Picnics are a popular way to celebrate reunions, corporate events and other summer parties with family and friends. Popular adult activities include horseshoes, volleyball, bocce ball, croquet and other yard games. Picnic organizers can keep kids entertained with a variety of contests and relays.
Human Lemonade
This hilarious game is appropriate for mixed age groups. You will need paper cups, quartered lemons, small packets of sugar, water and a long table.
Put the table at the end of the playing area, at least 100 feet from the starting line. Set out two plates of quartered lemons, two bowls filled with small packets of sugar and one paper cup filled with water for each player.
Divide everyone into two teams and ask each team form a relay line at the starting area.
On the "go" signal, the first person in each relay line runs to the table, takes a lemon quarter and squeezes the juice into his mouth, opens the sugar packet and pours it into his mouth, then adds the glass of water. He "mixes" the lemonade by jumping up and down two times. He then swallows any lemonade still in his mouth before running back to his team.
The relay continues until all players have made "human lemonade." The team finishing first is the winner.
Doughnut Jump
Tie a strong rope between two trees, approximately 4 feet above the ground. Tie four doughnuts to 5-inch pieces of yarn, then tie the yarn to the string so the doughnuts are suspended in the air.
Ask four children to stand in front of the doughnuts. On the "go" signal, each child tries to grab the doughnut with her mouth and eat it. Any player using his hands to touch the doughnut must leave the game. The player with the most bites in her doughnut after four minutes wins the game.
Sack Relay Race
This classic outdoor game is a favorite picnic activity. Divide players into two teams and give each team a large sturdy sack. The first person on each team steps into the bag and pulls it up to his waist.
On the "go" signal, the two people in the sacks jump toward a finish line at the end of the playing area. When they reach the line, they step out of their sacks and run back to their team, then give the sack to the next person in line. The team whose last player returns to the starting line first wins the game.
Water Balloon Volleyball
Purchase 20 balloons in two different colors so you have 10 of each color. Fill balloons with water before the picnic.
At the picnic, divide players into two teams. Ask each team to stand on one side of the tarp. Put the balloons on the tarp. Ask everyone to pick up an edge and hold the tarp at waist height.
To play the game, each team jiggles and moves the tarp, trying to break the other other team's balloons or propel them off the tarp. After five minutes the team with the most balloons remaining on the tarp wins the game.
References
- "The Complete Picnic Book;" John E. Shallcross; 1954
- "Games for All Occasions: 297 Indoor and Outdoor Games;" Ken Anderson; 1988
- Ultimate Camp Resource: Games
- Fun Attic: The Great Games List
