Any ideas for a PIRATE PARTY?

[eenybeeny]

Hi there,

I know this is really sad but its my DS's 1st birthday in August and I am planning the party. Its theme is pirates. We have: loads of balloons (pirate balloons and also black balloons with skulls and crossbones)

life size palm tree. Smaller palm tree. Several blow up parrots. The cake is a black skull and crossbones. I have eye patches etc and stuff like that...

I have one game to play - pin the treasure chest on the 'X' or something like that.

Now I am debating. Do I hire the village hall for £100 or have 40ish people at my house.

I know this is OTT for a 1st birthday but I cant help it I am so excited and I love throwing parties. Does anyone have any ideas for the party and also opinions on whether or not I should hire the hall? I am so not rich but I dont want all those people in my house.

I'm Princessmel not princesscc!!!!

Thanks tho

Thanks too cleaninglady

Heres a lame attempt at a suggestion Eeny.
If your doing a treasure map, burn the edges of the paper and get an old slightly wet teabag for the brown look.

Told you it was lame

sorry princessmel!

NBG dont worry it wasnt lame!

eenybeeny

If you can get some gold coins in the sales (obviously not out of date this side of August) snap them up - they are great for party bags and treasure hunt/prizes. We had a pirate party for my ds1 in February for his 5th b.day. I managed to get bags of gold coins from a local newsagents who were selling them off at 10p a bag because they had reindeers on the label so I cut the labels off and put them in a treasure chest. I also got some for 50p a bag in Home Bargains. If you have a Wilkinsons near you they sell brilliant treasure chests for £8 which are great for storage afterwards.

I have a pirate cook book somewhere, willgo look for it if you want food ideas?

try here

I am a veteran of pirate parties - ds has had two.
Try 'what's the time, captain hook? ' (exactly the same as 'what's the time, mr Wolf?' but dress up and look v fierce.

I found little choc barrels wrapped in gold foil in woolies pick and mix and used those for a treasure hunt.

We also hung up a crocodile pinata (from woolies) in the garden and had small children bash it with broom handles ( highly irresponsible.) to the 'never smile' music from p Pan

And walking the plank, a bench in front of the paddling pool.

We played 'musical pirates' - like musical statues, but when the music (various pirate songs from iTunes) stops shout the title of a pirate statue and give a prize to the best one. (statues: heave ho! walk the plankk! sword fighting, drinking grog, digging for treasure, land ahoy!, etc etc)

And I had a big pirate flag which we hoisted on a big pole lashed to the garden fence.

ooh blu you've got some good ideas - my ds has asked for another pirate party again next year.

WOW BLUE!! You are the fount of all things Piratish

And auntymandy - that website is FAB!!!! Dont go looking for your cookbook if its hassle but if its easy I am looking for a little snacky type thing that isnt too hard to make but looks good. But really if its up in the loft or something dont worry about it!

eeny - the first time I made two cakes, too - a pirate ship and a treasure island. The floowing year I made a treasure map cake - much simpler.

I found some good ideas on this web site:

birthdaypartyideas

some of the ideas are a bit over the top but I did think some of them were good!

I havent read the whole thread but here are some ideas:

• musical statues on one leg (like a pirate!)
• treasure hunt
• race on one leg
• pin the eye patch on the pirate (party pieces)
• pin the treasure on the map (Phoenix trading do great wrapping paper that looks like a map and is only about a quid!)

oh thanks very much aintnomountain!