Ahoy, me hearties! Are you looking for an adventurous theme for your child’s birthday party? You can never go wrong with a pirate theme, as it promises plenty of fun activities for your kid and their friends. There are plenty of pirate birthday party ideas that you can make use of when planning for your child’s special day.
From thrilling party activities and games, to realistic costumes and decorative party supplies, the list of possibilities are practically endless. Regardless if you’re planning to host the party in your own home, a party room or take it outdoors, there is plenty of fun and excitement to be had. Let’s take a look at the best pirate party ideas for your child’s birthday.
1. Hand Out Pirate Birthday Invitations
Avast ye! Your child’s epic birthday party will need, first and foremost, guests. So, work together with your child – if they’re old enough – to decide whom should be invited. Remember to include the names of all the loved ones you both want present at your child’s birthday event.
Next, you’ll need to send out some party invitations. Simple texts may suffice, but since your party is going to have a fantastic pirate theme, why not let your invitations set the bar? Send out physical, Pirate Birthday Party Invitations to each of your guests. These can easily be bought in bulk and are not only designed for ease of use – think of how tired your hands will be if you single-handedly write, “You’re invited!” to each of your guests. Moreover, they also come in lively colors which show off your party’s pirate theme!
Let your guests know if you’re planning on a pirate dress code to match your theme. Also remember to give them enough time to by letting them RSVP at least five days or so before your child’s special day. Therefore, it’s good to hand out these invitations early!
2. Bake a Pirate-Themed Birthday Cake
Every child’s birthday needs a birthday cake. Choosing the right type of cake is often a dilemma for the birthday party planner; but luckily for you, you’ve chosen to go with a theme.
Your party’s pirate theme already sets the tone for what you need to look for in a birthday cake. Of course, the flavor of the cake is entirely up to you, so pick whichever flavor is your child’s favorite. When it comes to decorations, you can then implement your party’s pirate theme. Decorate your cake with everything that makes you think of pirates: edible gold coins, swords, maps, skulls and treasure chests. You may do so with fondant or cream icing.
If you’re baking this cake on your own and don’t have the necessary ingredients for decoration, fret not. Just get a Pirate Birthday Cake Topper and stick it into your cake. This is a simple yet effective way to show off your theme without too much effort on your part. Just remember to serve up a delicious cake and watch your child’s eyes gleam with excitement at the sight of it! You could always get other cake toppers and place them on top of or around the cake to make it look even nicer!
3. Bake Some Delicious Pirate Cupcakes
Almost everybody loves cupcakes. They’re sweet, but not too light on the tongue as to not satisfy the stomach. You can vary the flavors. You can also take this opportunity to implement your pirate theme when you’re decorating these cupcakes.
First, bake your cupcakes. If you’re not much of a baker, you could easily just pop by a preferred store to purchase the cupcakes in the flavors of your choosing. Decorating your cupcakes is the crucial part. You may want to have your cupcakes sport those classic red and black pirate colors, and you may do so with the help of cupcake frosting and food coloring.
However, color isn’t the only thing that’s important – sometimes a variety of colors makes your cupcakes all the more appetizing and appealing. You could simply use decorated Pirate Cupcake Toppers which are fun, sport your pirate theme and save you a lot of time. Alternatively, you could also use cupcake wrappers which bear skull stickers or the like.
4. Create a Pirate Theme with Decorations
If you’re having a themed party, an obvious way to make this known is by putting up decorations to depict said theme. Ergo, if your child’s special day is going to have a pirate theme, you’d best make sure that the decorations you put up make such a statement.
Hanging up Pirate Signs are an easy yet certainly distinctive way to go. These could be hung on walls or certain furniture and they set the party’s mood in a creative way. You could also spruce up your party space by putting up Pirate-Themed Hanging Swirls. Just let them dangle from your ceiling, or fixtures inside or outside your party space.
These work just as well indoors as they do outdoors. Of course, a sure-fire way to get your guests into that sailing mood is by setting up Skeleton and Pirate Treasures decorations around your party space. You should look out for skulls, bones, gold coins or treasure chests, as these are the classic themes of any pirate movie.
However you choose to decorate your party, don’t be afraid to let your ideas fly so as to make your space party-ready for your child’s big day! The more creative you get, the more immersive the party experience will be for everybody.
5. Use Pirate Party Supplies
A great way to show off the party’s fun theme is by using a Pirate Party Supplies Pack. Why serve your sumptuous food and drinks on ordinary paper plates and cups when you can serve them on pirate-themed ones? These should either sport those iconic pirate hats, skulls or ships, or they can depict the classic red-and-white color scheme for a more understated look.
Using pirate-themed tableware is a definite way to make sure your guests go without a dull moment at your child’s party, even during their meals. These pirate-themed party supplies also go well with a Treasure Island Tablecloth. With this great combination, you’re sure to make the party immersive for the kids.
6. Hand Out Pirate Party Favors
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Nothing says, “Thank you for coming to my party,” quite like party favors do. They’re a simple way to warm your guests’ hearts and keep the excitement going. So, hand out Pirate-Themed Party Favors to your guests. You can buy all sorts of bag-sized goodies and treats which suit the pirate theme in bulk.
Temporary skull tattoos, eye patches, treasure maps and inflatable pirate swords – or even those smaller plastic toys – are great for kids and will certainly make for an entertaining time, should some of your guests choose to take these party favors out to play sometime during or after your child’s special day.
7. Make the Kids Wear Pirate Costumes
It’s definitely a waste if you host a birthday party with a pirate theme without taking full advantage of it. One of the easiest and most fun ways to do so is by implementing a dress code.
Have your guests show up in their most creative iterations of pirate costumes. If your child prefers to use a makeshift outfit from their closet’s selection, you could help them put on the finishing touch of a pirate costume set, which includes a pirate hat, hook, eyepatch, sword and earring.
Pirate costumes are generally quite easy to purchase online as they’re a popular Halloween trick-or-treating option. Don’t be afraid to get colorful and remind your child and their guests to practice their best pirate impressions!
8. Teach the Kids some Pirate Lingo
Why not spice things up by teaching the kids some pirate lingo? I’m sure you’ve come across famous pirate expressions such as “Aaarrrggghhh!”, “Aye, Aye ” or even “Shiver Me Timbers! ” Well, not everyone at the party may be aware of them and it’s a great idea to teach the kids what they mean.
It’ll be extremely fun to see children actually learn and use these phrases when appropriate. Not only is this entertaining, but it’s also educational, as they will learn how pirates used to talk. Here is a list of some of the most popular pirate phrases that you can teach them at the party:
- “Aaarrrggghhh” (Said when a pirate is unhappy)
- “Aye, Aye” (Said when a pirate is agreeable)
- “Shiver Me Timbers” (Said when a pirate is surprised)
- “Ahoy, Matey” (Said when a pirate is greeting a fellow pirate)
- “Savvy?” (Said when a pirate is asking if something is understood)
- “Thar She Blows” (Said when a whale is sighted)
9. Create a Movie Area and Watch a Pirate Movie
Not all party activities have to involve spending lots of energy. Sometimes, the best way to keep your guests entertained is via the simplest way. Find a nice, cozy spot in your party space – this works best if you’re indoors – and set up a movie area.
Of course, since your child’s party has a pirate theme, it’s best to choose the appropriate films. Some easy crowd-favorite pirate movies which come to mind include, of course, the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Captain Jack Sparrow’s antics and adventures never fail to catch the eye of not only the children, but also the adults who grew up with these films.
Treasure Planet is also an underrated childhood favorite which should definitely be taken into your consideration. If you’re looking to get a little creative with your ideas, you could also consider Peter Pan – because, let’s admit, we all feel like Captain Hook on our unlucky days and Peter during our most confident moments – or even Stardust, a severely underrated movie which features an interesting take on its pirate side characters.
Whichever your choices are, be sure to line up a few of them and let your guests ultimately choose. Then, serve some movie snacks and your guests will stay entertained all on their own. I know, I know, you’re looking for a list of some awesome pirate movies for the party, right? No worries, we got you covered!
- Peter Pan (1953)
- Hook (1991)
- Treasure Planet (2002)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
- The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)
- Pan (2015)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2017)
10. Distribute Some Pirate Candy
If your child is inviting their friends over, there’s a high chance you’ll find yourself needing to satisfy all those sweet tooths. At most parties, serving candy is always a good option.
Why not serve some which promote your pirate theme while you’re at it? These pirate-themed candies can take on the form of Pirate Skull Lollipops. Alternatively, you could use some gold-colored foil to wrap small circles of chocolate so that they resemble gold coins. You could also just wrap regular store-bought candy with Pirate Candy Bar Wrappers or decorate your wrappers with pirate-shaped stickers.
When all is ready, just arrange your array of candy neatly on a tray or slip them into drawstring bags to distribute to your guests upon arrival, or when they leave. This is a simple way of bringing a smile to your guests’ faces. A little bit of sweetness definitely guarantees an elevation in the party mood.
11. Cook Some Pirate-Inspired Food
Food is the crucial element in all parties. Without good food, the party just doesn’t work. You surely already know how important it is to serve food that’s delicious; but since you’re having a pirate-themed party, it’s also important to make sure the food you set on the table reflects the theme of your party.
Sure, this may seem like a difficult puzzle to figure out, but in reality, it’s easy enough to do. You can serve seafood – simple solutions would be fish fingers and fish nuggets, or shrimp cocktails – to those who don’t have any diet restrictions, or you can serve up unique Pirate-Shaped Pasta. This vegan pasta takes on many fun pirate-themed pasta shapes such as those of crossbones and pirate ships.
To top it all off, they’re delicious, too, and you can conveniently serve these up with any pasta sauce of your choice. Whichever option you choose to spice up your menu options, bear in mind that the sky’s the limit when it comes to your creativity.
12. Hang a Pirate-Themed Pinata
A party evolves into something else entirely whenever a pinata is involved. It’s like magic; when that big, candy-filled, oddly-shaped object is strung up for everyone to behold, the excitement escalates into an almost frenzied glee.
Your child and their guests will certainly enjoy themselves as they grip that stick and channel all that energy into beating the pinata. It’s the prize at the end – the candy – that really keeps everyone motivated. So, be sure to fill your pinata with plenty of those sweet goodies! Your pinata could also take the shape of a Pirate Ship Pinata in order to adhere to your theme. These pirate ship pinatas are lightweight as they’re made of paper, and they’re also easy to clean before you take them out for the moment of their reckoning. Your guests will definitely have a whale of a time with this pirate-themed game.
13. Organize a Treasure Hunt
You really can’t have a pirate-themed party without organizing a treasure hunt. It’s an unspoken rule of every pirate-themed party planner. Since you’re now a part of this unofficial club, you should consider having your guests participate in this spectacularly entertaining game.
Firstly, plot your map. If your party is indoors, you might want to consider barricading off those rooms and delicate nooks in your house which should be out of bounds. Setting a physical boundary for the game if you’re having it outdoors is also a good idea in the interests of safety.
You only need to draw out one map before replicating it for each team. A neat trick you could use is to soak your paper in coffee before burning the edges to give off that pirate map aesthetic. These not only look intriguing; they also smell amazing! Then, leave clues wherever the map should lead the participants. These clues may include mandatory tasks such as taking a selfie in a specific manner.
Ultimately, the clues should lead your guests to the ‘treasure chest’ – and of course, you should prepare a prize for the winners at the end. This game will surely keep all of the kids occupied for a significant amount of time, so be sure to make your clues long or short enough so you can monitor the duration of the game.
14. Organize a Pirate Bean Bag Toss Game
Remember those bean bag toss games you used to play in your days as an energetic, excitable child? Well, it’s time to bring them back. Let your child and guests experience the childlike joy of playing this simple, yet undeniably fun game during your child’s party.
Since you’re already implementing such a wonderful theme, why not let some of it seep into the theme of your game as well? Apply a pirate theme to your bean bag toss game. You can get the Pirate Bean Bag Toss Game, if you’re looking for a ready-made version. The color scheme will complement everyone’s pirate costumes (if you’ve implemented the dress code) and the decorations, so the photographs will turn out brilliantly.
The sheer amount of fun that this game promises will not only appeal to the children; they’ll also take the older guests on a delightful trip down memory lane. It’s a sure crowd favorite and will keep your guests’ spirits soaring through the roof.
15. Play Some Pirate Board Games
Not all games have to demand so much energy. It would be a good idea to organize games that allow your guests to unwind and relax a little, especially if this is an after-meal kind of activity.
Have your child and their guests play some pirate board games. Sure, the usual board games like Snakes and Ladders or Monopoly are fun, but your unique party theme warrants a unique choice of games. Purchasing a pirate-themed card game not only entertains your guests of all ages, it’s also a clatter-free idea which doesn’t take much effort to set up. One of the best pirate party games is Grandpa Beck’s Games Skull King.
You might want to leave this game out on the table throughout your party as your quieter guests may want to retreat to a more private game after all that hype and activity. This game is sure to keep your guests entertained even when you’re occupied with other party-related matters.
16. Have a Pirate-Themed Photo Session
If you’ve implemented a pirate dress code, you’re going to want to commemorate this very rare occurrence. So, have a pirate-themed photo session. All you will need are a good camera and plenty of smiles – or, rather, everyone’s best ‘pirate faces’.
Don’t forget to use a matching Pirate Ship Backdrop, so that taking photos will be endless fun for everyone. A pirate-themed backdrop will definitely help to fill the background of the photos! Your child and their guests will have a blast showing off their pirate costumes. Years later, you’ll all be thankful for these quirky, fun photographs to remind you of such a special day.
17. Make Use of Pirate Photo Props
If you have hand-made props around – think of cardboard cut-outs resembling treasure chests, pirate ships and pirate hats – those would certainly liven up the session. Have everyone strike their silliest poses in front of your decorations, and those wide grins will come just as easily.
If you’re tight on time or looking for something more professional, you can always opt for these ready-made Pirate Photo Props. They’re excellent for photos and can even be used as party accessories for the kids. This is bound to widen the smiles on all the guests as they take some awesome party photos!
18. Prepare Some Goodie Bags for the Kids
Another great party idea is to prepare some goodie bags that the kids can take home. It will surely create a smile on their face as they unbox it to find plenty of party goodies inside. There are plenty of goodie bags that would fit the pirate theme. Either decide on some pouches, bags or these awesome Treasure Chest Goodie Bags.
When it comes to filling these goodie bags, you can get really creative. Simply fill them with some prizes, toys, keychains, snacks, sweets, vouchers or anything else that you find suitable. You should explore your creativity and mix things up a little!
19. Hand Out Pirate Thank You Cards
So, your party has come to an end. Your child has certainly had a good time – and you know all that cheer can only be credited to the fact that your child’s loved ones have shown up for him or her. What’s the best way to show your appreciation?
Why not hand out pirate-themed ‘thank you’ cards? These are a simple, affordable way of displaying your gratitude to your guests for making the party a joyous occasion. Just get some A5-sized paper of good quality, and let your creative juices flow. You may either print out pictures of pirates or pirate ships and paste them onto the cards, or you could buy pirate-themed stickers if you are able to find them. If you’re looking for a quick solution, these Pirate Thank You Cards will come in handy.
The best thing about this idea is that you can personalize your ‘thank you’ cards by writing down the name of each guest, preferably in your best handwriting. Slip them into your guests’ goodie bags and let them go home with smiles on their faces! They’re sure to remember the good time you have all had.