17 Fun Picnic Games For Adults

Picnics are for lazy afternoons spent lounging on a blanket with a sandwich in hand. But they’re also an opportunity for adults to unleash their inner kid and play some lively games. Whether you’re planning a picnic as part of a casual outing with friends, a family reunion, a team-building event, or something else, it’s always a good idea to add entertaining activities to your gathering. We’ve curated this list of picnic games for adults to make planning this aspect as easy as possible!

Also crucial for a picnic: a great outdoor location! If you’d prefer a private outdoor space over a public park, check out the outdoor and backyard party venues available near you for rent on Peerspace, the leading online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. In the process, you may just come across the picnic location of your dreams! We’ll share fitting examples alongside our picnic games for adults below.

1. Aim your game with a DIY washer toss

First on our list of picnic games for adults is this DIY washer toss game, where you and your fellow picnic attendees will compete in teams to throw washers as accurately as possible. How you score this game is up to you, but if you need scoring and rule suggestions, check out the instructions from Addicted 2 DIY for more details.

2. Play giant checkers on your handmade checkerboard

Another picnic game for adults that we love is giant checkers! Something about playing checkers on this enormous scale makes the game feel more fun and more appropriate for the great outdoors. And since you make the outdoor checkerboard yourself, you can choose the color scheme to match other aspects of your picnic, too!

3. Play a carnival favorite with water balloon darts

Fill water balloons, attach them in evenly spaced rows to a board, and hand darts to your guests to throw at the water balloons and attempt to pop them. Since you’re outside, it doesn’t matter that water will be splashing everywhere!

Need a spacious outdoor venue that lets you easily set up water balloon dart boards and more? Then check out this pristine backyard for intimate outdoor events in Fayetteville, GA. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor space for you and your guests to enjoy your games and picnic, no matter the weather.

4. Be a kid again and play a bucket-to-bucket relay race

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/25825397856917208

Speaking of getting water everywhere, that’s pretty much what this game is all about! Have your guests split up into teams and compete to pass water from bucket to bucket and fill up their own container at the end of the line. Whoever fills their container first is the winner! Even your guests who don’t win are sure to have an exhilarating time and finish the game with smiles on their faces.

5. Get creative and construct a backyard bowling alley

If you’re having your picnic in your backyard, then consider building your own bowling alley for an amazingly fun picnic game challenge! Not only will guests be thrilled to be at your picnic, but watch out—they may even try to invite themselves back soon to use your backyard bowling alley!

Capture every moment of your gathering using our cute picnic photoshoot ideas as your guide!

6. Go for a classic with outdoor tic-tac-toe

A portable tic-tac-toe set designed to be used outdoors is a great choice for a picnic party. Tic-tac-toe is one of those picnic games for adults that almost anyone can play, and buying a premade game set makes it even easier!

7. Grab your favorite throw and play musical picnic blankets

If you’ve ever played musical chairs, musical picnic blankets will make sense to you, too. Lay a bunch of picnic blankets out in a circle, play some music, and have players walk around. When the music stops, everyone will rush to find a blanket to sit on. With each passing round, take away one blanket to make it more challenging. The last person on a blanket is the winner!

8. Head back to field day with a classic sack race

This is a classic field day favorite that’ll bring back fond memories of childhood, but that’s still pretty fun for a group of adults. As a bonus, it’s also an intense full-body workout that’ll get your heart rate up and your blood pumping.

9. Work together to win a three-legged race

Speaking of field day classics, three-legged races are also pretty fun and can be hilarious. Pair up participants, have them tie one of their legs to their partner’s, and watch them race to the finish line!

10. Test your skills with frisbee golf

Otherwise known as disc golf, this is an incredibly fun outdoor game that will bring lots of energy and excitement to your picnic! Set up a makeshift frisbee golf course with trees, picnic tables, and other natural obstacles near your picnic, and then compete individually or in teams to finish the course in the fewest throws.

11. Get playful with a few rounds of picnic bingo

Or how about picnic-themed bingo, played with adorable and aesthetically pleasing bingo cards?

12. Bring the card games outdoors and go head-to-head

Maybe some of your guests would prefer to stick to mostly seated activities at your picnic, and we can’t blame them. There’s something about eating a big meal outside in warm weather that makes you want to kick your feet up and relax! Give these guests a chance to play games by providing them with a few decks of cards and, if needed, the rules for some easy-to-learn card games.

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13. Don’t forget the board games, too

Board games are another laid-back alternative that some members of your picnic group might prefer. Have all your guests bring their favorite board game and break off into groups to play different games with different guests.

14. Do like the ancients and play bocce

Have you ever played bocce? It’s an Italian handball game that’s easy to play when following these rules. If your picnic is happening in your backyard, you can even build a bocce court following the guide above.

But if you don’t feel like DIY-ing this one, never fear. You can book a venue with a private bocce court on Peerspace! For example, check out this residential private bocce ball court in South Bend, IN. The hosts invite you to play as much bocce in their backyard as you like, all while enjoying the chair swings and fire pit, too.

15. Get territorial and play Capture the Flag

If you have a large open space like a grassy lawn or field to work with at your picnic, organize a friendly game of Capture the Flag! Divide your group into teams, split the space into two “territories,” and strategize to grab the opposing team’s flag while protecting your own.

16. Test your skills with DIY vintage ring toss

Not only can ring toss be a challenging competition for a gathering, but it can also look pretty cute, as it does in this DIY pastel example!

17. Grab some beers and play cornhole

Cornhole is a beer garden classic for a reason. It’s fun to gather with family and friends and compete to see who can land their hacky sack in the hole on the tilted wooden boards. Cornhole boards are common enough to buy with ease or make yourself. You can also rent a fun Peerspace venue that provides cornhole, like this amazing luxury home in Phoenix, AZ.

Picnic games for adults: conclusion

How fun are these picnic games for adults? Choose your favorites from this list, plan a sensational picnic menu (like a picnic brunch, for example), invite some friends over, and have at it! If you need more space and a ready-made stylish and equipped setting, be sure to check out Peerspace for all of the lush and welcoming outdoor party spaces near you.

Find unique picnic venues on Peerspace