Invitations

• Although you can choose from a variety of purchased or printable invitations featuring a pirate theme, it might be fun to make your own. A pirate flag featuring party information written around a Jolly Roger symbol or a map leading to buried treasure at your house are two possibilities to consider.
  
  

Costumes

• Pirate parties are at their best when they're costume party events. In the invitation, ask your child's guests to don their most piratical finery for the occasion. Have spare items on hand for children who don't have their own or forgot the theme; bandannas, eyepatches and temporary tattoos will ensure that every child is a proper scallywag.
  
  

Food

• If it's a birthday party, you'll need a cake. The simplest cake idea is a sheet cake decorated to look like a pirate flag complete with skull and crossbones. If you want to be more ambitious, design a cake that looks like a ship or a treasure chest. Whether you have a cake or not, the rest of the food should be simple and finger-friendly to keep the focus on the fun and games. Set out bowls of snack mix made of pretzel sticks, nuts, dried fruit and goldfish crackers. Fruit chunks speared on plastic sword-shaped cocktail picks are another fun idea; set the skewers into a pineapple or melon half for display.
  
  

Decor

• As a centerpiece for your table, create a mock treasure chest spilling over with loot. Paint an old foam cooler brown and fill it with such goodies as plastic coins, gems and the like, coin-shaped foil-wrapped chocolates and jelly beans, or a mixture of both plastic toys and candy. Hoist a tiny pirate flag at each place setting or set a larger one underneath your centerpiece. Hang flags around the room as well. You can also use fish nets and other nautical-themed items to set the scene.
  
  

Party Games and Crafts

• Try playing "Pin the X on the Treasure Map," a variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Alternatively, arrange for a scavenger treasure hunt in the yard; plant pirate-themed goodies in hidden spots and draw clues onto a pretend treasure map. Fold, decorate and wear pirate hats made out of newspaper.
  
  

Party Favors

• A bag of plunder is almost a requirement for a pirate-themed party. Fill colorful bandannas with the same kind of candy you used for the treasure chest centerpiece, plus stickers, temporary tattoos, chains of plastic beads and an eyepatch, and tie them closed. Arrange them around the treasure chest for the children to take home at the end of the party.