With the onset of the warm summer months, now is a great time to start spending time outdoors. Whatever the occasion, whether a graduation party or basic BBQ with friends, the best way to keep your guests entertained and ensure that the party goes off without a hitch is to take part in some fun and time-wasting outdoor party games, which are perfect for those times when you’re waiting for the food to be ready or for drinks to be served. While there are almost endless amounts of outdoor party games to choose from, here are a few that are perfect for every occasion. Each of these outdoor games are relatively easy to setup, so you can do so on the fly or as a last-minute addition to your next party
Lawn Scrabble
If you have a sizable yard and wish to make full use of it during your party, lawn scrabble is the perfect game for you and can be played during any season and for all occasions. Whether you’re spending time with your kids or hanging out with friends, scrabble is a great game for any age. All you need to set up this party game is a rather sizable yard, a hefty amount of cardboard and some markers, of which you can choose any color you’d like.
The cardboard pieces should be cut into 12″ x 12″ squares. Once you’ve done this, just take some larger markers and write a single letter on each cardboard piece, with the standard scrabble point total assigned to each. Let each player choose seven letters before the game starts and start laying the pieces down on the yard. It’s a really fun game that passes the time wonderfully and makes for an exciting activity for children and parents alike.
Twister
Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned game of twister? This perennial party game is made all the more exciting when you do it yourself instead of using that very flimsy sheet that can be blown away by even the smallest gusts of wind. Instead of using the standard twister sheet, take some spray paint and paint twister circles on your lawn. You’ll need to use a template of a circle if you want the “board” to look as good as possible. If you want to take part in some friendly competition with your friends or kids, consider making several game boards and see which team can last the longest.
Ring Toss
Ring toss is one of those party games that might not seem that fun at first glance, but quickly becomes addictive for everyone involved. A DIY ring toss game is easy to make and can be fashioned out of practically anything. All you need are the rings and some type of stick or pointed object to use for the target. Dowel rods work wonderfully as the target and can be glued into any base that you have lying around.
The rings themselves can be made in no time with small pieces of rope and some duct tape. Just connect the two ends of the rope and duct tape them together by wrapping the tape completely around the rope. This task can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, providing you with a fun outdoor party game that everyone will enjoy.
Potato Sack Race
One outdoor party game that’s been highly popular at carnivals since the early 1800’s is the potato sack race. All you need to do as the host of the party is to select the potato sacks and everyone can join in on the fun. You can even create different types of races, including a three-leg race that is as competitive as it is amusing. One of the best aspects of a potato sack race is that even the most athletic of people can have lots of difficulty moving around with both legs in a potato sack. If you’re thinking of using this game at your next outdoor party, you can use either burlap sacks or very sturdy pillow cases.
Water Balloon Dodgeball
During the dog days of summer, you’re likely looking for any way to cool down. As the hours of a party wear on, one of the best ways to keep cool and have fun at the same time is by playing some water balloon dodgeball, a great outdoor party game for both children and adults. The only thing you need to do to get ready for this game is to buy a bunch of deflated balloons and fill them up with water. Place half of the balloons in some kind of crate or basket and the remaining balloons in another. In order to divide the main play area, you could use chalk in a line across your yard or even put some duct tape down to mark the boundaries. Now that the area has been set up, divide into two teams and let the frivolity begin.
Cornhole
Despite its odd name, cornhole is actually a very popular outdoor party game that is sure to enthrall everyone who plays it. Cornhole and beanbag toss are two very similar games that are interchangeable depending on your preference and basically involve trying to throw beanbags or bags of corn into a wooden platform with a hole in it. These platforms can be bought or made for practically nothing. You’ll want at least four bags and two platforms. This game actually has a lot of rules to it, such as sets, points in a set, and so on, but there’s a much easier way to keep score. Any bags on the board should equal three points, while any bags in the hole should be five points. This game can be played by any number of players but is best with 2-4.
There are just some of the many outdoor party games that will add flavor to every occasion. No matter what the gathering is for, you’re guaranteed to have fun.
