Pirate Themed Parties
Thanks to Pirates of the Caribbean there's been a huge resurgence in little boys and girls longing to ride the high seas pirate style! So what better way to indulge their world of make believe with a pirate themed party!
Setting the Scene
As a party theme 'pirates' is hugely popular and there's no shortage of pirate related goodies on the high street; from skull and cross bones tableware, to scene setters to stick on the wall, bunting, flags and banners, you won't find it difficult to decorate your party space in an appropriately piratey style!There are lots of ways you can create your own bespoke, reusable pirate decorations though, to really make your party your own.
Arm yourself with four or five metres of red and white stripy fabric; this is the mainstay of the pirate party and can be used to make everything from pirate fancy-dress trousers to bandannas, and bunting to hang around the room! It also makes for a lovely, bright (and matching!) table covering, and if you get good quality cotton, will wash well and last for many parties to come!
Ship Shape Cake
Pirate party cakes are available in most of the supermarkets' bakery sections, but again can be beautifully made and personalised at home. Use a large silver cake board to assemble chocolate sponge cakes in a rectangle, then add two triangular shapes to form a pointed bow (bow = front of ship). Cover plentifully with chocolate icing, before decorating 'ship style'!Flake bars give a fantastic rough wood like appearance, and can be stuck into the icing to form the ships details. Large chocolate buttons make great portholes, and mini chocolate rolls standing up right on the deck make for realistic barrels. Use soaked wooden skewers (to avoid splintering) as flag polls and supports for sails. Simply cut triangles of fabric in differing sizes to decorate. Use blue icing directly on the cake board for the sea, and go over with a rough glaze of white to create peaks and waves. Finish off your cake with plastic pirate figures, ladders and a gangplank!
Pirate Games
Give all your party games a pirate twist with a few simple rule changes: pass the parcel becomes pass the treasure, pin the tail on the donkey can be put the parrot or eye patch on the pirate. Organise a treasure hunt with simple clues, exciting looking maps and a pile of treasure at the end – stock up on gold and silver chocolate coins for a really exciting haul!Encourage the guests to come in fancy dress, or provide simple accessories on the day - a pirate look can be created very simply with just a paper eye patch and a bandanna. You could even incorporate a craft session into the party, where the children could make these things. Have face paints on hand to transform fresh young faces into stubbly, scarred buccaneer type complexions!
