Games that liven up a BBQ. Fun recreational activities.
A barbecue where you build a fire outdoors and grill meat and vegetables to eat.
Just that alone is enough to get you excited and have fun, right? Many people—kids and adults alike—probably love barbecues, BBQs! Some families might even make sure to have a BBQ every summer.
In this article, we’ll introduce games and recreational activities to make your fun BBQ even more exciting.
We’ve gathered games and activities that anyone can enjoy, from small to large groups and regardless of age.
If you want to make the most of your BBQ time beyond just eating, be sure to check these out!
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Games to liven up a BBQ: Fun Recreational Activities (1–10)
Badminton
Badminton is such an easy sport to enjoy.
It’s simple to set up, and the fact that you can start almost anywhere is great.
Just keeping a rally going is exciting.
It’s also nice that everyone can have a friendly, cheerful time together.
Since both kids and adults can play, it’s perfect for deepening connections with family and friends.
If you pick up the equipment at a 100-yen shop, you can get started casually.
How about adding badminton to your next BBQ for a day full of smiles? It’ll definitely make for wonderful memories!
Water Gun Showdown
How about having a water gun showdown when you do a BBQ in summer? Instead of just shooting water guns at each other, adding real game elements will make it even more fun! For example, attach items like goldfish-scooping paper scoops (poi) or paper balloons to your body—things that will tear when wet—and battle it out.
You win by bursting your opponent’s poi or paper balloon with your water gun.
A one-on-one serious match is great, and team battles sound fun too.
For team matches, you could even follow airsoft rules and add a base-capture objective!
Jumbo beach ball
Have you heard of “jumbo beach balls,” the kind that are about as big as the giant balls used in school sports-day relays? If you have plenty of space and a large group, why not try toss lifting with one? Toss lifting is a game where you keep the ball aloft by tossing it overhead, similar to a volleyball set.
It could be a lot of fun to see how many consecutive tosses everyone can manage by working together.
Because the ball is so big and airy, it’s surprisingly hard to control the way you expect.
Games to liven up a BBQ. Fun recreations (11–20)
Ingredient Grab Game
Here’s a quiz that turns the BBQ itself into a fun game where you compete for ingredients.
Divide the BBQ ingredients into various categories and ask quiz questions about each item.
If you answer correctly, you win that ingredient.
If you don’t do well, you might end up with a vegetarian barbecue… It’s a good idea to come up with different kinds of questions depending on the occasion.
The game will be even more exciting if the answers are things everyone will be curious to learn.
soap bubble
There’s probably no one who’s never played with soap bubbles.
How about enjoying those familiar bubbles at a BBQ? Bubbles are perfect for playing freely outdoors, bringing smiles to both kids and adults.
Making giant bubbles is especially worth trying together! Just bend a hanger into a circle, dip it in bubble solution, and you’re set.
When you see huge bubbles float high into the sky, you’re sure to hear cheers! Bubble play that everyone can enjoy between courses or after the meal will make your BBQ memories even more wonderful.
slacklining
Slacklining tests your sense of balance, body control, and strength.
All you need is a small space, and the set isn’t bulky, so it’s a great game to bring along to places like campgrounds.
At first it might feel impossible, but if you keep at it, you’ll gradually get the hang of it—humans improve with persistence.
It also requires concentration.
After you’ve stuffed yourself at a BBQ, lying down is nice, but doing some exercise like this is great too.
Another big plus is that it’s fun for both kids and adults.
Frisbee
It’s just a simple game of throwing a disc, but once you get good at making it fly well, it somehow becomes really fun.
These days there are larger ones too, and even interesting types that bounce off walls.
It’s an ideal recreation for getting your body moving.