Pirates

Admit it. You like dressing up like a pirate. Well, you're in luck! You no longer have to wait for Halloween or your child's birthday party to don your saucy sword or your enticing eye patch! If you're tired of being a secret swashbuckler, then be a proud pirate and celebrate with a Pirate Party! A hilariously good time for a bunch of adventurous mateys, this buccaneer bash will have your guests yelling, "Yo-ho-ho!"

Get the Message! Guests will wonder what washed up in their mailbox when they receive these cool Invitations in a Bottle! Visit your local craft store for small, clear plastic bottles with cork stoppers. Fill each bottle with about three tablespoons of craft sand (or sandbox sand, if that's more readily available!) and miniature seashells - also available at the craft store. Write all the party details on off-white parchment paper for a "washed up" look. You can also burn the edges of the paper just slightly or tea-stain it to give your invitation a more authentic appearance. Attach a mailing label to the outside of the bottle and be sure to check the local post office for correct postage information!

If there's no time to make your own invites, visit Party City for Pirate Party Invitations that arrgh! just perfect!

All Hands on Deck! Check out some of these cool tips and tricks for a Pirate Party that'll keep potential scallywags from makin' ye walk the plank!

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of Rum! Celebrate your Piratehood with lots of Caribbean cocktails that include the traditional pirate spirit - Rum! Visit Party City for festive cups, stirrers, straws - and even pirate picks for the cherry and pineapple garnish! Try one (or both!) of these luscious libations:

Fog Blower

Caribbean Champagne

Party City has everything you need to convince landlubbers that they've stepped onto an actual pirate ship! Pick up lots of fishing net to drape over furniture and hang in doorways! And shake your booty - pirate booty, that is! Sprinkle gold plastic coins (or chocolate ones!) over the tables, bar, etc. Fly a pirate flag outside your home to let buckos know that they're headed for pirate territory!

Encourage guests to come dressed as pirates, of course! But be sure to have lots of pirate accessories for those lads and lasses who choose to mutiny! Pick up eye patches, hoop earrings, fake mustaches, pirate hats, head scarves - even trusty parrots! Remember to take lots of pictures!

Start a good, ol' fashioned pirate singalong! Start a sailor chantey by creating one line of a song. Go around your group, asking each guest to add a line until you've created your own complete song! Record the group singing to use as blackmail - uh, we mean a good memory - later on!

Booty-licious! Now that you've supplied the grog, fill their bellies with some of these fun finger foods!

Fruit & Cheese Kabobs

Chicken Wings

Spinach & Arr!tichoke Dip

Breadsticks with Dipping Sauces/Oils

Bountiful Treasure! Before guests make their way back to the mainland, send them home with valuable treasures! Fill a treasure chest with nips of liquor (sample-size bottles), including rums, vodkas and liqueurs - in lots of different flavors! Let mateys each choose 3-4 bottles and be sure to give them each a small gift bag so they can carry their booty!

Bon Voyage! Thank guests for joining you on the high seas with Pirate Photo Thank Yous! Send each guest a photo of themselves dressed in their full pirate garb along with your thanks for making your Pirate Party perfect! Make copies of your pirate chantey and send them along too!

Or sail into Party City for Pirate Thank Yous that will have scallywags exclaiming, "Shiver me timbers!"