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 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!
flowing somen (nagashi-somen)
Grilling and eating meat at a BBQ is the best, but some people might feel that greasy food is a bit much when they’re worn out by the summer heat.
In that case, how about setting up a nagashi-somen (flowing somen noodles) station next to the BBQ—one of the season’s classic activities? Since you’ve got the chance to dine outdoors, splitting some bamboo and doing a full-fledged nagashi-somen setup would really liven things up! Plus, catching the somen as it flows down the bamboo adds a game-like element that little kids are likely to love.
When children are joining, it’s a good idea to make the slope gentler so the noodles move more slowly.
Hula hoop relay
In this game, you pass a hula hoop along while keeping your hands linked and wriggling your body—it’s addictive even for adults.
It gets heated in class competitions or inter-department matchups at the office, so why not have some hula hoops ready for your next barbecue?
Red Light, Green Light
The classic children’s game “Daruma-san ga koronda.” You can play it with a small group, but with a large group even adults can really get into it.
It brings people closer together, so it’s a recommended recreation activity.
The “Haa” Game
To start playing the “Haa” game, prepare a total of eight cards: A: the “haa?” of Why?, B: the “haa” of powering up, C: the “haa” of being dumbfounded, D: the “haa” of admiration, E: the “haa” of anger, F: the “haa” of playing dumb, G: the “haa” of surprise, and H: the “haa” of heartbreak.
Next, each player draws a card and performs the type of “haa” written on it.
You win if you successfully convey to the other players which type—A through H—it is.
Since this is a game where acting skills matter, get creative and express each one clearly so it comes across well.
Beef Tongue Game
The brain-teasing Gyutan game is perfect for group play, where focus and memory are key.
Players sit in a circle and say “Gyu” out loud, then on the “tan” part, they clap without speaking.
Pay extra attention because the final “tan” comes in succession.
After one round, move to the second, third, and so on, increasing the number of final “tan” claps by one each time.
As the rounds progress, the number of “tan” claps increases, so remember the count and try not to make mistakes.
Once you get used to it, picking up the tempo can make it even more exciting.
Super Ball scooping
“Super Ball Scooping,” a huge hit at festival stalls, is now available as a set at home improvement stores.
It’s sure to liven up any barbecue with lots of kids.
Even adults can get totally absorbed and have fun with it.