Picnics are more than just a chance to enjoy the outdoors—they’re a perfect setting for games that bring everyone together. From classic sports to unique activities, a great selection of picnic games keeps the energy up, gets everyone involved, and makes the day memorable. Below, we’ll cover a few of the most engaging picnic games, including soccer, ringo, peteca, badminton, an obstacle course, and a bonus indoor game that works when the weather won’t cooperate.

1. Soccer

Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide and a favorite for picnics because it doesn’t require much equipment. All you need is a soccer ball, an open space, and some eager participants. Here’s why soccer is an excellent picnic game:

• Accessibility: Soccer can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. You don’t need to be a professional to have fun kicking the ball around.
• Flexible Setup: You can play a full match, a half-field game, or even a casual “kickabout” with small teams.
• Physical Activity: Soccer provides a great workout, improving cardiovascular health, agility, and coordination.

Tips for a Picnic Soccer Game: Use portable cones, backpacks, or shoes to mark goals, and play shorter halves for a quick, action-packed game. Also use a panna soccer cage for practice so your kids can improve their soccer skills.

2. Ringo

Ringo is a fun, family-friendly game that involves tossing a ring across a net and is similar to volleyball but with some twists. The objective is to throw a ring back and forth without letting it fall to the ground. This game is perfect for picnics because:

• Easy to Learn: Ringo’s simple rules make it accessible to everyone, and it can be played in teams or one-on-one.
• Minimal Equipment: All you need is a Ringo ring and a net, although you can also use a rope tied between two trees as a makeshift net.
• Great for All Ages: Ringo is less intense than many other sports, so younger kids and older family members can easily join in.

How to Play Ringo: Teams throw a rubber ring back and forth over a low net. If the ring hits the ground, the other team scores a point. The first team to a predetermined number of points wins!

3. Peteca

Peteca, originally a Brazilian game, is played by hitting a soft, weighted shuttlecock (called a peteca) back and forth over a net or marked area without letting it touch the ground. It combines elements of badminton and volleyball, making it an exciting addition to any picnic.

• No Racket Required: Players use their hands to hit the peteca, making it simpler than badminton but just as engaging.
• Full Body Workout: Peteca is fantastic for cardio, improving hand-eye coordination, and working the upper body.
• Quick Setup: All you need is a peteca shuttlecock, and you can use an imaginary line or a portable net.

Peteca Rules: The objective is to keep the peteca in the air, and you can play with teams or solo players. Each team aims to send the peteca over the net so the other team can’t return it.

4. Badminton

Badminton is a picnic classic that combines simplicity with skill. It’s easy to set up with a portable net, racquets, and a shuttlecock. Badminton is great for a relaxing day outdoors for a few reasons:

• Low-Impact Sport: Badminton is a low-impact game suitable for a wide range of ages and fitness levels.
• Social and Casual: You can play singles or doubles, making it a flexible choice for groups of different sizes.
• Great for Hand-Eye Coordination: Players practice hitting a shuttlecock over the net, which is excellent for reflexes and coordination.

How to Set Up Badminton: Simply set up a net between two poles or trees. Players take turns hitting the shuttlecock over the net, and points are scored when one side misses the return.

5. Obstacle Course

Creating an obstacle course is a fantastic way to add excitement and physical challenges to a picnic. This game can be easily customized to the group’s abilities and the available space, and it provides plenty of laughs.

• Endless Creativity: You can use almost anything as obstacles—cones, ropes, hula hoops, or natural features like trees and rocks.
• Team or Solo Play: Obstacle courses can be timed for solo runs or set up as a relay race for teams.
• All Ages Can Join: You can adjust the difficulty of the obstacles so that everyone, from kids to adults, can have fun.

Ideas for a Picnic Obstacle Course: Incorporate activities like sack races, crawling under ropes, balancing on logs, hopping through hula hoops, and sprinting to a finish line. Set up a timer to make it competitive! These can also work great as pe games for preschoolers

6. Indoor Game – Charades

If weather conditions turn rainy, or you want a quieter activity to end the day, charades is a fantastic indoor game that can be enjoyed anywhere, including a picnic shelter. Look into these other great indoor games that work great as indoor recess games.

• No Equipment Needed: All you need is a list of phrases or prompts to act out, which makes charades incredibly easy to set up.
• Inclusive for All Ages: Charades can be adapted to suit any group by choosing age-appropriate prompts.
• Perfect for Groups: Charades is best played in teams, so it’s ideal for large gatherings where everyone wants to participate.

How to Play Charades: Write down movie titles, books, actions, or other categories on slips of paper. Players take turns drawing a slip and acting out the phrase for their team to guess within a time limit.

FAQs About Picnic Games

1. What are the best games to play at a picnic for all ages? Games like ringo, peteca, and charades work well for mixed-age groups. These activities have simple rules and can be enjoyed by players of varying skill levels.
2. Do you need equipment for picnic games? Some games, like soccer and badminton, require specific equipment. However, games like charades and obstacle courses can be set up with little to no equipment, using what’s available in the picnic area.
3. How can I set up a picnic game area? Look for a spacious, flat area where games won’t interfere with other picnickers. For games with nets, like badminton and the ringo game, bring portable poles or use trees to set up boundaries.
4. What can we play if it starts raining? Indoor games like charades or card games are perfect for rainy days. You can also try trivia games, board games, or storytelling circles under a shelter if one is available.
5. How can I make a picnic obstacle course? Use items like cones, ropes, or natural features in the area. Set up different challenges, like crawling under ropes, balancing, jumping, or sprinting to create a fun, varied course.
6. What’s a good way to involve everyone in games at a picnic? Choose a mix of games that appeal to different age groups and abilities, such as team games, low-impact sports, and simple guessing games. This way, everyone can find a game they’re excited to play.

Many of these games are great recess games as well. If you need recess equipment installed Triple J Construction can help with their trenching expertise.