Fun Backyard Party Games

Now that the weather is finally starting to improve, it’s the perfect time of year to host a party. If you have a backyard, why not make it an outdoor party and include some fun party games? This is a great way to get people mingling and having fun when the weather’s nice, and is ideal for everyone from young kids to adults. Here are some of our favorite backyard party games.

Cornhole
This fun, casual game is perfect to play outdoors during a party. It has become trendy lately, as seen by its popularity at bars and outdoor events like weddings and festivals. The game is easy – each team has several small beanbags, and you take turns tossing them at a long wooden target with a hole in the center. The goal is to toss the beanbag into the hole, but you can score points by getting it onto the target. This game is great because it’s something that everyone can enjoy.

Bocce Ball
This is a slightly more involved game that is great if you need a game to be the focal point of your event. The game is somewhat similar to bowling. To start, you’ll need to divide into two teams and set up a court with five zones. (The size of the zones will depend on what kind of space you are playing in, so do a quick online search to figure this out if you aren’t sure). At the start, each team gets two chances to throw a small ball, called a jack, into the farthest zone. The first team to do it gets to go first. The goal is to get your balls as close to the jack as possible.

Horseshoes
This game is particularly good to have on hand if you have kids, but adults will also appreciate this nostalgic backyard activity. You can easily find lightweight, affordable horseshoe sets in big box stores, so all you need to do is set up the posts. Players can casually take turns trying to throw horseshoes onto the poles as they mingle and enjoy the party.

Twister
Although this doesn’t necessarily have to be played outdoors, it’s much more fun when you have tons of space in your backyard. This game is best played by kids or adults who are very comfortable with each other, as it involves spending lots of time in close proximity to each other. A unique way to make this game more interesting is to try spray painting the dots onto your grass instead of using the play sheet – this way you can create a bigger board and involve more people.

Giant Jenga
This is another game that has been very trendy over the past several years, and is particularly fun to play outside where you have a bit more room to work with. You can easily make your own giant Jenga blocks by buying some wood from a local hardware store (a perfect DIY project). To make things even more interesting, you can write some silly dares on each of the blocks for players to do when they select one.

Hopscotch
If you have a concrete or asphalt driveway, invest in some chalk and create a fun hopscotch court for everyone at the party to enjoy. This fun game will have everyone at the party feeling super nostalgic right away, and gets kids and adults having fun together. It’s also always fun to leave the chalk out so that everyone can write and draw on the driveway throughout the party.