Age group(s) for this birthday party activity:
Elementary School

Cost of birthday party activity:
Usual cost of food and cake.
Cost of small gifts to use as treasure.
Cost of eye patches and weapons for each guest.

Birthday party planning information:
Yo-ho-ho! Have a jolly good time at a Pirate's Party.
Decorations: Play music such as The Pirates of Penzance CD or tape. Tie assorted colored balloons to chairs with colorful curling ribbon. Give each guest a pirate's eye patch and weapon set. (These are usually available at party supply stores. Better yet, pick them up easily prior to Halloween!)
Food: Menacing Melon Heads - Cut off the top of a melon and scoop out the seeds. Stick fruit and cheese skewers into the hollow melon and decorate the melon like a pirate's head. Use black felt and a little glue to make an eye patch, mouth, and a beard. Wrap a 10"x3" piece of black felt around the melon and secure to two skewers with tape. Glue on a green jelly candy for an eye with a black M&M candy for a pupil. Attach dried apricot ears with toothpicks and hang a dangling plastic earring from one ear.
Cupcakes: Bake your favorite cupcake mix in individual loaf pans. Cool thoroughly. Frost the loaves to look like treasure chests. Use black piping gel to make a skull and bones pirate symbol. Serve one per pirate.

Other suggestions or comments:
Activity: Bury (not deeply) "treasure" (small gifts) in the back yard. Supply each pirate with a treasure map and let them loose. Get as creative as you can - remember crocodiles and gangplanks!