Party Games for Adults & Family
BALLOON POPPING CONTEST
Divide guests into two equal groups. About 25 yards away place two bags of inflated balloons in colors to match your theme colors. These balloons should be over-inflated to make popping easier. At the sound of a ringing bell or whistle, the first two relay contestants, one from each team, run to the bag, and remove one balloon. Each must sit on it until it pops. Once the balloon pops, the players run back to the starting line, and tag the next player in line. The first team to complete the course wins. Not a quiet game, but a guaranteed favorite!
NAME THAT TUNE
You'll need a CD player and some compact discs with compilations of songs related to your theme (Luau, 50's, retro) or just some good favorites of an era appropriate for your party guests. Play the first few bars, and see which guest can name that tune the fastest. Keep track of points and award the winner a music CD. If your group is large, play a variation on this game. Using famous songs, list song titles on one side of a page, and the original Artists or songwriters on the other side. Make enough copies for all guests. Challenge guests to match as many as possible.
GENEOLOGY GAME
This can be fun and interesting for young children while teach about the history of your family. This takes some time and energy, but can be very rewarding. Basically you are creating cards, so the kids can play the a Memory Game. The goal is to create cards of people in your family and give a brief synopsis of who they are, employment, and relationship in the family. If you have a computer you can scan in the pictures, resize them, add text and print out.
Here is a tip: Try and get 1 person from each family to create a group of cards, the paper may be different but then everyone can be involved.
Example: Get a photo of "Jim Smith" resize if needed try to get them all the same size. Under the photo place his name "Jim Smith" and the next few lines mention that here is an Engineer was born in 1971 to Mary and Albert Smith. You can print these cards out on your computer or go to a copy center and have them printed out on card stock. If the paper is thin tape to a piece of card stock, laminate for added protection. 2 cards per person
Once you have 10 or more people in your deck, you arange the cards face down. The kids take turns flip one card over at a time and then flipping another over that is identical to the first flipped card. If they match remove those two cards, and that player gets to go again. If they do not match the cards are turned face down and the next player goes. This continues until all the cards have been cleared from the game. Then the person with the most set wins that game.
This game is at it's best when their is adult supervision and you can take time to learn and share stories about the person on the card.
Adult can play too, and after each match share a fun story or knowledge able the person on the card. To learn more about geneology visit Ancestry.com
Thanks - Sarah
Divide guests into two equal groups. About 25 yards away place two bags of inflated balloons in colors to match your theme colors. These balloons should be over-inflated to make popping easier. At the sound of a ringing bell or whistle, the first two relay contestants, one from each team, run to the bag, and remove one balloon. Each must sit on it until it pops. Once the balloon pops, the players run back to the starting line, and tag the next player in line. The first team to complete the course wins. Not a quiet game, but a guaranteed favorite!
NAME THAT TUNE
You'll need a CD player and some compact discs with compilations of songs related to your theme (Luau, 50's, retro) or just some good favorites of an era appropriate for your party guests. Play the first few bars, and see which guest can name that tune the fastest. Keep track of points and award the winner a music CD. If your group is large, play a variation on this game. Using famous songs, list song titles on one side of a page, and the original Artists or songwriters on the other side. Make enough copies for all guests. Challenge guests to match as many as possible.
GENEOLOGY GAME
This can be fun and interesting for young children while teach about the history of your family. This takes some time and energy, but can be very rewarding. Basically you are creating cards, so the kids can play the a Memory Game. The goal is to create cards of people in your family and give a brief synopsis of who they are, employment, and relationship in the family. If you have a computer you can scan in the pictures, resize them, add text and print out.
Here is a tip: Try and get 1 person from each family to create a group of cards, the paper may be different but then everyone can be involved.
Example: Get a photo of "Jim Smith" resize if needed try to get them all the same size. Under the photo place his name "Jim Smith" and the next few lines mention that here is an Engineer was born in 1971 to Mary and Albert Smith. You can print these cards out on your computer or go to a copy center and have them printed out on card stock. If the paper is thin tape to a piece of card stock, laminate for added protection. 2 cards per person
Once you have 10 or more people in your deck, you arange the cards face down. The kids take turns flip one card over at a time and then flipping another over that is identical to the first flipped card. If they match remove those two cards, and that player gets to go again. If they do not match the cards are turned face down and the next player goes. This continues until all the cards have been cleared from the game. Then the person with the most set wins that game.
This game is at it's best when their is adult supervision and you can take time to learn and share stories about the person on the card.
Adult can play too, and after each match share a fun story or knowledge able the person on the card. To learn more about geneology visit Ancestry.com
Thanks - Sarah
Limbo
The young and the young at heart always enjoy the classic beach game of "limbo". Try using a string of twinkle lights, a strand of sparkly garland, a bamboo pole, a flashlight (lights out), or any item to match your theme for your limbo stick. For a fun variation on the game, make it a little more challenging by adding a "Super Stomach" to guests as they take their turn. Have a couple of oversized shirts, and some fluffy pillows on hand.
Play Dough-Tionary
This game is fun for people of all ages. Someone will have to create the game ideas, but it is fun to watch. What you'll need, a couple of jars of Play Dough, pieces of paper cut up and put into a hat or basket one for each team, and on each piece of paper an object that can be created out of Play Dough. Examples: Easy - ball, worm, stick, More Difficult - flower, car, stroller, house, etc... Note: Each group can have uniqure terms if you want, then no one can get clues from the other teams.
Ready to Play
First divide up into teams. You'll need to have several jars of play dough, and give one to each team of 3-4 people. They will need to pick one person to go first, that person would draw a word from a basket. They will have about 15 seconds to think about what to make, to at the same time say go, at this point one member of each team begins to sculpt the word out of the play dough, while their team members tried to guess what it is. Note: You cannot scuplt letters! The first team to guess correctly gets a point, the team with the most points after 8-12 rounds wins.
Thanks - Diana
Hula Hoopla
Hula hooping isn't just for kids or 50's Sock Hops, but it will make grown-ups feel young again! Purchase or borrow a couple of hula-hoops. They are available at discount chains for about $3.99 each. Let guests know that at a specified time there will be a "hula" contest, and encourage them to practice during the party if the mood strikes.
The young and the young at heart always enjoy the classic beach game of "limbo". Try using a string of twinkle lights, a strand of sparkly garland, a bamboo pole, a flashlight (lights out), or any item to match your theme for your limbo stick. For a fun variation on the game, make it a little more challenging by adding a "Super Stomach" to guests as they take their turn. Have a couple of oversized shirts, and some fluffy pillows on hand.
Play Dough-Tionary
This game is fun for people of all ages. Someone will have to create the game ideas, but it is fun to watch. What you'll need, a couple of jars of Play Dough, pieces of paper cut up and put into a hat or basket one for each team, and on each piece of paper an object that can be created out of Play Dough. Examples: Easy - ball, worm, stick, More Difficult - flower, car, stroller, house, etc... Note: Each group can have uniqure terms if you want, then no one can get clues from the other teams.
Ready to Play
First divide up into teams. You'll need to have several jars of play dough, and give one to each team of 3-4 people. They will need to pick one person to go first, that person would draw a word from a basket. They will have about 15 seconds to think about what to make, to at the same time say go, at this point one member of each team begins to sculpt the word out of the play dough, while their team members tried to guess what it is. Note: You cannot scuplt letters! The first team to guess correctly gets a point, the team with the most points after 8-12 rounds wins.
Thanks - Diana
Hula Hoopla
Hula hooping isn't just for kids or 50's Sock Hops, but it will make grown-ups feel young again! Purchase or borrow a couple of hula-hoops. They are available at discount chains for about $3.99 each. Let guests know that at a specified time there will be a "hula" contest, and encourage them to practice during the party if the mood strikes.
Handicap Ball
You
need a tennis ball or soft ball for this game, so it can be caught in one hand.
Get your players to stand in a rough circle a few feet apart. They now start passing the ball from player to player.
If a player drops or misses the ball they must be handicapped as follows:
- first fault: use one hand only (usually right)
- second fault: use the other hand (usually left)
- third fault: down onto one knee, using both hands
- forth fault: down on both knees, using both hands
- fifth fault: down on both knees, using only one hand
- sixth fault: down on both knees, using the other hand
Thereafter, the player must drop out. The last player in is the winner.
Get your players to stand in a rough circle a few feet apart. They now start passing the ball from player to player.
If a player drops or misses the ball they must be handicapped as follows:
- first fault: use one hand only (usually right)
- second fault: use the other hand (usually left)
- third fault: down onto one knee, using both hands
- forth fault: down on both knees, using both hands
- fifth fault: down on both knees, using only one hand
- sixth fault: down on both knees, using the other hand
Thereafter, the player must drop out. The last player in is the winner.
Snatch
This
is a great game for energising a team, a workshop, or party.
You'll need a strip of paper for every player - get a newspaper or flip chart, and tear off pieces about a foot long and 2 or 3 inches wide. Appoint a timekeeper.
Ask your players to form two teams. Give everyone a strip of paper each, which they must hold in one hand, in a clenched fist with the paper hanging down. The objective is to grab as many pieces of paper as possible from the opposing team.
Tell the teams to get into a huddle and work out a strategy, for a minute. Then kick the game off. They get 5 minutes to go mad, dash around and grab as many strips as they can.
If your strip of paper is taken, you are "out". Officially this is when no more than a fistful of paper is hanging below where you're holding it - but it's not too important. If you are "out" you must stop playing and sit down.
You may not hide the strip of paper by holding it behind your back.
The winners are the team with the most strips of paper at the end.
You'll need a strip of paper for every player - get a newspaper or flip chart, and tear off pieces about a foot long and 2 or 3 inches wide. Appoint a timekeeper.
Ask your players to form two teams. Give everyone a strip of paper each, which they must hold in one hand, in a clenched fist with the paper hanging down. The objective is to grab as many pieces of paper as possible from the opposing team.
Tell the teams to get into a huddle and work out a strategy, for a minute. Then kick the game off. They get 5 minutes to go mad, dash around and grab as many strips as they can.
If your strip of paper is taken, you are "out". Officially this is when no more than a fistful of paper is hanging below where you're holding it - but it's not too important. If you are "out" you must stop playing and sit down.
You may not hide the strip of paper by holding it behind your back.
The winners are the team with the most strips of paper at the end.
Crazy Waiter
You
need a couple of plates and ping pong (table tennis) balls for this kids game.
Split your party into two teams, and ask them to stand in 2 lines.
Now put a ping pong ball onto each plate a give one to the leader of each line. On the word go, their job is to run like crazy weaving in an out of each player down the line, whilst balancing the ball on the plate. Once he gets to the back of the line he then runs straight up to the front again (without weaving) and gives the plate to the next player, and runs down to the back position. Don’t forget, when handing over, the waiter must say the words "Here's your egg Sir!".
The next player repeats the process. If the ball falls off the plate the player must return to the front and restart.
First team to complete the challenge wins.
Split your party into two teams, and ask them to stand in 2 lines.
Now put a ping pong ball onto each plate a give one to the leader of each line. On the word go, their job is to run like crazy weaving in an out of each player down the line, whilst balancing the ball on the plate. Once he gets to the back of the line he then runs straight up to the front again (without weaving) and gives the plate to the next player, and runs down to the back position. Don’t forget, when handing over, the waiter must say the words "Here's your egg Sir!".
The next player repeats the process. If the ball falls off the plate the player must return to the front and restart.
First team to complete the challenge wins.
Piggy Back Race
Split
your party into two or more teams with an even number in each team.
When you start the race, the first pair in each team must "piggy back" up the room (or garden), and back. Going one way the first person jumps on the other's back to be carried. Coming back the roles are reversed. If you are being carried, no part of your body can touch the ground - otherwise you start your turn again.
Once the first pair makes it back, the next pair in the team can start.
First team to finish wins.
When you start the race, the first pair in each team must "piggy back" up the room (or garden), and back. Going one way the first person jumps on the other's back to be carried. Coming back the roles are reversed. If you are being carried, no part of your body can touch the ground - otherwise you start your turn again.
Once the first pair makes it back, the next pair in the team can start.
First team to finish wins.
Silly String Tag
This
game is so simple and easy, yet kids love it because it adds just a little
something different.
You play tag (or even Freeze tag) just like you normally would, except that whoever is "it" is armed with a can of silly string (the spray string you get in party shops). They must hit you with the silly string in order for you to be "it".
Once someone else is "it", the can is passed to that person and so on. Be sure to have some extra cans on hand because once they start playing, they won't want to stop!
You play tag (or even Freeze tag) just like you normally would, except that whoever is "it" is armed with a can of silly string (the spray string you get in party shops). They must hit you with the silly string in order for you to be "it".
Once someone else is "it", the can is passed to that person and so on. Be sure to have some extra cans on hand because once they start playing, they won't want to stop!
Messy Games
Here
are a few messy games to get your kids party moving:
- Have someone stand on a chair and another person lie on the ground below them with an ice-cream cone in their mouth. The person on the chair has to drop ice-cream and toppings into the cone. Take it in turns - the best cone wins.
- Freeze two peeled oranges. Have two teams line up and give the leader an orange. They must put it under their chin and then pass it down the line from chin to chin without using any hands. First team to send the orange down the line and back wins.
- For a good messy fight - we suggest water filled balloons, followed by flour bombs (flour wrapped in Kleenex works well). The flour will stick to the wet players!
- Play bobbing for apples. Following that (when the kids still have wet faces) ask them to dig a gummy worm (or other candy) out of a big bowl of flour without using their hands. You end up with very pasty faces.
- Have someone stand on a chair and another person lie on the ground below them with an ice-cream cone in their mouth. The person on the chair has to drop ice-cream and toppings into the cone. Take it in turns - the best cone wins.
- Freeze two peeled oranges. Have two teams line up and give the leader an orange. They must put it under their chin and then pass it down the line from chin to chin without using any hands. First team to send the orange down the line and back wins.
- For a good messy fight - we suggest water filled balloons, followed by flour bombs (flour wrapped in Kleenex works well). The flour will stick to the wet players!
- Play bobbing for apples. Following that (when the kids still have wet faces) ask them to dig a gummy worm (or other candy) out of a big bowl of flour without using their hands. You end up with very pasty faces.
Jelly Baby Mountain
A
good game for making a mess.
Get a big bowl and pack it full of flour. Then carefully tip the bowl out onto a plate so it makes a flour mound. Now stick a jelly baby (or other sweet) on top.
Sit in a circle around the mound. Get a spoon and take it in turns to remove spoonsfuls of the flour. Whoever makes the jelly baby fall has to eat the jelly baby without using their hands.
This does get a bit messy. You might want a vacuum cleaner at the ready or play outdoors.
Get a big bowl and pack it full of flour. Then carefully tip the bowl out onto a plate so it makes a flour mound. Now stick a jelly baby (or other sweet) on top.
Sit in a circle around the mound. Get a spoon and take it in turns to remove spoonsfuls of the flour. Whoever makes the jelly baby fall has to eat the jelly baby without using their hands.
This does get a bit messy. You might want a vacuum cleaner at the ready or play outdoors.
Name Game
Each
person has to say the name of a famous person. The person to their right then
has to do the same but the name must start with the first letter of the surname
of the previous name mentioned. This continues around the table/group.
Rules:
- The same name cannot be mentioned more than once (which gets a bit tricky the more you drink and the longer it goes on for)
- If the famous name has the same start letter for first and surname then you change direction around the group.
E.g. If I were to say Minnie Mouse (moving to the right) the person to my left would have to say the next name. (This could also be a double letter name (Marilyn Monroe) in which case it would come back to me!
Forfeits or drinks should be taken if people:
1. Pause
2. Repeat a name
3. Can't answer
4. Answer instead of someone else
5. Don't realise it is your go and need prompting
Rules:
- The same name cannot be mentioned more than once (which gets a bit tricky the more you drink and the longer it goes on for)
- If the famous name has the same start letter for first and surname then you change direction around the group.
E.g. If I were to say Minnie Mouse (moving to the right) the person to my left would have to say the next name. (This could also be a double letter name (Marilyn Monroe) in which case it would come back to me!
Forfeits or drinks should be taken if people:
1. Pause
2. Repeat a name
3. Can't answer
4. Answer instead of someone else
5. Don't realise it is your go and need prompting
Stand Up And Shout
This is a noisy, rapid, funny and very annoying game.
Count the number of players. There are 2 objectives: to count up to this number, and not to be the person who shouts out the last number. Anybody can start. Every person can shout out ONE number only and must stand up when they do it.
Although the numbers must be shouted out sequentially, there is no order around the table. Anybody can shout out a number at any time. The only constraint is that you may not call out a number someone else is also trying to call out. If you even stand up to shout out your number at the same time as someone else this qualifies for a forfeit (see our forfeits page)
Obviously, because people don't want to get caught calling out the last number, there is a sense of urgency. There will be many conflicts where two or more people try to stand up and shout at the same time. With a group of 10 or more it's unusual to actually get to the last number.
Beware of onlookers, especially in pubs, where this game can be particularly irritating
Count the number of players. There are 2 objectives: to count up to this number, and not to be the person who shouts out the last number. Anybody can start. Every person can shout out ONE number only and must stand up when they do it.
Although the numbers must be shouted out sequentially, there is no order around the table. Anybody can shout out a number at any time. The only constraint is that you may not call out a number someone else is also trying to call out. If you even stand up to shout out your number at the same time as someone else this qualifies for a forfeit (see our forfeits page)
Obviously, because people don't want to get caught calling out the last number, there is a sense of urgency. There will be many conflicts where two or more people try to stand up and shout at the same time. With a group of 10 or more it's unusual to actually get to the last number.
Beware of onlookers, especially in pubs, where this game can be particularly irritating
ABC Party
This
game is for kids or adults
Sit
in a circle and have the first person start with "A". They must say
any word starting with "A". The following person to the left now
repeats that word, and adds a word starting with "B". Keep going
until you get to "Z". The last person will have to recite each item
through the whole alphabet.
If someone cannot remember an item , or messes up, they are out and must move away from the circle. The next person picks up where they left off.
If someone cannot remember an item , or messes up, they are out and must move away from the circle. The next person picks up where they left off.
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