Are you looking for insanely fun group games? Here is a huge list of the best team building activities. These include 100s of entertaining large group games for adults, youth, and kids alike.

Group games are a great way to get kids and adults interacting and engaged in activities together. They can promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. In addition, ice breaker games are great for building relationships while also being a lot of fun!

If you’re looking for proper group games to play or plan with a group, check out this list for games for holidays, parties, youth groups and more!

What are group games?

Group games are any type of game that is played by a handful of people. This can include anything from classic party games like Charades or Twister, to more structured team-building exercises. Group activities are a great way to get kids of all ages interacting and working together towards a common goal. These types of indoor and outdoor activities are perfect for youth group games, kids parties, holiday gatherings or even for the office!

Why have team building activities?

Team building is not a game. It’s a process of connecting people through enjoyable activities.  Reasons for using team building games will include helping individual learn about each other — how each person thinks, works, solves problems, and has fun! They foster connections and relationships and also improve communication and create camaraderie. Through enjoyable group games and team bonding, you can instantly turn a group of strangers into a group of friends.

Team group games are perfect for birthday parties for adults or kids. They are low-cost party entertainment and keep the party moving along. The will make a group of strangers into long lost friends by the end of the event. Use them for kids birthday parties, themed holiday parties, adult parties, in the school classroom and more.

In the office, these games can have many benefits. First, they instill positive company culture through great team building game ideas with colleagues. They also create creative thinking, creative problem solving and employee engagement. Use on the first day with new employees as the start of collaboration and working together. You can also use these group activities to refreshing a dull atmosphere when the morale is low.

100s of The Best Group Games Available

There are a ton of great group games out there for team fun. Gather your friends, get your supplies, give verbal instructions and split up into teams. Each group will work to earn points and be declared the winner in these fun team building activities.  Use a whiteboard, poster board or piece of paper. You can use markers and pencils to keep track of the wins. You can award a group prize to great teams or individual prizes at the end of the games.

To help you execute the best large group party activities, we have but we’ve compiled a list of hundreds of group games. These fun game ideas indoor, outdoor, kids party, adult party, holiday and minute to win it games for groups.

Let’s begin

Minute to Win it Party Games

Do you have a stop watch? Minute to win it games are fast-paced and excellent for keeping the activity moving along. These quick icebreakers are competitive and can be played as team vs team, in groups or as individual vs clock. Points are awarded to the team/invidudal who completes the 60 second challenge first or in the set amount of time. A moderator will begin with giving verbal directions. The game starts and the clock begins. Members of the group work together to accomplish a task. These quick ice breaker games can play over and over so each person gets a chance to play or move along to the next game for face pace action.

1 Face the Cookie

You’ll need: OREO cookie
How to score: First person who moves the cookie from their forehead to their mouth wins.

Also called cookie face. Each person is given a cookie. An OREO works great. Each player places the cookie on their forehead and has to get it into their mouth without using their hands and only movement. The winner that gets it done first. In one minute is through, the winner is the player with the cookie closest to their mouth. If the cookie is drop, you must start from the beginning forehead spot.

2 Penny for Your Thoughts

You’ll need: Pennies
How to score: Be the first to stack all 25 pennies with one hand.

Contestants must stack 25 pennies in under a minute using only one hand. Player who stacks the most (has the tallest tower) or gets 25 first is the winner. Use a timer, one player at a time, to find the fastest player or double the number of pennies to have a side by side challenge.

3 Ping-Pong Bounce

You’ll need: Ping-pong balls, plastic cups.
How to score: Be the firs to get a ping pong ball into six plastic cups.

In this game, players have to bounce ping pong balls into six cups. First to get a ball in each cup, wins. Or the person who gets the most in a set period of time, wins.

4 Moving On Up Cup Game

You’ll need: Plastic cups: 29 red, one blue.
How to score: One at a time move the cups from the bottom of the stack to the top. Be the first player to get the blue cup back to the top.

Each player starts with a stack of 30 plastic cups, with 29 red cups and one blue one at the top. Players must move the cups one at a time from the top of the stack to the bottom, continuing until the blue cup returns to the top of the stack. First one to reveal their blue cup wins! Use a timer, one player at a time, to find the fastest player or double the number of cups to have a side by side challenge.

5 Junk in the Trunk

You’ll need: Kleenex box, ping bong balls, tape.
How to score: The first player that shakes all the balls out of their tissue box wins.

Each player is given a rectangular empty tissue box with 8 Ping Pong Balls. The box is strapped around the player’s waist. A belt or tape works great. On the start of go, the participants try to shake the balls out of the Kleenex box using only movement. No hands. The first player with an empty box wins. You can play until there is one man standing if you want to award points based on first, second, third places, etc.

More Minute to Win it Games for Large Groups

Take a look at this huge list of Minute to Win it 60 second games for large groups. Choose that game that fits the season you are in.

• 18 Traditional Minute to Win it Games
• 18 Back to School Minute to Win it Games
• 16 Halloween Minute to Win it Games
• 16 Thanksgiving Minute to Win it Games
• 17 Christmas Minute to Win to Games
• 16 New Year’s Eve Minute to Win it Games
• 16 Valentine’s Day Minute to Win it Games
• 16 Easter Minute to Win it Games
• 16 Minute to Win it Water Games
• 16 Outdoor Minute to Win it Games
• 15 Football Minute to Win it Games

We have over 180 Minute to Win it Group games. That is a lot of team games! Which is your favorite?

Adult Party Games

Adult games can be played with or without adult beverages. Adult games are a mix of more challenging concepts and sometimes include adult drinking games. In places where alcoholic beverages are not allowed, like the office, any of these party games can be played by kids at heart (aka adults.) In fact, many of these group games for younger kids will be hilarious icebreaker games when played in the office by those in suites and ties or by those 21 and over having an evening gathering.

Never Have I Ever

You’ll need: Adult beverages.
How to score: One point for each person who takes a sip. The player with the fewest points, wins.

Never Have I Ever is a classic party game that is great for groups of all ages. Players take turns making statements about things they have never done, and anyone who has done that thing must take a drink. This group game is sure to get everyone talking and laughing!

Charades

You’ll need: Charades cards
How to score: Be team to guess the most words correctly during the game to win.

You can’t go wrong with a fun game of charades. To get things started, use the cards included in the packet for the game. You can also give each of your guests a few minutes to come up with some funny suggestions with the blank cards to personalize the game to your friend group. This game is all about creativity and using your imagination, so the more outrageous the charade, the better! Split teams in two. A team members acts out what’s on the card. Cards can be described by categories before the game begins. This includes movies, famous people, places and things. Each team guesses what the player on their team is acting out. The team that guesses the most correctly, wins.

Straight Face

You’ll need: Paper, pen
How to score: Be the last person standing (last person to keep a straight face.)

This game of skill is a challenge to see who can read the silliest sentences without cracking a grin. Each player writes a crazy sentence on a slip of paper and adds it to the basket. Players them take turns reading a sentence aloud while trying to not laugh or smile. Anyone who laughs, snickers, or grins is out. You can also up the punishment by making offenders take a shot or eat a yucky concoction!

Team Scavenger Hunt

You’ll need: Pen, paper and team scavenger hunt list (grab example list here or here.)
How to score: Be the first to finish the team vs team scavenger hunt.

Head to a public location with a a list of things to gather on the scavenger hunt. This can be a list of photos, a list of items, or a list of things to do. Make these ideas silly like a refrigerator box, coin from 1983, town clock, egg carton, deposit slip, take-out menu or even a photo of the entire team in a shopping cart.

Prosecco Pong

You’ll need: Plastic glasses, prosecco , ping-pong balls.
How to score: Be the first team to get all your balls into the opponents plastic cups.

This game is played like beer pong, only classier – with Prosecco! Poor a bit of Prosecco in 12 plastic wineglasses. Six glasses in a triangle shape on opposite sides of a table. Each team takes turn throwing a ping-pong ball into the other team’s cups. Once a ball lands in a cup, the cup is taken away and the opponent then drinks the contents of the cup. If both teammates hit cups, the balls are rolled back and they get to shoot again. there is no looser.

More Group Games for Adults

Take a look at this list of adult team games. Both drinking games and non-drinking games these games can be played in a bar, at house, party venue, or even at a baby shower!

• 17 Adult Party Games
• 21 Drinking Party Games
• 11 Beer Games
• 11 Wine Party Games
• 17 Bachelorette Games
• 20 Baby Shower Games
• Christmas Drinking Party Games

We have over 97 group games for adults. Does your favorite game idea include drinks?

Outdoor Team Building Games

Outdoor group games are great because the widen the play area. Bring the fun to the park, beach, lake, backyard and more with these outdoor team games. They can be fun for during the day or even at night. They also allow for a mess! No ruining that fancy carpet inside.

Pass the Water

You’ll need: Cups, buckets, water
How to score: Team that has the most water in the final cup/bucket wins.

Do you have what it takes to not spill a drop? Have teams line up in a row and give the first person in line a cup of water. Once “go” is said, the person holding the water cup full of water has to hold the cup over their hand and pour out the water into the empty cup of the person behind them. Do this until the entire team has done it and then see what team has the most water in the final cup/bucket!

Hula Hoop Pass

You’ll need: Hula Hoops
How to score: The first time to get the hula hoop down the line while staying on the arms, wins!

Split into small groups or teams. Grab a hula-hoop, hold hands, and see if you can get the hula hoop moving up and down the line of players. Be the fastest to move your hoop along.

Fire Tender

You’ll need: Blindfold, wood
How to score: Win if you find who stole your firewood while blindfolded.

In this blindfolded game, IT must try to figure out who is stealing his fire tender. Every time someone approaches, it must try to identify when his fire wood is taken from his campsite. This is a great group game for toddlers or game for younger kids… though we think adults will get a a fun laugh too!

Squirt Ball Relay Race

You’ll need: Beach ball, water gun
How to score: Be the first to get your ball across the finish line.

The quicker, the better. Grab a blown-up beach ball and a squirt gun full of water and see who can use the water from the squirt gun to push the ball across the sand to the finish line. Don’t worry, you’ll more than likely run out of water and have to run to the water and fill up during this time!

Glow in the Dark Capture the Flag

You’ll need: Flags, glow sticks, fabric
How to score: First team to capture the other team’s flag, wins.

Split into two teams. Add a glow stick color to each team to easily identify players. Assign a zone where each teams’ flags (fabric attached to a glow stick) will be placed. Designate a jail area for each team. Each team can create a strategy for defending their flag, freeing jailed teammates, and capturing the other teams flag. If during the game, a player is tagged by the other team, they go to jail. Their teammate can tag them to get out. The game ends when the flag is captured and brought to the opposite side.

More Outdoor Group Games

Put on your sneakers and get ready for some competitive fun. This is a good selection of outdoor group games for kids and adults. Play at a park, in the pool or even on your trampoline.

• 16 Outdoor Water Games
• 16 Trampoline Games
• 18 Backyard Games
• 18 Pool Party Games
• 13 Camping Games
• 17 Beach Games
• 19 Lake Games

Enjoy over 117 group games to play outside. Which location is your favorite?

Indoor Group Games

Indoor games are great for poor weather or doing activities in the youth group room or shared conference room. The game set up is determined by the square space you have to work. Supplies are often found within the home/office setting. Most indoor games can be taken outside as long as your game supplies can be relocated or substituted.

Balloon on a String

You’ll need: Balloons, string
How to score: Be the last one standing with your balloon un-popped.

Tie a balloon to each players ankle with a piece of string. Once everyone has one then start playing some music. While the music plays, people walk around. When the music stops, the aim is to burst another’s balloon & protect your own. The winner is the last person left with a balloon.

Potato Drop

You’ll need: Bowls, buckets, potatoes
How to score: Be the first team to drop the most potatoes in their bucket.

Split players into two teams for a relay. Have all players place a potato between their knees & race to a finish line where they have to drop it into a designated bowl or bucket. They run back to the start line to tag the next player. If the potato is dropped, or if hands touch it, they have to go back to the start and try again. First team to finish the race, wins.

Sticky Spider Web

You’ll need: Painters tape, newspapers (or balled pieces of paper), balloons, cotton balls, socks
How to score: Collect the most balls on your sticky spider web.

Use painter’s tape to make a web-like design on a doorway opening. Give your kids some newspaper to scrunch up and throw up at the web. Or get creative and use other light-weight objects like balloons, cotton balls, socks, etc. Points are awarded for how many items stick in 10 throws.

Cotton Ball Crawl

You’ll need: Bowls, cotton balls
How to score: Be the team that gets the most cotton balls in their group’s bowl.

Dump a pile of cotton balls on the floor in one room and place empty bowls on the floor of another room (one bowl per player). Set a timer for 4 minutes and have players move one cotton ball from one room into the bowl—using a spoon and crawling on hands and knees, then go back and get another. The cotton balls are so light, they’re likely to go flying. Player with the most balls in their bowl at the end of time, wins.

Pass the Parcel

You’ll need: Prize, small presents, bubble wrap or Saran wrap
How to score: Be the player to review the largest prize at the center of the parcel.

Wrap a present in several layers using wrapping paper, newspaper, bubble wrap, or saran wrap. Sit the players in a circle, play some music. While the music plays, everyone has to pass the parcel. When you stop the music, the player holding the package removes one layer. Repeat until the present is revealed. You can have small presents on various layers.

More Indoor Group Games

Is it raining? Is it too hot? Are you stuck in the car? These team games for indoors are perfect for kids and those stuck with the kids.

• Indoor Scavenger Hunt
• 17 Games to Play Inside
• 12 Car Games

Enjoy 30 fun indoor games to play in a group. Which ones are your favorite.

Holiday Games

Host a holiday party for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and more. For themed holiday group games, take many of your classic games and add in seasonal candy and décor. For example, typical buckets can be replaced with Easter baskets. Or instead of using M&Ms and Skittles, use candy corn. Add a fun seasonal name to twist the style and theme of the game. We have dozens of holiday party games for the office and kids parties. They are great for those looking for special occasion group activities and games during a holiday season.

Masked Sticky Note Challenge

You’ll need: Post-It Notes
How to score: Cover your partner in the most sticky-notes during the set time.

Have a blast covering your teammates face in sticky notes sheets of paper. Team that uses the most sticky notes in one minute time is declared the winner.

Ornament Spoon Relay

You’ll need: Spoons, ornaments
How to score: Fastest team to get through all their players, wins.

Inspiration from the classic childhood game, egg spoon relay. Divide teams into two for this relay. The first person in line has a spoon an ornament. Every other player has a spoon. Each person with a spoon and ornament must carry the ornament on the spoon to a designated spot and back. As soon as the player returns to the line, he or she passes the ornament to next person in line. Continue until everyone gets a turn. If the ornament drops, return to the starting line. Fastest team, wins.

Turkey Leg Hunt

You’ll need: Plastic eggs, candy, plastic spoons, washi tape
How to score: Find the most turkey legs.

Fill large Easter eggs with a lot of treasures (candy, stickers, adult cocktails, etc.) Tape a white plastic spoon to the egg and using brown washi tape. This is your turkey leg. Hide turkey legs in the home or in the backyard and go on a turkey (leg) hunt. Fun for all ages.

Mummy Speed Wrap

You’ll need: Toilet paper
How to score: Be the fastest to wrap your mummy.

Groups wrap a player as a mummy in toilet paper. Time each team for start to finish. For each time the roll broke when wrapping the mummy, 3 seconds are added to the final time. Fastest time, wins.

Flying Peeps

You’ll need: Easter baskets, peeps candy, plastic spoon.
How to score: Get the most peeps into your team’s Easter basket in time.

Set an Easter basket ten feet from where the player will stand. Place a marker on the floor to designate where the player stands. In this challenge, each player will use a plastic spoon to launch Peeps into their Easter basket. Players must get six Peeps to land inside the basket to win the challenge. Complete your task in 60 seconds or less.

More fun holiday party games

Who doesn’t love a themed party? Are the pumpkins everywhere. Are you drowning in candy hearts? Whatever the special occasion, we have a great selection of holiday party games for groups. All of these hit a wide range of ages.

• 19 Halloween Party Games
• 12 Thanksgiving Party Games
• 19 Christmas Party Games
• 11 Valentine’s Day Party Games
• 7 Easter Party Games
• 11 Graduation Party Games

Enjoy 79 holiday themed games for every season! What’s your favorite holiday.

Kids Party Games

We have a huge birthday line up of games. Take on classic & simple games or even themed party games for boys and girls. If throwing an office party, choose a theme and grab one of these game sets.

Pass the Orange

You’ll need: Oranges
How to score: Team that passes the orange the fastest, wins.

Split teams in two or more. Get an orange and sit everyone in a circle, or stand in a line. The game is simple: you need to put the orange under the chin of the first person, who must then pass it to the next person and place it under their chin, without using hands. First team to finish, wins.

Donuts on a String

You’ll need: String, doughnuts, something to hang
How to score: Eat your donut the fastest

This is a twist to the apple bobbing game. Tie the string on the donuts (one for each guest) and hang them from a clothes line, curtain rod or anything that is available. Each player stands beneath a single donut. On the mark of ‘go’ the players begin to eat their donuts using only their mouth. The first player to finish their doughnut wins. The prize is, of course, the sweet treat!

Marshmallow Pong

You’ll need: Plastic cups, marshmallows
How to score: Be the first to get all your marshmallows into the opponents’ cups.

This game is played like adult beer pong, only kid-friendly, with marshmallows. Line Six cups in a triangle shape on opposite sides of a table/area. Each team takes turn throwing a marshmallow into the other team’s cups. Once a marshmallow lands in a cup, the cup is taken away and the opponent then eats contents of the cup (if not dirty.) There is no winner. Everyone is a winner for eating marshmallows

Sleepover Murder in the Dark Cards

You’ll need: Deck of cards
How to score: Solve who is the murderer

For this murder mystery card game, all you need is a deck of cards. Leave only the numbered cards in the pile, plus 1 ace and 1 face card. That’s it. Have everyone draw a card. The one who gets the ace card is the detective and the one who gets the face card is the murderer. The detective reveals themselves but no one else does. As no one is looking, the murderer has to wink at their latest victim in which that person quietly goes “out” and puts down their card. It’s up to the detective only to figure out who is needing to be charged with the crime.

Trampoline Air Ball

You’ll need: Tennis balls, trampoline
How to score: Catch the most balls in the ten jumps.

The goal of this game is to catch the ball mid jump. Every player gets ten tries to air catch. The person that catches the most balls with ten chances, wins! Keep eliminating players and rotating people in the trampoline until you get your final winner.

More Themed Party Games for Kids

We have you covered for all the parties. Sweet sixteen party, teen party, glow in the dark party, youth parties, unicorn parties even dinosaur parties. Download and enjoy all the group party games for kids!

• 17 Kids Party Games
• 16 Sweet Sixteen Party Games
• 17 Teen Party Games
• 16 Glow in the Dark Party Games
• 11 Sleepover Party Games
• 12 Animal Party Games
• 12 Lego Building Blocks Party Games
• Team Photo Scavenger Hunt
• 100s more themed group party games for kids

We can’t count. We give up. We surrender. Easily download up to hundreds and hundreds of kids group games to play at a party. There is a kids party game for every season.

How to Choose the Right Group Game

When choosing a group game, there are a few things you should take into consideration. Keep in mind the age of your crew, how many people you have attending the event and how competitive you want the games to be. There are many types of people who can enjoy group games.

Age of the participants

You’ll want to choose a game that is appropriate for the age group of the participants. If working with younger kids, you can pair older kids for harder games. In addition, make any game that is to juvenile a bit harder by adding extra steps or taking down the time to win.

Number of participants

Some games work better with larger groups, while others are more suited for smaller groups. Most of these games can be played in groups of 2 to 20. That’s a huge range. Adapt each game and team count based on the activity and the time you have. If you have a lot of people but some games require fewer people, take four people out of the team. Let them perform the game and then earn points for their team. On the next game, four different people can play. It create team work and gives all the players a crowd to cheer them on to success.

Level of competitiveness

Some people just want to have fun, while others are just wanting to win! The level of competitiveness does matter whenever you’re choosing a group game. In my opinion, the competition only makes it more fun. If you have toddlers or just adults that act like toddlers and can’t take the heat of a competitive, have a participation trophy or prize just for joining in on the fun.

Who are group games best for?

Honestly, there is no one group games are not best for. Group games bring all in into the fun. It eliminates the spectator sport and allows everyone in on the action. For those individuals who do actually enjoy watching and cheering on, drop them in a larger group. They can participate in one of the quickly paced group groups and cheer on their team for the rest.

The following types of groups are great for group games:

• Youth groups

• Workplace Team Building Event for Employees

• Guests at kids birthday parties

• Ice breakers for strangers

• Entertainment for adult parties

• Seasonal parties and group gatherings

Choosing the right group game can be the difference between a fun and engaging activity and a complete disaster. By taking into consideration the age of the participants, the number of people playing, and the level of competitiveness, you’ll be sure to choose a game that everyone will enjoy!

Where to get printable group games?

Ready to put the play back in your party plan? Save on party games and entertainment when you choose low-cost party games for groups. These group games are themed by type of party, type of game, location of games and more.

Visit our huge resource of group party games. Enjoy with games with a number of players including a 3 to 20 (or even more) size group. These are great for birthdays, the workplace, youth groups, neighborhood gatherings and more. These fun group games are timeless, so make sure you keep them on your social radar for years to come!

Download a Bunch of Group Games Printables for Kids, Youth and Adults

More Game Ideas for Fun

I ain’t here for a long time, I’m here for a good time…

Good times can be had in short bursts too.  Enjoy time with those close to you too.

Turn uncommon and even common games into something unique. Every holiday on the calendar can have it’s own themed game. Learn how to transform party activities into holiday party games. Pin to Pinterest.

Who doesn’t love game night? Host a family game night at home. Save these 17 pages of Game Night Ideas and Family Game Night Bucket List and see how many games you can paly together. Make sure you add the ingredients for these family game night snack ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Speaking of games, how about a scavenger hunt. Turn any setting (indoor or out) into a fun treasure hunt. Rhyming riddles provide clues that must be solved as you race to the finish line. Have small prizes along the way or one large present at the end of the race. Take a look at all of our printable scavenger hunts with 20 rhyming clues. Also look at these seasonal scavenger hunts for kids. which also include scavenger hunt checklist. Pin to Pinterest.

Bingo games are perfect for large groups of people. Also free digital downloads are perfect for frugal people. You might be on this blog because you are frugal. You might be on this blog post because you are looking for large group games. Take a look at these free Bingo board printables for kids. Pin to Pinterest.

In addition to the many large group party games, you can access our free printables in the free printable library. Sign up as an email subscriber today.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your favorite group games for adults, kids, youth and more.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Enjoy loads of laughter and low-cost entertainment with our fun Carnival Party Games printable. These DIY Carnival Themed Ideas & Activities create the best circus birthday party ever! Print today.

Carnival games are a great way to add some excitement to any party. Whether you’re throwing a birthday party, a block party, or just a fun get-together, carnival games are always a hit. And the best part is, they’re easy to put together! By putting your own spin on classic carnival games, you can create an unforgettable party that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Get started planning your carnival party today with these amazing tips.

How do you plan a carnival party?

Planning a carnival themed party is actually a lot of fun, but there are some things you’ll want to consider BEFORE you have the party. The budget is always important. Most people don’t think a carnival party can be affordable. It actually can be with the right planning and prep ahead of time.

When it comes to a circus themed party, plan the venue space, your party decorations, the number of guests, types of carnival booths, and of course your entertainment. Don’t worry, I have plenty of carnival birthday party ideas to share with you soon. Here is how to plan and affordable circus party that is a ton of fun for your birthday guy or gal!

Carnival Party Theme Ideas

Before we begin with the party entertainment, let’s chat about the party organization. When planning a circus party, there are a few things you need to get in place before the fun and games.  Make sure you have the right circus party invite, create a list of carnival party food, and choose the best location for a carnival birthday party.

Create Fun Invitations

Welcome to the big top! Your invitations set the tone for your party, so make sure they’re fun and festive! You can find some great carnival-themed invitations online, or you can get creative and make your own.

In this day and age, I especially appreciate an Evite to keep record of who is coming or a digital carnival birthday party invitation.

Choose the Location

If you’re having the party outdoors, you’ll want to make sure you have enough space for all of your games and activities. If you’re having the party indoors, choose a location that has high ceilings so you can hang decorations from the ceiling and have enough room for balls to be thrown and party booths to fit.

Gather Everything You Need

Now that you know where the party is going to be and who is coming, it’s time to start gathering everything you need.

Supplies Include:

• Carnival games
• Prizes for the winners of the carnival games
• Carnival food (like these easy popcorn cupcakes)
• Cotton candy machine
• Popcorn machine
• Snow cone machine
• Candy station

This is just a short list of what you’ll need for your carnival party. Let’s dive into backyard carnival games and entertainment you can incorporate!

Carnival Party Games & Ideas

What is expected at jamboree of this magnitude – entertainment!   The circus party that you’re throwing needs to have a list of creative games. Bring on the laughter with carnival themed party games. You can use traditional games or come up with your own twist of classic party games by adding a little flair.

First let’s look at common festival games.

What games does a carnival have?

There are many types of carnivals. You can have your own DIY backyard carnival or you can attend a carnival held by a large organization or traveling circus. In both places, common carnival games might include…

• Ring Toss
• Bean Bag Toss
• High Striker
• Milk Bottle Knock Down
• Skee Ball
• Rubber Duck Pond
• Spin the Wheel
• Water Coin Drop
• Basketball Free Throw

Of course each of these games has a different price value and if you bring them all together, the carnival games can be quite expensive. Instead of cost, let’s focus on frugal fun. Homemade games. It’s time to bring the play back into the party plan without break the bank.

We are going to discuss ideas for DIY Carnival Themed Games. Below, these DIY carnival birthday party ideas incorporate may of your favorite traditional carnival-themed games only adapted to your backyard or party venue space. They use common low-cost party supplies so no carnival rental is needed.

Take a look at some of these Carnival party game examples. Make your own carnival games and have a fun time!

Dart Balloons

This is a classic game that is always a hit with kids and adults. Fill the balloons with air and let the kids pop the balloons with the darts. You can have small prizes for each balloon players pop. Alternatively, player can collect tickets for a prize table at the end of the celebration. Have enough miniature balloons blow up ahead of time so you can keep adding new balloons to the board.

DIY dart board game supplies include water balloons, plywood, and darts. Optional items include prize tickets and tiny circus party favor treasures.

Face Painting

Face painting is a great way to get everyone in the party mood. You can either hire a professional face painter or have someone at the party who is good at painting faces. Have examples of face painting ideas for kids available so guests can pick their favorite. If hosting a circus birthday party, consider adding circus animals like lions, tigers and bears.

Face painting party products are easy to obtain. Supplies include face paint and paint brushes.

Donuts on a String

This fun kids party game is adapted from apple bobbing and germ free as people are not sharing a bowl of water to dunk. This great carnival game idea is a lot of fun and it’s also a great way to get everyone to eat some yummy donuts. Hang donuts from strings and let the kids try to eat them without using their hands.

Donut game supplies include doughnuts, string, and something to hang the donuts from.

Dunk Tank

A carnival and dunk tank booths go hand and hand, no? Instead of having an expensive dunk tank, get water balloons ready and then designate someone that wants to get wet. All the kids will get a chance to throw water balloons at this person and get them wet in this adapted DIY Dunk Tank game.

Homemade dunk tank supplies include water balloons and googles. Easy peasy carnival themed party ideas.

This game is an example that low-cost small carnival party games do exist! Party equipment rental services are not cheap. Imagine the cost of renting a dunk tank?

The fun doesn’t end there. Carnival games appear costly, but it is possible to get them at a low price when you make fun and easy adaptions. With this Carnival Party Games printable, you can check out the games listed above and more!

With this Carnival Themed Birthday Party Games printable also enjoy…

• Naughty Clown

• Fish Bowl

• Animal Eating Contest

• Target Game

• Human Elephant Relay Race

• Duck Pond

• Marshmallow Pong

• DIY Skee-ball

All games include full instructions and a carnival party supplies list so you are fully prepared.

Carnival Party Printables

You’ll find these homemade carnival party games and more on the Carnival Party Games printable! This printable allows you to be super creative and put together an unforgettable party for your child and their friends.

What you get with purchase:

• 12 Carnival Themed Party Games List PDF Instant Download
• Game Directions and Supply List

Save on your birthday party entertainment and download our Carnival Birthday Party Games printable.

Get-Download-Print the Carnival Party Games PDF

Free Printables

Not ready to purchase these DIY Carnival Games? Take a look at our free printable library. Get ready to plan an amazing birthday party with our Birthday Party Planner. If you enjoy this printable set, come back for the DIY circus party games.

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How to Print at Staples

Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final carnival party ideas.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

It’s time to toss out the traditional carnival games and get even more creative. Which homemade circus game on this list makes you most excited for the party you’re planning? Happy Birthday!

More Party Ideas

Party Games are what bring the entertainment. It’s easy to shop for party décor, recipes, party favors and more but often we forget – how are we going to busy the kids? If you are looking for frugal birthday party entertainment, take a look at this list of low-cost party games including games for many themed parties. For other themed birthday parties for kids, you can also download the birthday party games bundle, so you have all you need!

Enjoy these kids themed birthday party games as well.

• Jungle Party Games
• Construction Party Games
• Nerf & Camo Party Games
• Neon Glow in the Dark Party Games
• Spy Party Games
• Pirate Party Games
• Mad Science Party Games
• Wizard Party Games
• Pup Party Games
• Train Party Games
• Space Party Games
• Football Party Games
• Birthday Scavenger Hunt

… and a lot more party games.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.