Tis’ the season to start planning your outdoor tea parties, picnics and garden parties! With these garden party games, your guests will relax, laugh, and cherish the memory of your unique event. With a variety of sit-down and active games, there is the perfect game for everyone!
Spring and Summer are the perfect time to be getting outside and enjoying the beauty of the day with your favorite people.
Whether you’re looking for games for a family reunion picnic, a valentines tea party or a birthday garden party these games can easily be curated to suit your event.
In this post I’ll share with you games for when you’re seated, active games and themed activities to suit your party.
By the end you will be inspired with great outdoor game ideas that any age group would love to play!
Garden Party Games
Seated Garden Party Games
1. Bingo
I am always amazed at how such a simple game, such as bingo, can be enjoyed so much! It is perfect as it can easily be played by young or old, regardless of skill.
Depending on who you’re playing with bingo can get extremly competitive. Especially when you throw in some fun twists!
One idea for a twist is randomly having your guests switch boards with the person besides them.
Linked is my go to website when designing “My Free Bingo Cards”.
2. Spill The Tea
This game is obviously themed for a birthday tea party or garden party, but you could make the idea work for anything!
Contestants must give funny and honest answers to do with the star of the party. This game is made for a birthday party but could also suit a baby shower, bridal shower or anything else focused on one person.
The host will then read the question aloud and each player will share their answer. Lastly, the birthday person will choose the answer they liked the most, and that player will receive a point.
Continue this for the rest of the questions. The player with the most points at the end will receive the prize.
Linked below is my “Spill The Tea” printable. Feel free to copy and paste these questions into your own design, making sure to change the blank for your person’s name.
3. Word Game
Word games such as Scrabble, Boggle and Bananagrams are classic favourites which maybe just what your event needs.
Of course, these games are better for smaller gatherings of 3-6 people.
Active Outdoors Games
1. Cornhole
Cornhole is a well-known lawn game perfect for young and old. Divide your group into even teams of 2 and then decide the structure for your tournament.
To play this game you will need 2 cornhole boards and 8 cornhole sacks. All the equipment can be DIY with just a little woodwork and sewing knowledge.
2. Ladder Toss
Ladder Toss requires 2 Ladders with 3 rungs each and 6 bolas. Each bola is made of 2 balls connected by a rope.
Teams take turns throwing their bolas at their ladder and are scored according to which ring their bolas land on.
Both ladder toss and corn hole are games that are perfect for setting up in your backyard and playing with throughout the summer evenings.
3. Croquet or Lawn Bowls
Croquet is an age-old lawn game that has a great air of dignity perfect for if you’re going for a fancy garden party or elegant tea party.
It does require you to have a croquet set and is usually played by 2, 4 or 6 players.
Lawn bowls will require a mowed and flat lawn, and lawn bowl balls. It involves teams rolling a ball to get closer than the other team to the smaller ball called the “Jack”.
Another competitive game that any age and ability can enjoy.
4. Bat-down
For the large groups, such as family reunions, a game like bat down is sure to keep everyone entertained for hours!
I personally have the most wonderful memories playing this with my family on long summer evenings. All you need is a cricket bat, a ball and a large area.
The rules of this game can vary, but the way we’ve always played it is that after the ball is hit, the opposing team has the opportunity to throw it from where it landed and try to hit the bat.
If they can do this the batter is out, or if they manage to catch the ball on the full. This can be played with everyone individually keeping score or as 2 teams.
Themed Games
1. Scavenger Hunt
There are so many possible variations for a scavenger hunt. For example, I recently hosted a “The Secret Garden” themed garden party. A scavenger hunt involving finding keys and clues fits this theme perfectly! Or maybe your theme is the Pride and Prejudice movie, you could use quotes from the movie as clues.
Other scavenger hunt ideas include a nature scavenger hunt, selfie scavenger hunt, a scavenger hunt hike or a photo scavenger hunt.
I recently organised a photo scavenger hunt for a birthday in which the players had to follow the clues to find photos from the birthday girls’ childhood and recreate them!
2. Charades
Charades is probably the easiest to customize to a themed party! What I often like to do is ask ChatGPT for charade prompts that suit my theme.
This will instantly give you a great list of prompts which your guests are sure to have a great time acting out.
3. Quiz
A themed quiz can be so simple to put together, no matter what the theme.
Perhaps you’re having an elegant tea party, you could quiz your guests on proper tea etiquette. Or if your theme is based around a movie, create a quiz about the movie and actors.
4. Pass The Parcel
I am very aware this is usually a kid’s game… But what adults don’t like unwrapping presents!?!
Your guests are sure to love winning party memorabilia as they pass the parcel around the table.
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