Picnics are not just sunburns and sandwiches.
It seems the person who said so hasn’t been on a real picnic.
And of course, picnics aren’t just for kids.
This one’s for all the adults who want a bit of peace and relaxation without the chittering of non-adults.
Leave the little ones at home, pack your picnic basket with “adult” juice and “not kid-friendly” items.
And as for the games, we have an assortment of activities planned just for you.
These are mostly hassle free and require none to minimal extra props.
1. Water Balloon Dodgeball
This picnic twist on dodgeball brings out everyone’s playful (and competitive) side with water-filled fun. Prepare for soaked shirts and roaring laughter.
Requirements:
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Water balloons
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Open outdoor space
How to Play:
Divide adults into two teams and give each side a bucket of water balloons. Teams aim to hit members of the opposing team while dodging incoming splashes. If you’re hit, you’re out! Keep playing until one team remains or until all balloons burst.
2. Human Knot Challenge
This team-building game quickly turns into a hilarious mess as adults twist, stretch, and stumble while trying to untangle themselves.
Requirements:
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Just people!
How to Play:
Everyone stands in a circle and grabs the hands of two different people across from them, forming a knot. The group must work together—without letting go—to untangle into a full circle again. It’s harder (and funnier) than it sounds!
3. Blanket Volleyball
Who needs hands? This goofy version of volleyball is played using blankets to launch and catch the ball.
Requirements:
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Large blankets or towels (one per 2–4 players)
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Beach ball or soft volleyball
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Net or rope
How to Play:
Teams use blankets held between two players to catch the ball and toss it back over the net. The challenge is coordinating the toss together without dropping it. The first team to reach a set score wins—if they can stop laughing long enough to keep track.
4. Drip, Drip, Drench
Think “Duck, Duck, Goose” but with water—and way more laughs.
Requirements:
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Small cup or sponge
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Bucket of water
How to Play:
One person walks in a circle around the seated group, saying “drip” while dropping small bits of water on each head. When they yell “drench!” they dump the rest on someone and run! That person jumps up to chase them, trying to tag them before they reach the open spot.
5. Picnic Pictionary: Nature Edition
It’s your classic drawing game—with the twist of using natural materials to draw clues instead of pen and paper.
Requirements:
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Nature items (sticks, rocks, leaves)
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Dirt patch or picnic table as canvas
How to Play:
Players take turns drawing a word using sticks in the dirt or arranging leaves and twigs to form pictures. Their team guesses before the timer runs out. No art skills needed—just creativity and a sense of humor.
6. Pass the Orange (No Hands!)
This cheeky icebreaker game brings out giggles as players pass a fruit under their chins without using their hands.
Requirements:
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Oranges or similar-sized fruit
How to Play:
Players line up and pass an orange from one person to the next using only their chins and necks. Dropping it means starting over. The first team to complete the chain wins, and the photos from this game are priceless.
7. Tug of War—With a Twist
Add a fun twist to a good old-fashioned tug of war by setting up some muddy or wet obstacles in between.
Requirements:
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Long rope
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Markers or cones
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Water or mud for added fun
How to Play:
Divide into two teams and grab the rope. Mark the middle and the victory zones. When the whistle blows, pull! The losing team may just get dragged through water, sand, or even a kiddie pool. Expect competitive spirits and tons of laughs.
8. Picnic Trivia Showdown
Test your crew’s brainpower with a team trivia game using family stories or random topics.
Requirements:
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Trivia questions (custom or general)
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Scoreboard or whiteboard
How to Play:
Split into teams and assign a trivia master. Teams take turns answering questions and scoring points. Include funny family facts or picnic-themed questions to keep it lively. The team with the highest score takes home the bragging rights.
9. Dizzy Bat Races
This game is pure chaos and fun—racing while dizzy never fails to entertain.
Requirements:
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Plastic bats or sticks
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Open space
How to Play:
Each player spins around 10 times with their forehead on a bat, then runs to a finish line. Watching grown adults stagger and wobble across the grass is comedy gold. The fastest (or funniest) wins!
10. Giant Charades
Acting things out in front of a large group is way more dramatic—and more hilarious—when you play in teams.
Requirements:
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Charade cards or a mobile app
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Timer
How to Play:
Players act out words or phrases without speaking while their team guesses. The catch? You have to act big—huge gestures, exaggerated moves, and silly expressions are all part of the fun. Keep score or just keep going for laughs.
See Also:
Now that your family is in one place, what are you waiting for?
Pick your favorite game.
Let the games begin!!