Family Barbecue Games: 18 For The Garden While The Food Cooks

September 16, 2026

A barbecue has a dead hour: everyone's arrived, the coals aren't ready, and the children are at the stage of asking when the food is coming every ninety seconds.

These fill it. Most need nothing, and everything works round a small garden with people holding drinks.

While the food cooks

These gentle garden activities are perfect for guests of all ages who have just arrived and need something to break the ice while the charcoal heats up. It keeps everyone amused during that tricky pre-meal lull when hunger starts to set in. To make things run smoothly, set up a dedicated drinks table nearby so players can easily put down their glasses before taking their turn.

Welly wanging or boot throwing with a chalk line.
Kubb, boules or quoits - set them up and let people drift in.
Beanbag or frisbee target into a bucket, points by distance.
Water balloon toss in pairs, stepping back each round.
Keepie-uppie count as a group, one touch each, going round.

Running-about games for the children

Ideal for energetic youngsters who cannot sit still, these high-energy activities are best used to burn off anticipation before the food is served. They keep younger guests thoroughly entertained and out of the kitchen. A helpful tip is to set up these lively play zones at the far end of the garden, well away from the hot barbecue, ensuring everyone stays completely safe while running around.

Stuck in the mud, British Bulldog or What's the time, Mr Wolf?
The sprinkler or paddling pool, which is a game as far as any child is concerned.
Egg and spoon and sack races with whatever you've got.
Hide and seek with a garden boundary agreed out loud.
The obstacle course made from chairs, a hoop and a bucket, timed.

Games adults will play with a drink in hand

Tailored for the grown-ups, these relaxed pastimes are perfect for the lazy post-lunch afternoon when everyone is full but not quite ready to go home. They offer a gentle way to keep the conversation flowing without requiring too much movement. As a practical tip, choose activities that can be played one-handed, leaving your guests with a free hand to hold a glass of something refreshing.

Boules or bowls - designed for exactly this.
Giant Jenga, giant Connect 4.
The name game round a table once the food's done.
Guess the marinade or the secret ingredient.
Cornhole, if anyone's ever brought one back from America.

Wet weather and small gardens

Designed for those unpredictable British summer days, these adaptable ideas are perfect when space is tight or the clouds finally open. They suit families who want to keep the festive barbecue spirit alive, even if everyone has been forced to retreat indoors. A great tip is to quickly clear away any fragile ornaments beforehand to create a safe zone for indoor play.

Indoor charades, cards and dominoes - same afternoon, different room.
A quiz someone writes on their phone in ten minutes.
Balloon keepy-uppy in the living room, floor is lava rules.
Small garden: swap throwing games for target games and seated ones. Quoits over rounders.

Key things to remember

Set one game up before people arrive so there's something to walk into.
Agree the garden boundary out loud before hide and seek.
Have an indoor plan you can switch to in five minutes.

Frequently asked questions

What games can you play at a family barbecue?

Welly wanging, boules, quoits and a beanbag target for the adults, stuck in the mud and an obstacle course for the children, and giant Jenga or Connect 4 left out for anyone to drift into.

What BBQ games need no equipment?

Stuck in the mud, What's the time Mr Wolf, hide and seek, keepie-uppie counting as a group and the name game once everyone's sat down with a plate.

What games work in a small garden?

Target games rather than running games - quoits, beanbag into a bucket, boules and giant Connect 4. Anything where people stay roughly where they're standing.

What if it rains at a family barbecue?

Move inside and swap to charades, cards, dominoes and a quickly written quiz. Cook under a gazebo or in the oven and nobody minds much once the food arrives.

Do you sell games or party supplies?

No - we make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. Every game here runs with what's already in the house, and the only products on this page are our own cards.

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We make cards, pin badges, prints and party bits in house. These are from other shops we rate, and buying through the link costs you nothing extra.

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