Pirate Birthday Party Games Not Your Typical Treasure Hunt

by Molly Hull
(Clark, Nevada)

Pirate Birthday Party Treasure Hunt Game: A pirate birthday isn't complete without a high seas treasure hunt with bandits, stolen loot, and a sword fight.

You can opt for a typical treasure hunt as well, but this one is sure to make the party memorable. If it seems like too much, just skip a few steps!

This treasure hunt is based on the kids finding a scroll that outlines where their treasure has been hidden.

Basically your little pirates have been robbed. They had a treasure chest and some sea bandits came in during the party and stole it away. Unfortunately for the sea bandits, they left behind a scroll with clues about where the treasure is.

What You'll Need

A Treasure Chest: This can be as elaborate as something from the party store to something as simple as a shoe box that has been decorated in a pirate theme. Consider finding a small antique looking decorative box from a craft store or home store. It will be cheaper than a party store version and will look more authentic too.

Treasure for the Treasure Chest: A neat idea is to have the party favors for the birthday in the treasure chest. Have enough so that each guest plus the birthday child will get one.

You could do traditional party favor bags in a pirate theme with pirate loot inside. Other ideas are chocolate wrapped gold coins and other candy items, mardi gras style plastic bead necklaces, black and white pirate bandanas, sea shells, gold coin necklaces, compass toys, or plastic spyglasses.

Ancient Scrolls: Get three sheets of legal size typing paper. Boil tea, let it cool and pour it into a long shallow casserole pan.

Rip little pieces of paper off of the edges of the typing paper to give it a weathered look, then dip them in the tea water to age them. Let them sit in the water for a few minutes then carefully pull them out and let them dry. To get really elaborate, instead of ripping the edges, burn the edges with a lighter after they have been dipped and dried.

How to Play the Pirate Treasure Hunt Game

At the beginning of the party have the treasure chest on display. You can use it as the centerpiece on the food table or as a centerpiece where the presents are kept.

At a certain point during the party when the kids are busy playing a game in another room, have an adult come in and move the treasure chest to it's hiding place, leaving the first scroll in its place.

Make sure the hiding place is somewhere the children won't accidentally stumble across ahead of time. Ideas are hiding it in some bushes in the front or back yard, in the garage under a cloth, or in a parents closet.

Once it is hidden tell all the kids it's time to open the treasure chest and see the pirate loot. Have all of the children come back to the room and discover that it's been stolen. They will see the scroll and read it. If the children are too young to read, have an adult read it.

Ideas for text on the scroll are, "Ahhh. You varmint pirates. We got you this time. Blackbeard and his crew are jolly pleased to announce we have stolen your treasure. Catch us if you can!" Then write a clue on the back of the scroll. An example would be, "Blackbeard, meet me at the watering hole. I found me some treasure you're going to be wanting to see."

The kids would follow that clue to the bathroom where they would find another scroll leading them elsewhere. You can have as many scrolls as you want. For younger kids three is enough. Older children will want the clues to be trickier and for there to be more obstacles to finding the loot.

The last clue should lead the children close to the hidden treasure chest. Have an adult (or several) dressed in pirate outfits hiding nearby. When the kids enter the area where the treasure chest is have the adults jump out from hiding and have a sword fight with the children using plastic swords.

Once the kids have conquered Blackbeard and his Sea Bandits they will find the treasure chest and regain their loot.