Pirate Party for my 4 year old son We were able to do this VERY CHEAP and have 25 guests(boys and girls) The invites I made on the computer using a picture of an old map screened into the background. Used a pirate looking font and words ....Aaah Matey!! You are invited to join captain camren to celebrate  his 4th buccaneers birthday party. Come if you dare for swash buckling fun and grub. We set sail (date/time) pier(address#) Come dressed in your finest pirate garb...Please leave your weapons on your ship.(less trouble for you) The invites edges were then burned, rolled up and placed in old beer bottles with the labels removed. The invites were then handed out.  Each guest that didn't come dressed as a pirate was given a bandana tied around their head. A loot bag sewn out of material with the guests name was tied around each of their waists.  They were then sent to the craft table where they decorated empty paper towel rolls for their telescopes and fish cutouts to be added to a net hanging on the fence-while we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive. 1st game was bomadere. We broke the group up into 2 teams and had both teams stand behind a large cardboard box in the shape of a pirate ship and a pole flying the team flag. They were then given a bucket of Ping-Pong balls spray painted black for cannonballs. The object was to see which team could launch the most cannonballs into the others ship under a time limit. The kids loved this! (And make sure to get a picture of both teams behind their ships. Too cute.)The prize was a punching ball(50 cents each) to put in their loot bag.  2nd game was of musical islands. Another big hit! Instead of chairs we used old carpet samples that we got at a carpet store for nothing. The best part is that the loser has to walk the plank (a wide, low to the ground balance beam, which we made of a wood plank and 4 bricks) And the prize is either a rubber alligator or shark (Wal-Mart $1) lying under the plank on a sea of blue tarp. 3rd game: Dig for gold chocolate coins in the sand pit.  4th game: Cannonball Pop. Have kids sit on cannonballs(black balloons) to get the prize inside(candy)  5th game: The Pirates Cave. A maze of old boxes duct taped together for the kids to crawl through. Which kept the kids busy for ever. An old trunk left open for kids to put their gifts into for the birthday boy=treasure chest!! Palm tree decorations surrounding it. Kids gathered in a group and given fish candies during gift opening.   And then its time for the cake. Use a small round cake, put white icing on, sprinkle with finely crushed graham crackers(sand), write happy birthday with chocolate letters, add palm trees(pet store, aquarium section), treasure chest, and pirates. Then make enough cupcakes for kids. Frost in blue, top with gummy fish. Place all on a tray covered in blue cellophane with the cake island in the middle and the sea of cupcakes surrounding it. No cutting, No plates, No forks, Less mess!!!!