Pirate Party Games
To Keep Your Guests from Mutiny!

~ Pirate Party Games ~

MUSICAL ISLANDS - Play like musical chairs, only use butcher paper or cardboard cut in the shape of an island - or even pillows will do - instead of chairs.

CRUSH THE CANNONBALL - Prepare a couple of black balloons for each party guest by adding a beaded necklace, small toy or candy before inflating. Children are told to "crush the cannonballs", that is to pop their balloons, to get the treasures inside...one of our most requested pirate party games!

GOLDEN NUGGET SURPRISE - "Pass the package" with a twist. Prepare a package by wrapping a treat (small toy or candy)in gold foil. Now wrap the package again along with another treat. Repeat this layering until you have wrapped as many presents as you have party children.

Start playing your party music and let the children pass the package around the circle. Stop the music. The child who has the package unwraps one layer and eats the treat. Start the music again. Keep playing until each child gets a treat. Keep track of who has already gotten a treat. Make sure everyone gets one by turning off the music at the appropriate time.

TICK TICK TOCK - Played like Duck, Duck Goose. Children sit in a circle. One child is "it" and walks around the outside of the circle. S/he taps each child lightly on the head and says, "Tick..." At any time, s/he may tap a child and call out "Tock" instead of "Tick". "Tock" jumps up and chases "It" around the circle. "Tock" must try to tag "It" before "It" sits in "Tock's" empty place. If "It" is tagged, he is "It" again. If "It" is not tagged, then "Tock" becomes "It."

SPIN THE SPYGLASS - When it's time for the birthday child to open presents, have all guests sit in a circle holding their birthday gift. The birthday child sits in the middle and spins a soda bottle(the spyglass). Whoever the bottle points to is the one whose gift will be opened by the guest of honor. This is a great way to keep things calm and orderly instead of the usual melee.

~ Pirate Party Games ~

WALK THE PLANK - Position a wide plank (make sure it is secure) over a kiddie pool stocked with various crocodiles - plastic toys or inflatables will do just fine. Your choice to fill the pool or not. Guests who successfully walk the plank are given a piece of candy or pirate coin. For small children just place the plank on the ground with crocs scattered about - they'll love it!
Variation: Use this game as a "punishment" for those who are eliminated from other pirate party games. "You're out, go walk the plank, Aarrgh!"

TREASURE HUNT - Hide chocolate coins, colorful beaded necklaces, candy "gems" and other plunder in a pre-arranged location. Give guests clues to follow which ultimately lead them to the hidden treasure... one of our classic pirate party games.

THE CROOK WITH A HOOK - Take a large plastic cup and poke a hole in the bottom. Thread through a large hook shape made from foil-covered cardboard. Leave enough of the hook inside the cup for the child to grasp. Fill a large rectangular box (made to resemble a treasure chest of course!) With pretzels, small toys wrapped in foil with loopy bows, beaded necklaces, big shiny party rings, etc. ... and let them go to work!

DIG FOR BURIED TREASURE - Bury plastic play coins and gems in your sandbox and provide enough scoops, shovels and rakes for all to dig for treasure. Small toys can be placed in Easter eggs for more variety.

PASS THE PARROT -Played like the classic Hot Potato game. Children sit in a circle and pass a stuffed parrot around while an adult leader plays music. When the music stops, the child holding the parrot is "out". The last child left is the winner.

~ Pirate Party Games ~

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM - Before the party, prepare a baby bottle with a new clean nipple for each guest. Fill each bottle with 1 ounce of water and make sure the water runs out of each bottle at the same rate of speed. At a signal, each contestant tries to drink the water the fastest. The first one to finish is the winner. Imagine what great pictures you will get with this one!...one of our funniest pirate party games.

PEG-LEG-PETE CONTEST - Who can stand on one leg the longest? Divide party guests into two groups. One group will take the challenge first while the other group is allowed to do anything they want to distract them, except touch them in any way. They must not throw anything at them or hit them either. However, they can try to make them laugh, or make them think they are going to do something to knock them off balance. Switch groups for the second challenge, then have a play-off between the two winners.

PIRATES VS. PARROTS - Divide guests into two equal groups, one is the Pirates, the other the Parrots. The parrots are very very grouchy and are not permitted to smile. The pirates can do anything they like to get the parrots to laugh. The parrots can only respond parrot-style - if they think they can without crackering-er, I mean cracking - up!!! You might make one of the rules that parrots must answer any questions in "parrot-speak" only. The last parrot to keep a straight face is the winner... silliest of our pirate party games.