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!
- Fun recreational games that liven up outdoor activities
- Kids Will Love It! Fun Games for Your Barbecue
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Fun activities that liven up a camp: recreational games
- [Easy and Delicious!] Popular Recipes That Will Be a Hit at Your Barbecue
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
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- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
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- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- [Enjoy Summer to the Fullest] A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities at the Sea and on the Beach
Games to heat up your BBQ: Fun recreations (21–30)
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.
Playing in the water in the river!
Taking a dip in the river to cool off during hot weather doesn’t require any special preparation, so it’s a recreational activity I can recommend to many people.
Catching river fish is fun, and at some barbecue sites, you can even try hands-on fish-catching experiences.
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.
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?
The more people there are, the harder it gets! Finger Catch
The “Finger Catch Game,” which trains your reflexes and lets everyone have fun, is played with everyone standing in a circle.
Put the index finger of your right hand into the open palm of the person to your right, just lightly touching it.
In turn, participants chant, “Ka, ka, ka, catch,” and at the moment someone says “catch,” everyone tries to pull out the finger they had inserted.
At the same time, you must quickly grab the finger that’s been inserted into your own open hand before it escapes.
If you fail to pull your finger out or fail to catch your neighbor’s finger, you’re out.
The last person remaining wins.
The exact timing of saying “catch” is key.
It’s a game that tests concentration, timing, and careful observation of others.
Tongue Twister Showdown
When it comes to games that get everyone excited without using any props, tongue-twister battles are a classic.
Gather a variety of fun tongue twisters and face off.
You can present one prompt at a time and decide rankings each round, or set multiple prompts with different difficulty levels and see who lasts the longest.
It’s a good idea to write the prompts on a whiteboard.
Since tongue twisters are tough at first glance, consider adding practice time and other tweaks so everyone can enjoy the game.
Lyrics Shiritori Game
A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.
Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.
It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.
Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.
Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.
Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.
Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!
