Games that can be played on a picnic

These massive blocks are begging people to join in on the fun! This tower is no joke. When it comes crashing down, you better yell timber and jump out of the way. But you can also easily order one to be delivered in time for your next barbecue. The giant checkerboard spreads out on the ground like a picnic blanket. The giant chess board, on the other hand, will make you feel like Harry Potter. Physically walking each piece around the board makes it interactive in a way that no other game can be.

Twister is another one of those nostalgic games. Take off your shoes, choose a referee, and wait for the spinner to determine your fate.

The goal is to be the last one standing, but the real winners are everyone watching the hilarity ensue. When the weather is nice, nothing feels better than your bare feet in the grass. Here are our top choices for barbecue party games to get you out in the lawn this summer. This classic lawn game has its roots in the Roman empire. Standard bocce balls weigh two pounds, which may be heavy for some of your party-goers, so be sure to pair your teams fairly.

Children who are too young to play will get a kick out of tossing the pallino the small ball that is the target , while teams compete to get their bocce balls the closest.

Leave the bowling alley for a rainy day. When the sun is shining, bring the alley to your back yard. Other names include ladder ball, ball rope, and hillbilly golf. The rules are pretty simple. You have a ladder with three rungs, and each rung is worth different point.

Throw bolas two golf of tennis balls connected by a string at the ladder to score points fast than your opponent. Feeling hot and sweaty after all those games?

Then we suggest building your very own backyard dunk tank. For full instructions on how to assemble your dunk tank, check out The Happy Housewife. While these games are suitable for the family, sometimes you want to be sure to cater specifically to your smaller crowd.

Image from Get Your Holiday On. This funny game will keep your little ones entertained for hours. Then tape plastic balls to each toe. The person who makes it to the finish line with the most balls left on their feet wins. When you are tagged you have to freeze. Other players can unfreeze you by tagging you. You can make the game more challenging by limiting the space for play. All you need are two sponges, two buckets of water, and two jars.

Divide the group into two teams evenly. Draw a line on each jar to mark how full it needs to be to win. The team players form a line, one behind the other, and the first players soak their sponge with water, run to the jar opposite end of the play area and squeeze water into the jar. They return and hand the sponge to their next player. The first team to fill the jar past the marker wins. Divide your group into two teams.

The teams need to line up holding hands facing each other. Have the team line standing far enough apart to allow for running in between. That person needs to run across and try to break through the hands.

If they make it through, they get to go back to their line, taking a person with them. If not, they have to stay and join that line. This continues until one line is gone. There are two reasons to know about games that are great for couples.

It also helps to have games at group picnics that couples can compete in. The first four games in our list are for couples to play when they have their own picnic getaway and the last one is great for couples to team up for. This can also be played in a group, but is fun as couples too.

Bring a ball with you on your picnic to play this. It is simple. Just toss the ball back and forth to each other for a full minute. If you can do it, then set a greater challenge. Try not to drop the ball for a minute while hopping on one foot. Then try and do it jogging in place or spinning in a circle. This is a great game for couples that are getting to know each other.

You get to ask each other a series of random questions about what they prefer. Vanilla or chocolate? Books or movies? Dogs or cats? Beer or Wine? Go through as many topics as you want to discover if you and your partner have anything in common or if opposites attract.

For new or established couples, charades is a ton of fun. Taking turns come up with a movie, book, phrase, or television show to act out. Set a timer to see if they can guess what you are acting in time. Who says you have to be running around to have fun? Some of the best things to do as a couple are playing board games. They can easily tag along with you on a picnic and there are so many to choose from.

Grab your favorites or a bundle from Amazon and find a way to fit them in your picnic basket. Another classic picnic game is the water balloon toss. Divide the group by having couples pair up and give each team a water balloon.

They need to stand facing each other, about one foot away. They toss the water balloon back and forth and each time it is caught, a step back is taken. The winning team will be the team that is furthest apart when their balloon bursts. Chances are your picnic will have some older adults, or you could be planning an event that is for seniors only. These games are perfect for older players and can be enjoyed by everyone at the picnic.

Depending on where you have the picnic, there may be a designated place for horseshoes already. If not, you can get a set from Amazon and set up the game yourself. Horseshoes are a classic game for all ages but are especially popular among older adults. Teams consist of two players, each taking turns to toss the horseshoes around the stakes. Points are awarded to the horseshoe closest to the stake. Croquet is a great game for seniors, or anyone really. It takes a great deal of patience and focus but is also a lot of fun.

Grab an affordable croquet set from Amazon to enjoy at your next group picnic. Sometimes a deck of cards is the easiest way to entertain people. Make sure you have a place to play and if not bring along a card table. The great thing about cards is that there are so many different games you can play.

The first pair to cross the finish line wins. Make sure to play this on the grass to minimize the chance of injury. Little kids love rowdy games, but some picnic games are a little too rowdy for the little ones. These are the ones that can be extra fun for teens and adults. Some of these games are also made for playing when the sun goes down, and the little ones go to bed. The Setup: Arrange the trash cans in two groupings, about 15 feet apart. Split all the participants into two groups.

At the end of play when everyone on the team has had one, or two, or however many turns was decided upon at the beginning whichever team has the most points wins. The Setup: Fill up enough balloons to fill one or more buckets, depending on how your bunch likes to play.

Some people like to play with a single ball-thrower. Others enjoy having one or more on each end of the playing area. We recommend having a lot more balloons than you need, because chances are, this will devolve into an all-out water balloon fight at some point. Rules of Play: Standard dodgeball rules: One person or one person on each side hurls a water balloon at the people on the playing field, trying to hit them. If a balloon hits a player, they are out and must leave the playing field.

The last player standing not hit by a balloon is the winner. This is one of those picnic games that will get people on their feet and working together. We recommend it for teens and adults, as it involves wandering the neighborhood unsupervised, asking strangers for things.

Little kids can definitely help, though. Rules of Play: Send each team out into the neighborhood to find the objects on the list. The first team to return with all the objects wins. This is one of those picnic games that can be enjoyed by just about everyone. Older kids and teenagers might find the physical contortions a bit easier than the littles, though. What You Will Need: Spray paint in four colors, a twelve-inch circular stencil you can easily make this from a pizza box , and a Twister spinner you can either use one from your own Twister game, make one , buy one, or use this online twister spinner.

The Setup: Use the stencils and spray paint to make a grid of colored circles. You can find ideas and detailed instructions at One Good Thing. Rules of Play: Participants take turns spinning the spinner.

If a player falls, they are out. Image CC by CC 4. This is a fun update of a classic game. Also, this is one of those picnic games that can get quite rambunctious and rowdy. What You Will Need: Glow sticks in two different colors. These should be the kind that are also bracelets.