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 recreation (41–50)
Where are you from?
This is a variation of the game “Antagata Dokosa” that you can enjoy around a campfire.
Everyone holds hands and stands in a circle around the fire.
To the rhythm of the song “Antagata Dokosa,” you walk clockwise, but whenever the syllable “sa” appears in the lyrics, you squat down on the spot.
It’s important to listen carefully to avoid mistakes.
Another variation is to switch the walking direction from clockwise to counterclockwise every time you hear “sa,” and then switch back the next time it occurs.
As the tempo speeds up, the confusion and laughter grow, making it a recreation that captivates both children and adults.
Tail tag game
“Tail Tag” is a chase game where everyone is “it.” Each player tucks a string or ribbon—acting as a tail—into their waistband, and at the start signal everyone tries to snatch each other’s tails.
The person who collects the most ribbons wins.
Anyone who loses their tail must leave the court and cheer on the remaining players.
This game can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
Since kids are shorter and quicker, adults might find their tails gone before they know it! You only need a moderately open space, so gather family or friends and have a blast!
Stand-up game
The stand-up game is a recreation game that’s best with a decent number of people.
The rules are simple: everyone stands up on a cue, and you try to guess how many people will stand.
If you guess the number correctly, you’re out of the game (safe), and the last person remaining loses.
It gets even more exciting if the winners get a prize or the loser has to do a forfeit.
Camp Bingo
Let us introduce “Camp Bingo,” a game that uses bingo cards illustrated with camping items like campfires, tents, and lanterns.
Participants check off the items on their cards as they find or experience them at the campsite.
It’s enjoyable for both kids and adults and helps build observational skills in nature.
Because it feels like a game, it easily livens up the atmosphere and gives participants a chance to break the ice.
Preparation is simple, and the charm lies in how everyone can have fun together in a lively, social way.
Cowboy game
When you have small children around, a fun activity to try is the cowboy game.
Tie a loop at the end of a rope and spin it around—just like a cowboy in a Western movie! Using that, you spin the rope toward a target set up a few meters away and try to hit it.
If that’s too easy, you can make it more challenging by trying to catch the target with the loop at the end of the rope.
For targets, firewood or charcoal you likely have on hand for a BBQ are recommended.
Close, close baseball
If you’re having a BBQ outdoors, you can probably play catch, but a full game of baseball is pretty tough.
That’s why I recommend “Close-Range Baseball,” a version you can enjoy even in limited space.
The pitcher and batter stand about two meters apart, and you use a balloon instead of a ball.
Otherwise, the rules are mostly the same as regular baseball.
Because balloons move unpredictably and the distance is short, it’s surprisingly hard to hit! You can also speed up the game with tweaks like: if the pitcher can’t field a batted ball, it’s a hit, and if a hit is made, that team wins.
With these adjustments, everyone can have fun together.
survival game
Recently, survival games have become popular not only among adults but also among children.
Amazingly, some survival game venues now even offer BBQ areas, so why not take this opportunity to give it a try? There are plenty of places where anyone—male or female—can participate casually, so go with your family or friends and blow off all the stress from work or school.
electric water gun
It’s a game where you have battles using electric water guns.
Perfect for barbecues at the beach or by the river.
Since they’re electric, the power and range are impressive.
Splitting into teams for a competition sounds fun, too.
Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes! This is a highly recommended summer activity.
Rubber band-powered airplane
The old-fashioned pastime kids used to love: rubber-powered airplanes.
Flying them at an outdoor BBQ area with lots of open space is a ton of fun.
While the expert-level, hand-crafted ones might be out of reach, even the models sold at hardware or toy stores fly surprisingly well, so they’re highly recommended.
Tug-of-war North, South, East, and West
When we think of a typical tug-of-war, two teams pull on a single rope.
But “Tug-of-War North-South-East-West” is an individual version that up to four people can play.
Tie a towel or string into as many loops as there are players, and each person holds one.
Start the tug-of-war while standing on one leg! Anyone who loses balance and puts both feet on the ground is out, and the last person still standing on one leg wins.
It’s not just about brute force—you can loosen your pull at times and enjoy the strategic mind games, too.