Pirate Pinata

You know Pinatas are really fun for kids to have at birthday parties. And having a pirate skull head is the best!

I don’t believe the hostess made this one but there is no reason why you couldn’t. It’s been a long time since I’ve personally made a pinata but maybe I’ll endeavor one and give you a run down. But this one looks super simple. Just a balloon and some paper sticking out for the cross bones would be all you need for this pirate paper mache pinata.

Speaking of making the pinata for a pirate party….why not have your kid be involved in making their own pinata for their birthday party. My daughter is in first grade and she just did paper mache in her class and did a great job. It may not look like a professional but if your child is like mine, she love to be involved in the planning process……when I let her……I know that’s terrible.

What ever you decide, kids never tire of smacking something like a pinata with a bat. Might as well be something you don’t mind them tearing up. Fill it full and don’t forget to hold some back for the kids who aren’t as aggressive and don’t get any candy.

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Reading "How I Became a Pirate"

The great thing about this activity during a Pirate party is not only that this type of party can be crazy. But there are some great Pirate books out there that can be read. You can even have the kids participate by repeating the words that the crew does.

My favorites are: How I Became A Pirate and Pirates Don’t Change Diapers. I think you would be hard pressed to not find this author. And if I’m not mistaken, I think there is another coming out. These stories are very fun and a great activity for a Pirate Party!

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Pirate's Booty

Pirates in general didn’t have the best diet…..or I would imagine. All the photos I’ve ever seen their teeth are all gnarly, skin atrocious and overweight. Who knows, they may have been healthy guys but all the photos and drawings like to show awful portraits of the pesky fellows. But that doesn’t mean that your kids have to eat trash at your child’s pirate birthday party.

I’ve never bought Pirate Booty online. We have it here at our Trader Joes. If you don’t have a Trader Joes, there are tons of places online that sell the yummy snack. The full name is Roberts’s Gourmet Pirate’s Booty. Comes in cheddar, bbq, veggie and others. Just do a search for the name and you’ll get lots of results. Enjoy!

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Pirate Feast Table

This pirate’s table has some simple square red and white check table cloths draped along the length of it. Then in the center, you can see some lanterns that might have been hung on the back of a pirate ship. You could pull some tarnished pieces out of the cabinet to put along the center of the table. But if you don’t want to risk something happening to your own items, you can certainly head on down to the local thrift store to find some nifty booty. They always have silver and brass items that folks aren’t interested in purchasing that would be perfect for the center of a pirate’s table.

Spread some coins either real or chocolate wrapped and some booty and your centerpieces are set for your Pirate’s Birthday Party Feast Table!

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Pirate Party Captain

Just like you might hire a caterer or servers for a dinner party, hire a party “captain.” This gal was part of a package that the birthday boy’s mom purchased at a local store that sells pirate garb. But even if you are having your party at home, you can still do this. Now, I’m not talking about an entertainer. I’m talking about a person who takes the planning that you have set into motion and carries it out. This leaves you to pay attention to the pirates or to other moms.

A college student would be perfect but really any responsible kid could carry it all out. My daughter “big kid helps” at my son’s preschool. She is only 7 and totally guides the little ones in the activities for the day. I don’t see why she wouldn’t be able to carry out the basic functions of a birthday party if she were allowed to be in charge.

Regardless or not if you have someone else run the party for you or it’s you yourself running the party….don your favorite pirate captain’s costume and it will make the party all that much more fun for the kids. And it helps you get into character as well!

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Pirate Party Balloon Maker

Anyway, during party times and peak times, they have a “warm up” guy out front of the store to greet the kids. He makes all kinds of balloons into swords and hats and whatever can be dreamed up. I can see this being a fun addition to the beginning of any birthday party. Really not even just Pirate parties. There are tons of clowns and balloon guys around who could do this to warm kids up and set the tone for the party.

So for the next Pirate or other type of Birthday party, consider just having a balloon maker come to warm the kids up or to be the primary entertainment.

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Pirate Birthday Party Favor Ideas

Here you can purchase the hats and beads either made of felt or of paper. Long term the felt hats are going to last longer as the paper ones will tear up pretty quickly. This is an idea that the kids will play with. And it’s something that is appropriate for many ages.

Pirate Birthday Party Favors

For one of these parties, there were your basic birthday party games like the bean bag toss and others and as prizes, the birthday boy gave away the bead necklaces. So, at the end of the party everyone compared their booty they collected at the party. Then the mom provided a trunk that it could all be stored in. Would have given you a pic of that as well……but I’m afraid ours has been lost.

Resources: Felt hats, trunks, eye patches and necklaces can be found at Oriental Trading.

Photo taken by Amy Hall Photography, Portland, OR.

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Pirate Birthday Party Invitation Wording

Wording for a Pirate Birthday Party is not rocket science but sometimes the creative juices don’t flow! Here’s a suggested wording for your Pirate Party Invitation. Choose some old looking paper maybe already done with the burnt edges or burn them yourself……very carefully. Use the Old English font and you are good to go.

Pirate Birthday Party Invitation Wording:

Ahoy me hearty…
You’re invited to a Pirate Party!
Pirate Captain (your child’s name)
is turning 4~
Come board our ship
for some grub, games and a
while lot more!

Then details like address, time and RSVP info.

Have fun with your Pirate Party.

Photo taken by Amy Hall Photography, Portland, OR.

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Pirate Party Invitations

Pirate Birthday Parties allow for you to use all your creative juices. There are so many home made items that can be make that look cool and are appealing both to the kids but to the parents as well!

These party invitations are the perfect lead in for a birthday party when you can hand deliver them all. Wouldn’t work so well if you needed to mail any……..although I guess you could get a bigger bottle and put a cork in the top. Ooooo. You could even use old wine bottles and wine corks. That would be super cute for a party for any age kid or adult! Start saving those empty wine bottles.

Anyway, they are super simple. There are all kinds of bottles like these available online or even in your dollar store. Put in a little sandbox sand (preferable without bugs), a shell or two and your invitation that’s been wound with some twine.

I can never say too much that an invitation sets the tone for a birthday party. So, please put some thought into them!

Photo taken by Amy Hall Photography, Portland, OR.

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