Pirate Birthday Party - Five Games for a Buccaneer's Birthday Bash

I’s be an old salt, and t'is be my pleasure to show ye the way. Fair winds to thee lads and laddies fer birthday booty is our pay! Fun and favor will be had by all. So, here’s be five buccaneer games for those who heed the pirate’s call.

Don’t Crack the Kraken
This game is essentially is an egg and spoon relay race where the egg is decorated to look like a Kraken. An egg an easily be decorated using markers or crayons. Tentacles can be added to the bottom of the egg using a fast drying glue or scotch tape. Yarn, twine or shredded paper all make suitable tentacles.

Divide your guests up into equal teams(with at least 3 team members) and designate both a start and finish line. Have each team nominate a “Captain” who will stand on the start line a Quartermaster who will stand on the finish line. The remaining team members will stand evenly spaced between the Captain and Quartermaster. The captain will begin the race as he begins walk as quickly as possible to the first crew member with his kraken (egg) cradled in spoon . The kraken (egg) must be transferred to the next player without falling off the spoon. If the kraken falls off the spoon the team must start all over again. The first team to transfer the kraken to each player without dropping it and reaching the finish line wins.

Jump the Shark
Jump the shark is a variation of leapfrog. In the crouched position the players represent sharks and in the leaping position shark bait. Divide the guests into relay teams, each team having equal number of players in single file lines. Mark a point of reference that will ultimately become the finish line (garage, swing set, etc.) Tell the players that a dreadful sea witch has turned them into shark bait and the only way to resume their human form is to return to their ship. The first player of each team will take a running leap. Where ever they land they are to remain in a crouched position. Now the second player will now take a running leap over the first player. Upon landing the second player takes the crouched position and the first player returns to the line. The third player now takes a running leap over the second player and assumes the crouched position. This continues until one of the teams reaches the ship. The first team to have all of their members reach the ship wins.

Treasure Hunt
Hide treasures around the house and yard. Divide guests into teams and provide each team with a treasure map that also has clues or riddles as to where they may find various pieces of treasure. Give the teams approximately 10 minutes to find as much treasure as possible. The team that returns with the most treasure wins.

X Marks the Treasure Map
Much like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, when playing X Marks the Treasure Map you use a large black X to mark where the treasure is buried. You can make your own map using black markers and craft paper. You might want to crumple the paper and roll the edges to give it a worn appearance. You can cut the X out of construction paper. Due to the popularity of Pirate’s of the Caribbean this game can easily be purchased from several online retailers.

How Much Treasure Does a Treasure Chest Hold?
This is an easy guessing game. Fill a prop pirate’s chest with chocolate gold coins. Give each guest a piece of paper and ask them to write their name on the piece of paper as well as their best guess as to how much treasure the treasure chest holds. The player who guess the closest to the actually amount wins the treasure and all of the treasure it holds.