Birthday Party Games For A Hall Or Garden Hire: 18 That Fill The Space

A hired hall is the opposite problem to a flat: too much space, a hard echo and two hours to fill including setup and clearing. Empty floor makes children feral and adults stand round the edges.

Fill it with games that use the length of the room, and plan the order before you arrive.

Big-space games for children

• Relay races - running, egg and spoon, sack race, three-legged. Teams of four, everyone runs twice.
• Parachute games: waves, mushroom, cat and mouse, swap places under the canopy.
• Corners - each corner is a number, music stops, a number is drawn, that corner is out.
• Traffic lights, British Bulldog (kind version) and What's the time, Mr Wolf?
• Dodgeball with soft balls, or benchball if the hall has benches.
• Treasure hunt with clues taped around the hall and the corridor.

Garden games

• Water balloon toss, egg and spoon, and a sponge relay in summer.
• Giant Jenga, cornhole, boules or a garden skittles set - all rentable or borrowable.
• Tug of war with a proper rope and an adult referee.
• An obstacle course made from garden furniture, hoops and a paddling pool.
• Duck duck goose and stuck in the mud for the under-sevens.

A running order for two hours

• 0-15 min: arrival, free play with balls or hoops while stragglers arrive.
• 15-45 min: three high-energy games, back to back, while everyone is fresh.
• 45-60 min: parachute or a seated circle game to bring the temperature down.
• 60-85 min: food, then cake with the lights down and a song.
• 85-110 min: two calm games, dancing or a film on a laptop while parents arrive.
• 110-120 min: party bags at the door, one adult on the door, one sweeping the hall.

Wet weather backups for a garden hire

• Keep three indoor games ready: musical statues, the chocolate game, a treasure hunt.
• A gazebo covers food, not games - plan to move everyone inside rather than half outside.
• Have a bin bag of spare socks and a towel by the door. It sounds mad until it rains.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• Walk the space first and decide where the finish line is.
• Bring more bin bags, tape and spare pens than you think you need.
• Write the running order on a sheet and give it to the other adults.

Where to shop next

• Birthdays hub
• Adult birthday party games
• Milestone birthday party games
• Teen and tween birthday party games
• Toddler party games (2-4s)
• Games for a party with 4-6 guests
• Games for a small house or flat
• No prep, no equipment party games
• Games for a party where parents stay
• Games for a birthday meal at a table
• Kids' party games by age
• Charades word lists
• Board games hub
• Birthday party ideas
• Free feel good tools
• Shop birthday cards
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What party games work in a village hall?

Games that use the length of the room: relay races, corners, dodgeball with soft balls, parachute games and a treasure hunt. Halls echo, so alternate loud games with a seated circle game before everyone's ears give out.

How do you fill a two hour hall booking?

Fifteen minutes arriving, thirty minutes of energetic games, fifteen minutes calm, food and cake at the hour mark, then two gentle games before pickup. Your booking includes setup and clearing, so plan the party for ninety minutes of it.

How many adults do you need to run hall games?

Three minimum for twenty children: one running the game, one managing the queue and stragglers, one on food and the door. Relay races need one adult per team to stop a pile-up at the turn.

What garden party games work for mixed ages?

Team games that pair a child with an adult - three-legged races, tug of war, water balloon toss and garden skittles. Everyone plays and nobody is beaten by a nine year old on their own.

Do you sell party games or party supplies?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK - the games here are simply what we'd suggest to a friend, and they need little or nothing to run. The cards on this page are ours.