Pirate Party Games
When the guests first arrive hand out pirate eye patches Be sure to get the soft fabric kind and not the hard plastic ones. There are also pirate eye patches with a peep hole that are the best. Pirate Temporary Tattos
While waiting for all the guests to arrive have the children and adults pick out their favorite Pirate Temporary Tattoos . Play some pirate music on your portable iPod speakers. I downloaded the song, Captain Drew, The Pirate, from iTunes.Have a bowl of water and a washcloth ready. Take off the protective plastic shield. Put the tattoo on the arm and then hold the wet washcloth on the tattoo until the design "takes." These Pirate Tattoos Pirate Treasure Hunt
Don't just hand out the pirate hat and sword. Turn this into pirate party games by sending the kids on a little treasure hunt to find them. Give each guest a clue that also tells them their pirate name.Some pirate names are: 
Black BeardJack Sparrow Captain Hook Long John Silver Shark Took Jack One Eyed Pete Use their pirate names through out the party. 
We used foam visor pirate craft kits, and decorated them before the party. The craft included foam letters, so we put their pirate name on the hat. For around the pool and water, the foam pirate party hats are better than cloth or cardboard. Here is an example of the clue we used for this pirate birthday party. Aye Matey!
Plastic Pirate Swords
Hang the plastic pirate swords from low tree branches or bushes. Give each pirate this clue to find their sword. Black Beard is a bucco, Aye? These plastic pirate swords were a big hit! The kids played with them in and out of the pool - often using them like a bat to hit the pirate beach balls. Pirate Pool Party Games
The biggest hit for this pirate pool party were these pirate pool hoops. We used them for lots of different pirate party games.
Position the three hoops on the bottom of the pool at a distance that is comfortable for your swimmers and that matches their swimming ability. Little weights keep the hoops on the pool bottom. The older kids can swim deep enough to easily swim through them. They will add a fun challenge to your experienced swimmers. Place some type of treasure like brightly colored beaded necklaces, bracelets or coins after the last hoop.
The younger kids (the 4 year olds) needed someone to lift the hoop for them to swim through - but by the end of the afternoon they were learning how to swim deeper to get those treasures. Pirate party games don't always have to be organized. The kids had a great time just swimming through the hoops during our free swim time.
Diving Games
Who knew that little boys would love these plastic necklaces?! Place several necklaces on the pool bottom near the pirate hoops. Let each pirate take a turn swimming through them while gathering their "treasures" along the way. I'd suggest you get enough necklaces so that each player can keep the treasures that they "found". The boys would have liked it if there had been enough necklaces for each of them to take home several. Dive Pool Party GameThese are the greatest pirate rings and placed a ring in each egg.Throw the eggs at a depth that matches the kids swimming abilities and one at a time have them dive in to get their "prize."
We also played another game putting real money in the eggs and placed the eggs at the end of the pirate pool hoops. One at a time the kids swim through the three hoops and try to gather as many eggs as they can. Each player get's to keep the money that was in their eggs. Using your own pennies, nickles or quarters, toss the coins in the pool at a depth appropriate for your guests. Divide the kids into two teams. One child goes at a time and is to get as many coins as possible in one breath. With a treasure chest for each team, have each swimmer put his coins into their teams treasure chest. The team with the most money wins. Hand out pirate ship flags to each of the winning team members. If you don't have a pool, hide the coins in your yard. Give each participant a set amount of time to find as many coins as possible. Pirate Floating Pool Toy  This pirate ship pool float Place "treasures" in the boat like plastic necklaces, bracelets and rings. Dive the guests into two teams. Two at a time, one from each team races out to the pirate ship to get a treasure to bring back. Then the next team member swims to the boat. If anyone tips the ship that team loses.
OK, this cool pool toy may be over the top, but if you get it at the beginning of the summer and use it all season and not just for a pirate pool party, it may be worth it. I'm thinking my granddaughter's are going to have to have a pirate party just so I can see how fun this is. In my case it will have to be two of them. What a fun, totally unnecessary pool toy for a pirate party! Go to Amazon to get yours: Pirate Ship With Action Squirter Pirate Pool Toys for the Little Ones  These pirate pool toys are for those that are too young for games, but love being in the pool. This set of Pirate Squirters A great way to entertain young kids who enjoy sitting on the pool steps. Walk the PlankOur swimming pool has a deep end with a diving board, so while the winning team members are rewarded with pirate prizes, the losing team members must each take their turn, and "walk the plank."For safety reasons, of course no blindfolds. Each person on the losing team (that is able to swim) simply must walk across the diving board and jump into the deep end.
Pirate Beach Ball Game
Have two pirate beach balls balls - one for each team. Divide your little pirates into two teams. Half the team is on the shallow end and the other half at the deep end. One swimmer from each team needs to get his beach ball to the deep end to be given to the next team player. The ball needs to stay in the water - it can be pushed - but it can't be thrown. When the beach ball gets to the deep end the next team player pushes the ball and swims to the shallow end. The first team that finishes wins. We bought enough pirate beach balls for each guest. The kids loved playing with them and the plastic swords in the pool.
Swab the Deck Divide the group into two teams - the Captain Jack Sparrow team and the Captain Hook team. This game is played on the pool deck area. Using a broom the player pushes the pirate beach ball to the other end of the pool deck and back. Set out some obstacles to go around. If the beach ball goes into the water, the player starts over. The team that finishes first wins.
Treasure Hunt GamesTreasure hunt games can be played in the pool for those who swim or outside in the yard.Using pennies, nickles or quarters, toss the coins in the pool at a depth appropriate for your guests. Divide the kids into two teams. One child goes in the pool at a time and gets as many coins as possible in one breath. With a treasure chest for each team, have each swimmer put his coins into their teams treasure chest. The team with the most money wins. Hand out pirate ship flags to each of the winning team members. If you don't have a pool, you can still play these pirate party games. Just hide the coins in your yard. Give each participant a set amount of time to find as many coins as possible. Pirate Scavenger HuntPirate scavenger hunts make great pirate party games. Depending on the age of the kids and what type of kid friendly neighborhood you have, send your pirates off into two teams to find their treasures with a treasure map.  Give each team a pirate name - such as the Jack Sparrow Team and the Black Beard Team. Each map will be different. The map should have 5-10 spots highlighted where a clue will be hidden - or co-operating neighbors could have a clue at their house. Each clue will take them closer to the treasure. The last clue will take the pirates to a hidden, home made or store bought treasure chest. Fill the treasure chest with age appropriate prizes - candy, pirate stickers or temporary tattoos,pirate figurines, pennies, etc.
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