it works much better if you use pirate music. If you want to burn off a bit of energy don't be too quick turning the music off. 

Treasure Hunt: Simply hide pieces of eight (chocolate coins) around the room hall or garden, or do something more elaborate with clues and a treasure map. Don’t make it too difficult or some children will get bored and drop out. You can buy a ready made treasure hunt, and without wishing to make it too easy, if ye glance to starboard there's one right there!

Treasure Islands:  An adaptation of musical chairs - place mats or sheets of paper on the floor and call them Treasure Islands. Swim in between and splash for an island when the music stops. Last one to reach an island is out.

Pass the Booty: with suitable pirate themes is an easy adaptation of pass the parcel but if you have a look at the pirate party games book, you'll find a much better version.

One Leg Jake: is a short simple game – see who can stand on one leg with hands on hips the longest without overbalancing. Fairly easy – now try with your eyes closed!

Walk the plank: Place a sturdy, but fairly narrow, plank of wood on a couple of bricks to raise it above the floor. Pirates have to walk the plank without overbalancing. Fairly easy, now try it with an eye patch on. Still easy, now with hands behind your back…. A prize for everyone who makes it to the other end.

Captain’s Coming: This is a variation on Captain Says. The room (needs to be a hall) becomes a ship, the front end is bow, the rear stern, port is the left side and the other starboard. The leader shouts locations and the children all have to run to the right place. Now add in other commands: boom coming over – lie down; sharks – freeze; captains coming – stand to attention and salute, man overboard – lie down and swim; man the lifeboats – sit down and row.. Add more variations as you go along cannonball – roll up in a ball etc. Next introduce the rule that after sharks (freeze) everyone stays frozen and all other commands should be ignored until the leader says ‘Captains Coming’. Anyone breaking the rule is out. 

Pin the Eyepatch on the Pirate: A pirate version of pin the tail on the donkey. You'll need a cardboard cut out pirate - you'll see just the thing if you glance over to the right - and you can pin on an eye patch,  hat, pistol, sword or anything you like. A beard can have amusing results for the watching adults!

And how about a ‘Talk like a pirate’ competition: with a suitable pirate present for the winner? For some reason pirates talk in a broad Somerset accent and say oooooh aaaarrrgh a lot!
And when you’ve done that you can follow it up with a ‘Talk like a Parrot’ competition – maybe the winner gets a bag of birdseed (perhaps nuts would be more appealing)

Click here for more

The Really Good Pirate Party Games

Don't forget you'll need lots of pirate prizes and there is a selection over to port (that's left to landlubbers).

Pirate Party Food

Food was a problem for all seafarers in the days of sail. The first week after leaving port pirates ate meat, vegetables, cheese and bread. But before long it was mouldy, rotten, and often full of maggots. Is this the origin of calling food Grub? The only thing that didn’t spoil was hard tack – a ships biscuit that was probably similar to dog biscuits. Yummm…….
 

When Squire Trelawney and Dr Livsey set sail for Treasure Island in the ship the Hispanola, they took on board one Long John Silver as ships cook. He turned out to be a rebel and a pirate, whi wanted to steal the treasure for himself, and if you want to know the rest you should read 'Treasure Island', a great story that is still in print after 100 years.

Who knows what food Long John served for the crew, pork and brandy by all accounts, although that is hardly suitable fare for a pirate party.....

Don’t forget to decorate the table with pirate flags and pirate tableware - creating an atmosphere makes a big difference. And by now you know where to find such treasure - aye, it's all in the pirate shop!

Even the hardiest pirate would get pretty fed up with tack, but you could substitute Jamaican Ginger Biscuits, Ships Biscuits, Landlubbers Longbread (remarkably similar to shortbread), and presumably pirates had chocolate biscuits for special treats….

You don’t have to do anything very different to create pirate food; it’s all in the presentation, and you can go for disgusting (which children generally love), or romantic: An avocado dip, or green jelly, can be Bogie Dip or a Seaweed Surprise.

And talkin of surprises, you won't be surprised to see a couple of books about party food just over on the right

So when it’s time to eat, sit the children down and tell them they are going to sample real Pirate Food and tell them what they are getting. They won’t really believe it, but they’ll play along, and if anyone is put off, quietly tell them it’s ‘just pretend’.

Seafarers Sandwiches: Tuna or salmon mashed with salad cream sprinkled with chopped lettuce are ‘Squid and Seaweed’, or ‘Octopus’, or ‘Shark Sandwiches’.

Seagulls Eggs  Hard boiled eggs are seagull eggs or parrots eggs, and egg mayonnaise can be just about anything you like: anyone for sea slug sandwiches?

Gone-Off Sour Milk Is Cottage cheese which of course is actually gone off sour milk, but don’t tell the little darlings….


Fried Fingers: Sausages can be Fried Fingers, Pirates Porkers, or Buccaneers Bangers, and if you do hot dogs, just pop in a cocktail stick with a paper sail on it, and you have Sausage Ships, or is that Ships Sausages, or maybe Sea Dogs. And of course Chiplotas are Shipolatas

Desert Island Slug in a Bun Yes it's another sausage variation, and talking of sausages they make a good slug in a bun with blood sauce, and you can save a fair bit of work and mess by using the tinned ones that you boil rather than frying them

Seagull Legs or parrots legs are chicken drumsticks

Cherry tomatoes could be scorpion’s eyeballs

Castaways cutlets - those horrid deep fried chicken or turkey mince things that are so vile pirates wouldn't eat them but children seem to love them!

Rat Burgers with Blood Sauce Sounds more appealing than burgers and ketchup, and in truth its probably a healthier option, though if you’re not too keen on the disgusting, you can always go for Buccaneer’s Burgers.

Crab Sandwiches More for the groan ups,  just make some crab sandwiches - they'll enjoy the joke

Bogie Dip: My particular favourite because I love avocado and a few bowls of Cheesy Scabs (cheese ‘n’ onion crisps) There are even some crunchy snacks that look like they could be fried maggots. Tasty!

Pirate Pizza Did you know that the word Pizza is derived from 'Pirates Eatss Anything'? Well you'd be wrong cause we just made that up, but serve pizza and get the little pirates to suggest what all that topping consists of......

Don't forget the Pirate Birthday Cake  The easiest to do is a Treasure Island which hardly needs explanation - there are more ideas in the Birthday Cakes for Kids book up on the right

And for Desert 

Crunchy Scorpion Cakes. A real pirate delicacy by all accounts! You've made them before, its the one where you melt chocolate in a pan and bung in a load of rice crispies, and let dollops of the goo set. Takes about five minutes and children will always eat them.

Rat Poo Cakes. That Long John Silver was a rascal - pity they didn't have Jamie Oliver on board - anyway, Rat Poo Cakes are chocolate brownies, especially the choc chip ones so you have nice solid lumps of rat poo to bite on - very popular! And if some of the crew are a bit squeamish you can have some more chocolate brownies with fairy dust sprinkled on the top.

Jamaican Ginger Cake Sounds like real authentic pirate food and the great thing is you can just buy it at the supermarket

Fish Eyes in Blood is green grapes in a bowl of sloppy red jelly 

Blood and Guts is chopped fruit in red jelly and you can serve it with a topping of parrot poo which is of course any off-white ice cream with bits in eg toffee and nut. – Delicious!

If you’ve gone for the romantic option call it Tropical Surprise from the Wild Islands or Treasure Island Fruit salad or Tropical surprise.

Pirate Nibbles

Rat Poo Chocolate coated peanuts and raisins - tasty

Dead Man's Fingers Carrot sticks are not the most popular with children, but dipped in blood, bogie dip, or turtle pate they can become delicious so a selection of dips suitable for pirates and seafarers are always popular.

Ships Biscuits The staple food on board any ship, Pirate or not. You could try serving dog biscuits, which are quite similar, but some children would probably eat them, so best to stick to ginger biscuits. And the deluxe ones could have a chocolate topping - children will fill in the details on that one!

Drinks

Ginger Beer (or cola) makes good GROG, just about anything could be RUM as hopefully none of the children know what real rum tastes like – if you have two different soft drinks they can be Caribbean Rum and Jamaica Rum, and how about BILGE WATER? It sounds disgusting so children will love it. It’s the water that collects in the very bottom of a ship, and contains everything nasty that gets washed down there. Any cloudy fruit juice mixed with water, or cloudy lemonade works perfectly, with maybe some crushed tropical fruits (Kiwi, banana, strawberry etc) to make it look disgusting will go down well, and it is cheaper and more healthy than the traditional fizzy junk. 

None of this needs any more preparation than any other party food, but children will enjoy the game of eating rats and blood.

 

Don't forget the princesses - they might want something more refined and I'm sure you can think of something - I'll put up some ideas when I have more time - got to get that shop done next.......

                   

Booty Bags and Swag Bags

Most parents groan at the very thought of party bags, whether it’s having to provide them, or having to chuck all that rubbish in the bin as soon as it arrives home.
There are however some reasonable ones, already filled with exactly what you need for a pirates swag bag, but they are not cheap. Alternatively you can make up your own, or, if you want to get really creative you can give them something else - to be honest we think party bags are a waste of money and  if you glance to starboard, you'll see some suggestions for alternatives - how about an activity book or a pirate story? It won't cost any more. Scroll up a bit and look right for these and other suggestions.....

Entertainment

And don't forget to book a good entertainer - If you live in the West Country we recommend Professor Paradox, but then we would wouldn't we. Just go to the home page, or click here Pirate Show

And just in case yer didn't get the message earlier...........

Our aim is to create the best free resource for children's parties in the World and there's an easy way you can help if ye would be so willin'

First, spread the word - You can put a message in a bottle, but these days Links to this page on Facebook, Twitter and any blogs and forums you use will help us a lot. So, please use the share this button at the top of the page, and if you have a website, you can always put a link on that for us.

Taaaaaaaaaaaar and much appreciated.

Pirate News:
*Sweden has launched a new political party - the pirate party - and there is now a UK Pirate Party
*Pirate Treasure found in Somerset

Home Page

Pirate Show

Pirate Party  Ideas

Pirate party games

Shipmates Links

Send a Message

Talk like a Pirate

 Pirate Party Music

Pirate Music to get the young sailors dancing

Pirate Music and Sea Shanties

Pirate Treasure Hunt. It's all done for you and lasts up to half an hour

 Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate cut out 

Party Food

Alternatives to Party Bags

Talk like a Pirate book for children

An 'ere's a great Pirate Activity Book

An 'eres some other great Pirate Books

And if you insist on  party bags, get them ready filled here

 PRE FILLED Pirate BARGAIN Party Bag (Boys Toys)

Don't forget the princesses party bags!

 PRE FILLED Disney Princess PREMIUM Party Bag - Magic (Girls Toys)