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 recreations (11–20)
Mozzarella Cheese Game
A simple game where players take turns saying “mozzarella cheese.” The catch is you have to say it with more energy than the person before you.
That’s why there are so many ways to enjoy it! You can all work together to gradually ramp up the excitement, or someone can jump straight to high energy and everyone ends up shouting “mozzarella cheese” like crazy (lol)! You might get some funny looks in the end, but it’s definitely a game that gets people hyped without any prep or props!
Jump rope with a large group
The “long rope jumping” we used to play as kids is a classic game for BBQs! You can have everyone jump in one by one and try to set a record for how many times the whole group can jump, or hold the rope taut with two people and let others limbo under it—there are lots of fun rope games.
Jump rope is a favorite with kids and it’s easy to carry, so it’s perfect for a family BBQ.
If there’s one downside, it’s that while kids can jump forever, it can be pretty tough exercise for adults (lol).
Water Balloon Battle
Water balloons made by filling balloons with water.
You can’t beat the fun of tossing them at each other.
Of course, the golden rule is to play with people you trust and adjust your throwing strength! It’s perfect for hot summer days because it helps you cool down.
Kids vs.
adults makes for an exciting match, too.
Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes.
Russian roulette
“Russian Nuretto” is part of Takara Tomy’s Kiki-Ippatsu (High-Tension) series.
It’s a thrilling game where you pull sticks from a hat with a water tank, and when the water is released, the person wearing the hat gets soaked! There are eight sticks in total, and it also comes with cards.
With small children, you can simply take turns pulling the sticks and have fun; if it’s just adults, you can use the Reverse and Skip cards to add more of a game-like feel and excitement! Water play often goes hand in hand with BBQs, so be sure to try it as part of your water activities!
Ping-pong relay
This game may look plain, but once you actually try it, it’s surprisingly addictive.
Moving quickly without dropping the ping-pong ball takes technique, and if you let it fall to the ground you lose time, so just being fast on your feet isn’t enough.
Russian roulette
When it comes to games to enjoy at a BBQ, how about Russian roulette? Prepare a dish with a hidden dab of wasabi or a super-spicy chili and feel the thrill of finding out who gets it! Just be careful—not too spicy, as it can be dangerous—so keeping it mildly stimulating is the trick.
The moment someone “draws the scorching piece” amid laughter is the real charm of a BBQ.
A little thrill between bites can really boost the excitement.
Why not make your BBQ memories even richer and more fun with a round of Russian roulette?
Games to heat up your BBQ: Fun recreations (21–30)
Beetle collecting
At barbecue sites located in forested areas, you’ll often find broad-leaved beech forests spreading around.
Stag beetles aside, in summer you can usually spot rhinoceros beetles.
Since it’s a great opportunity, if you’re going with children who don’t often get to encounter insects, try collecting rhinoceros beetles!