You are hosting a Fourth of July picnic at your home or local park; and now you need to come up with some entertainment. Time to pull out some traditional picnic games and have some fun!
Potato Sack Race
Perhaps the most traditional game to play at a fourth of July picnic is the classic Potato Sack relay race. You will need burlap bags. Children stand inside burlap bags, and race to the finish line by hopping. For a really authentic look; you can order used bags from locations like this
one:
http://www.burlap.biz
Three-Legged Race
Another highly traditional race for 4th of July, and loaded with fun is the Three-Legged Race. You will need scarves or strips of cloth. Contestants pair up in teams of two; and stand next to each other. The inner leg of each team member is tied to his team-mates so that the team has only "three legs". The teams then race to the finish line. Usually the race is about 150 feet from start to finish. Veteran racers will know that pairing up with someone of similar height is best. Working together is essential! Variations might include the father-daughter three legged race (father teams up with daughter), the sibling race (siblings have to team up), and the grade level race (one team from each grade competes.)
Horseshoes
A standing favorite for the (slightly) older crowd at any picnic, the game of horseshoes also has a Junior League variation! For this game, you will need to stakes, hammered into the ground about 40 feet apart, and four horseshoes. If you want to be more official in your play, you can read all of the rules of the game here:
http://www.horseshoepitching.com/start.html
Frisbee Golf
Fun for old and young alike; Frisbee Golf is as easy as finding a frisbee and a bucket or two. Players take turns throwing the Frisbee into the goal; and scoring is just like traditional golf. If you only have one bucket, (a wide rimmed bucket is best) you can simply move your "goal" around the yard for a variety of playing situations (tees).
Frisbee Golf, also called Disc Golf, is actually an official game with competitive tournaments! You can read all about the official version here:
Potato Sack Race
Perhaps the most traditional game to play at a fourth of July picnic is the classic Potato Sack relay race. You will need burlap bags. Children stand inside burlap bags, and race to the finish line by hopping. For a really authentic look; you can order used bags from locations like this
http://www.burlap.biz
Three-Legged Race
Another highly traditional race for 4th of July, and loaded with fun is the Three-Legged Race. You will need scarves or strips of cloth. Contestants pair up in teams of two; and stand next to each other. The inner leg of each team member is tied to his team-mates so that the team has only "three legs". The teams then race to the finish line. Usually the race is about 150 feet from start to finish. Veteran racers will know that pairing up with someone of similar height is best. Working together is essential! Variations might include the father-daughter three legged race (father teams up with daughter), the sibling race (siblings have to team up), and the grade level race (one team from each grade competes.)
Horseshoes
A standing favorite for the (slightly) older crowd at any picnic, the game of horseshoes also has a Junior League variation! For this game, you will need to stakes, hammered into the ground about 40 feet apart, and four horseshoes. If you want to be more official in your play, you can read all of the rules of the game here:
http://www.horseshoepitching.com/start.html
Frisbee Golf
Fun for old and young alike; Frisbee Golf is as easy as finding a frisbee and a bucket or two. Players take turns throwing the Frisbee into the goal; and scoring is just like traditional golf. If you only have one bucket, (a wide rimmed bucket is best) you can simply move your "goal" around the yard for a variety of playing situations (tees).
Frisbee Golf, also called Disc Golf, is actually an official game with competitive tournaments! You can read all about the official version here:
Are you looking for some fun things to do this Fourth of July? Here are some creative ideas!
By Bridgitte Williams | Published 5/18/2007 | Read more »
The Fourth Of July can be so much fun!
By Bridgitte Williams | Published 5/31/2007 | Read more »
Red, white, and blue. Sparkling stars of freedom in the sky.
By a_Life | Published 6/15/2007 | Read more »
A fourth of July party on a boat is excellent, add the beach and fireworks over the ocean and it cannot be beat
By Susan Antonelli | Published 6/14/2007 | Read more »
Planning ahead and having Games for Guests to Play can really set a party apart from the others. Try some of these fun and patriotic games at your next holiday party.
By K. Hall | Published 6/21/2007 | Read more »
It's hard enough to throw a party for children, but throwing a party for a hard to grasp holiday such as Independence Day can be even more difficult. Is there a way to blend fun activities, food, and learning?
By Hyacinth Winters | Published 7/3/2007 | Read more »
Most Comments Today
- Death at Disney World in Orlando, Florida Monorails collide one driver has died at the Disney World Theme Park in Orlan... 28 Comments
- Why Would a Web Writer Drop DayLife.Com? Before I share my story with you, dear readers, I want to point out that Dayl... 20 Comments
- A Little Good News Today Here is...a little good news today. 20 Comments
- Forty is Fierce! I passed forty up a couple of years ago so I think I am now qualified to comm... 15 Comments
- Powerful Anesthetic Diprivan Found in Michael Jackson's H... Authorities have announced that a powerful anesthetic called Diprivan was fou... 15 Comments
- Healthy Eating or "Nickeled and Dimed" into Disease - Whi... Just an educated guess at what causes some of our crazy modern-day health pro... 15 Comments