INVITATION, As others on here have suggested, we used a parchment style invitation, written in pirate speak. As our house is small (built for Victorian mill workers) we suggested that parents might like to visit nearby taverns.  (Which they very much appreciated as our party was 2 days before Valentines day so they could have a child free date!)  DECORATIONS The living room (where we had the games) had netting, pirate flags, a ship made of cardboard, a treasure map and a cardboard pirate that you could put your face through. My son's room used a red lightbulb, netting, blow up shark and monkey, pirate material laid over cushions.  A tunnel style entrance made out of material and clothes horses. It was a cosy pirate place ACTIVITIES, Have someone who is an extravert be a pirate at your child's party. My husband did the job, but an uncle or family friend would do as well. So that the children weren't too freaked out when they arrived, we had them decorate treasure chests at the start (an idea taken from this website) which involved cigar boxes painted gold with sequins, stick on jewels and glitter glue for them to use.  This activity gave them the chance to chat to the Good Pirate" and get to know him a little.  They then had to swear to obey their Captain and have a fantastic time. As a reward they got to have their picture taken as a crew mate. For this we used one of those things you put your head through and take a picture of you as a pirate. We got one off ebay quite cheaply. During the party I printed these off and put them into the tresure chest that they had made.  They were then ready for some games (see games) After the games (see games) the children were told a story by the Good Pirate.  He used pirate figures that I had crocheted especially for the story which included 4 pirates with differing characters a baby pirate a giant sea monster and a mermaid.  The children helped to tell the story by naming the pirates and saying how each pirate tried to stop the baby crying. (The sea monster had lots of arms so tickled the baby - in case you were wondering).  None of their ideas stopped the baby crying but then the mermaid came along and sang her special mermaid lullaby and that got the baby to sleep. This activity was great for calming the children ready for their party food. GAMES They played a pin the pick axe on the treasure map game.  Followed by musical pirates. In this game they had to do whatever the pirate said until the music stopped. (e.g. climb the riggings dig for treasure) After this we had a traditional pass the parcel.  But at the end of it we screwed up the paper into balls and they became canon balls.  The children had to throw these across the room into a pirate ship that we had made out of two cardboard boxes. If they were successful then they won a pirate sticker. (This was good for the high energy boys!) Next the Good Pirate took the children upstairs to the Pirate Lair that we had made in my son's bedroom. Here they searched for treasure (gold coins hidden around the room).  They were shared equally and put in their treasure boxes to take home (see activities) apart from one which they ate during their story (see activities) COSTUMES My husband got hold of a really good pirate costume so that he could be an authentic pirate.  I played it down so that the kids knew that there was someone normal to go to of necessary.  PARTY SNACKS  Pirate raft wraps (some hummus and some jam).  These were wraps cut into 3 and I used a cocktail stick and a pirate logo stuck through for a flag. Our gluten free guest had a rice cake cut in half topped with hummus/jam as a pirate boat Golden necklaces - 25 hula hoop crisps strung together on a necklace. Pirate Beards - rice crispy cakes Treasure chest of jewels - a cardboard treasure chest filled with red and green grapes blueberries dried fruits and sweets CAKE Pirate boat - make a round chocolate sandwich cake and cut them in half.  Stick together with jam and buttercream and put on their side to make a boat (cut off a bit from the bottom so that it stands up) Cover with chocolate butter cream icing. Deck out with sails made of paper and mast made of bamboo skewers. The top then had on play mobil pirates cannon treasure chest etc. FAVORS For favors we had pirate pencils notebooks balloons tattoos bracelets and a pirate rubber duck (all purchased via ebay). They also got to take home their pirate photo and the treasure chest they had made."