The ideas are coming together. Here's what we have so far:
Outside decoration (front yard) - we nixed the pirate ship idea and are going with a ship wreck instead. Let's us have the elements of the ship without the hassle and expense of trying to actually build a realistic looking pirate ship. So, we're going to have a stand with the ship wheel and a pirate skeleton lashed to it. We're thinking of setting up half of a mast with the crow's nest and tattered sails hanging from it with, of course, another tattered skeleton in the nest. Blue lighting on the scene and we're thinking of adding wind (via shop fan) and thunder sounds.
Outside decoration (back yard) - We have a covered patio made of wood planking so we were going to try to set up some kind of effect to make it look tented at one end - hang sheets and pull back with twine. The idea is to create a 'landing party' effect with the captain's tent. We have tiki torches and we were going to toss down some sand around the edges, and build a treasure chest scene. The treasure chest will be partially in a shallow hole with shovel beside it.
Indoor decoration (living room) - this is our main entertaining area and we are dolling it up as a tavern. We bought some sconces and hurricane lamps to hang off of them. We already have hanging swords and a dart board in our living room. You can't go wrong with cobwebs (no one said it was a clean tavern - these are pirates after all!) Flickering lights and candles, and other odds and ends to add to the effect. And we found a copy of the "Pirate's Creed" done on old style looking paper at the museum which we're going to hang. And monk riding - we definitely need a pic of monk riding!!
Indoor decoration (hallway) - The original idea was to have the pirate behind bars off of the kitchen, but we're thinking now to put him at the end of the hallway. (The way our house is laid out, you walk down the hall and the bathroom is to the left, so they would see him on the way to the bathroom.) We'll probably put together a sound track for him.
Indoor decoration (bathroom) - still deciding. We had the skeleton in the bathtub with a shower cap and bath brush last year, so wanted to do something different. Maybe a cave? Or outhouse...
Food - keeping it simple this year:
* Dead Men's Finger Sandwiches
* Dead Men's Bits and Pieces (fruit and cheese tray)
* Dead Men's Tails (haven't quite decided what this will be, but we loved the name - anyone have some ideas?)
Drink -
* Grog (we're going to put this in some kind of cask for serving)
* Rum punch
Activities -
* Mix and Mingle - The first hour will be letting people arrive and mingle - and get drinks. During this time, we're going to have several 'cast' members wandering and providing interaction. There's a fortune teller doing Tarot reading, a fiddle-playing minstrel, lusty wenches propositioning.... and, any other ideas?
* Booty Hunt - ladies (who want to participate) will write down a description of their booty. We'll line them up at the front and read the description, at which time the other guests have to match the booty to the lady. This was my DH's idea and while I think it could be hilarious - I'm also a little worried that there could be some issues with hurt feelings (someone writes down a description like "large and in charge", but the wrong lady gets guessed...) Am I just a worry-wort?
* Pirate Ship Races - We'll divide guests into teams and each gets a ship. The pirate ships are tacked to a cork board track. There will be a bowl to draw from that has different 'events'. For example, you draw "Hurrican a'Comin". In order to outrun the hurricane you have to perform an activity faster than the other ships (teams) - activities could be wrap a team member in toilet paper, pass 3 apples with your chin down the line, throw out the best insult, etc.
* Treasure Hunt - We downloaded the Pirate Treasure Hunt from Quest Experiences and are working that into a treasure hunt.
*Costume Contest - same as last year with the trophies being a bit more pirate themed.
* Sing-a-long and interactive storytelling. This would be the last part of the evening and the way I see this working is our pirate 'band' starts off with a medley of songs to draw the crowd around. Then some of our 'cast' lead the group in a couple of sing alongs. (Songs like Barnacle Bill the Sailor because you can have the girls and guys singing back and forth to each other - but not quite so raunchy LOL). Then, one of the cast tells a proper pirate ghost story with certain phrases to be interjected by the group(every time he says this, the group says that). Finally, the last story will be Mad Lib type, with the storyteller pointing out random people to fill in the blank.
OK. That's where we are now. Thoughts or further suggestions?
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If you can pull that off, don't forget to invite me!!!!!!!!1
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