Kids love parties—that should go without saying. And, as parents, we love to see our kids having fun. Budgeting is also an important part of parents’ lives, but there’s no reason that frugality and party-planning can’t mix. Below is a list of fabulous pirate-themed party ideas for those of us on a budget. Let’s get creative!
Lots & Lots of Fun Treats!
Though you’ll probably have a regular-sized cake for the party, it’s always fun to have other treats for the kids to snack on. And one thing kids love is sugar. However, going to the bakery and ordering customized cupcakes can get expensive, but you can actually do some creative cup caking yourself. Purchase or bake plain cupcakes and put Popsicle sticks or chopsticks through the center of the cupcake. This will be the mast for the “sails.” Then, grab a black index card or another piece of all-black paper, and stick a sticker of a skull and crossbones directly on it (you can also do a tracing in silver marker yourself). Poke holes at the top and bottom and slide the pirate sail onto the mast. It’s a simple and inexpensive way for you to test your craft skills and make your pirate-themed party as creative as possible.
Gold “Treasure”
Another treat-related idea involves the mysterious “buried treasure” that’s in all the pirate stories. Add a little gold to the party by buying chocolate coins that are already wrapped in gold paper (or just mini chocolate bars wrapped in gold), or you can take advantage of the edible gold spray paint that different party places sell. Spray Oreos or other sweet treats with this edible paint and start a “treasure hunt” where the kid to collect the most candy wins a prize.
Plank Walk
What’s a party without games? There many adventurous, pirate-themed party games that you can try, but an example of a favorite party activity for young buccaneers is the “plank walk.” Write, paint, or glitter-glue “Walk the Plank” along the length of a 4×4 sanded plank of wood in black letters. Tie red ribbon at either end for decoration. Attach each end to an elevated surface (not too high up, for safety’s sake) and have a contest where kids try to balance on the wood without falling off. Note: make sure you do this with older kids, as this is more age-appropriate for 12 and older.
Fake Pirate Hooks
You can’t have a pirate party without the hooks. A DIY-version of Captain Hook’s trademark feature involves a red solo cup. Flip that upside down and poke a hole through the bottom. Then, you can take wire hangers and mold them into hook shapes. Wrap tinfoil around the hangers to give the hook some heft and shininess (also, tinfoil will blunt the wire so there aren’t any sharp edges). Use colored duct tape to secure the wire to the cup, and glue some sort of padding inside the base to make sure that the wire doesn’t poke the hands of the cup wearer. Have the kids place their hand inside the cup and voila! Pirate hooks for everyone. You can even make it more pirate-y by tracing skull and crossbones on the outside with a black marker. Another way to make the hooks is by cutting up some spare wood into hook shapes and painting that silver, but that is a little more labor-intensive.
Party Favors!
Last but not least, no party would be complete without sending the kids off with a little gift of some sort. A customized t-shirt company, like lil threadz, has a selection of pirate-themed t-shirts that will make the perfect party favor. Just get the kids’ sizes from the parents beforehand to make sure that the shirts will fit, and order away. To wrap the party favors, purchase plain black or red bags, and tie them with a gold or silver ribbon at the top. Decorate the outside with pirate sayings (“Ahoy, matey!”) or stickers, and throw in some gold chocolate coins for a final touch.
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean parties can’t be amazing. The above ideas are some great starters to give your party the pirate touch it needs. Whether it’s through fun contests, games, treats, or cool t-shirts, you’ll be able to stick within your price range while providing the perfect pirate themed party. Anchors away!