A Flexible Plan for Block Party Games

The best block party I attended had three games and nothing else. The host set up a cornhole board, a giant Jenga set, and a tug-of-war rope. That was it. The games ran from 2 PM to 6 PM. Kids played cornhole. Adults played Jenga. Everyone played tug-of-war at 4 PM. The party was simple, cheap, and fun. The worst block party I attended had a bouncy castle, a face painting station, a DJ, a balloon artist, and a food truck. The host spent $800. The kids were in the bouncy castle the whole time. The adults stood around. The games were for kids, not for everyone. A block party game should work for all ages, not just children.

Block party games are outdoor activities designed for neighborhood gatherings, meant to be played by mixed age groups in a street, yard, or park setting. The best block party games are simple, cheap, and work for kids and adults. The worst are expensive, age-specific, and require a host to run them.

The short answer: pick three to five games that anyone can play. Cornhole, giant Jenga, tug-of-war, a water balloon toss, and a scavenger hunt. Set them up in stations. Let people play what they want, when they want. A block party game succeeds when a 10-year-old and a 60-year-old are playing the same game.

The Games

Cornhole

Two boards, eight bags. Throw the bags into the hole. Score to 21. Works for all ages. A cornhole set costs $40 to $80. The flaw: cornhole takes up space. You need at least 10 feet between the boards.

Giant Jenga

Wooden blocks stacked in a tower. Pull a block, place it on top. The tower falls, you lose. Works for all ages. A giant Jenga set costs $50 to $100. The flaw: the blocks are heavy. If the tower falls on a small child’s foot, it hurts. Supervise young kids.

Tug-of-War

A rope, two teams. Pull the other team across the line. Works for all ages (if teams are balanced). A tug-of-war rope costs $20 to $40. The flaw: it is a one-time game. It lasts five minutes. But those five minutes are the most fun five minutes of the party.

Water Balloon Toss

Pairs toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step back each time. The last pair with an unbroken balloon wins. Works for all ages. Costs $5 for a pack of balloons. The flaw: it is a summer game. Do not play it in October.

Scavenger Hunt

A list of items to find around the block. Teams race to find them all. Works for all ages (pair adults with kids). Costs $0 (the list is on paper). The flaw: it requires preparation. Write the list the day before.

BAD CHOICES Party Game

A conversation card game that gets people talking and laughing. The BAD CHOICES party game works as a sit-down game for adults while kids play cornhole. The flaw: the humor is edgy. For a mixed-age group, pick a different game.

How to Set Up Game Stations

1. Set up each game in a different area of the block or yard. Space them at least 10 feet apart.
2. Put a sign at each station with the rules (one sentence per rule).
3. Do not assign a host to each station. Let people figure it out.
4. Keep score on a whiteboard or a piece of paper. Let players keep their own score.
5. Rotate the games every hour if you want a tournament, or let people play what they want.

What to Avoid

Avoid the bouncy castle. It costs $200 and only kids use it. Avoid the face painting. It costs $100 and creates a line. Avoid the DJ. A Bluetooth speaker with a playlist works better and costs nothing. Avoid games that only kids can play. A block party is for everyone.

The Verdict

The best block party games are simple, cheap, and work for all ages. Cornhole, giant Jenga, tug-of-war, water balloon toss, and a scavenger hunt. Set them up in stations, let people play what they want, and keep the budget under $100. The most common mistake is spending $800 on entertainment for kids and forgetting that adults want to play too. A block party game succeeds when a 10-year-old and a 60-year-old are playing the same game.

FAQ

What are good games for a block party? Cornhole, giant Jenga, tug-of-war, water balloon toss, and a scavenger hunt. Pick three to five games that anyone can play. Set them up in stations.

How much do block party games cost? $50 to $100 for three to five games. Cornhole ($40 to $80), giant Jenga ($50 to $100), tug-of-war ($20 to $40), water balloons ($5), scavenger hunt (free).

How do I set up game stations at a block party? Set up each game in a different area, 10 feet apart. Put a sign with the rules at each station. Do not assign a host. Let people play what they want, when they want.

What games work for all ages at a block party? Cornhole, giant Jenga, tug-of-war (with balanced teams), and a scavenger hunt (pair adults with kids). A block party game should work for a 10-year-old and a 60-year-old.

Should I rent a bouncy castle for a block party? No. A bouncy castle costs $200 and only kids use it. Adults want to play too. Spend the money on games that work for all ages.

How many games should I have at a block party? Three to five. More than five is overwhelming. Fewer than three is boring. Pick games that are simple, cheap, and work for all ages.

What should I avoid at a block party? Bouncy castles (expensive, kids only), face painting (creates a line), DJs (a Bluetooth speaker works better), and games that only kids can play.

References

• SignUpGenius, “40 Fun Ideas for Block Parties,” signupgenius.com
• Play Party Plan, “47 of the Most Fun Outdoor Games for All Ages,” playpartyplan.com
• Lemon Thistle, “13 DIY Backyard Party Games,” lemonthistle.com