Memorial Day is basically the unofficial kickoff to summer. You’ve got the BBQ going, drinks in hand, music playing… but at some point, people start looking for something to do. That’s where these 20 outdoor games for Memorial Day come in. The best ones aren’t overly complicated. They’re easy to jump into and get people to have fun. So, let’s get into them.
1. CORNHOLE
You already know this one. And there’s a reason it shows up at every Memorial Day party. Cornhole is the perfect mix of casual and competitive. People can play seriously, or just toss bags while holding a drink and chatting.
The rules are simple:
- You toss bean bags toward a raised board
- 3 points for getting it in the hole
- 1 point for landing on the board
Simple, but it gets weirdly intense once scores start getting close.
2. BEAN BAG LADDER TOSS
This is one of those games that looks easy until you try it. To play bean bag ladder toss, you’re tossing bean bags onto a ladder with three rungs worth different points. The more random, the better! What makes this game so fun is that you can knock off your opponent’s throws, so there’s some strategy involved beyond just good aim and luck.
3. BOCCE BALL
Bocce is definitely one of the most classic outdoor games for Memorial Day. The goal is simple: get your ball as close as possible to the smaller target ball (the pallino). That’s it. To play, simply have one player toss the pallino. Then, the teams throw their balls to win as many points as possible by having balls closer to the pallino than the other team’s closest ball. The first team to 12 points wins the game.
4. GIANT JENGA
Regular Jenga is fun. Giant Jenga? Way better. Just play Jenga just like the standard game, by taking turns removing one block from the tower and then adding it to the top. Be careful not to let the tower lose balance, though! If you do, you lose. Expect the tower falling to be way more chaotic than the regular game.
5. SPIKEBALL
One of the best classic outdoor games for kids and perfect for Memorial Day, Spikeball is a 2v2 game played around a small circular net on the ground. One team serves by hitting the ball onto the net, and the other team has up to three touches to return it. Once you get the rhythm down, rallies get fast. Keep spiking until the ball hits the rim or the ground, or until the ball hits the net twice. If this happens, that’s a point to the opposing team!
6. TUG-O-WAR
Tug-o-war is as straightforward as it gets. Split into two teams, grab a rope, and pull. Easy as that. It’s one of the quickest and easiest outdoor games you can play for Memorial Day.
7. CAPTURE THE FLAG
Capture the Flag, a classic summer camp game, works best if you’ve got a lot of space and a big enough group. You divide into two teams, each with its own territory and a hidden flag. The goal is to sneak into the other team’s side, grab their flag, and make it back without getting tagged. If you’re tagged, you’re out or sent to a “jail” area, depending on how you set the rules.
8. WATER BALLOON TOSS
Looking for a water game to play for kids, if it’s a particularly hot day this Memorial Day? You should play water balloon toss, which has a super simple setup. Just pair people up and have them toss a water balloon back and forth. After each successful catch, both players take a step back. Eventually, the distance gets just far enough that someone fumbles and gets soaked in the process! Last pair standing wins.
9. KAN JAM
Kan Jam is one of those lawn games people get hooked on immediately. It’s played in teams of two with a frisbee and two cans placed across from each other. One player throws the frisbee toward the can while their partner tries to deflect it in. Points vary depending on how it hits, and the first team to get to 21 points wins the game.
10. RELAY RACES
There are so many different types of relay races you can play for any occasion, including Memorial Day. Here are some ideas:
- Sack hopping
- Balancing an egg on a spoon
- Obstacle courses
But whatever you play, the basic rules remain the same: Each player completes a leg before tagging the next teammate. First team to finish wins. Keep in mind: the more chaotic the tasks, the better.
11. CROQUET
Croquet has a slower pace, but don’t let that fool you. There’s a reason it’s considered a classic lawn game. It will get competitive! To play, players use mallets to hit balls through a series of wickets in a set order. It’s more strategic than most backyard games, for sure, but it’s a great one to play while maintaining conversation, making it perfect for the adults at the Memorial Day party. The player to score the most points wins!
12. BADMINTON
To play badminton, all you need is a net, 2 or 4 rackets, and a shuttlecock. You can play casually, just trying to keep the rally going, or turn it into a proper match with scoring and boundaries. Either way, it’s one of those games you can easily play in any backyard or park. If you want to keep it casually, you can do without the net too!
13. RING TOSS
Ring toss is one of the simplest games on this list of outdoor games for Memorial Day. And anyone can play! Players simply toss rings toward pegs, trying to land them for points. Easy as that.
14. GIANT CONNECT FOUR
Another giant outdoor game you’ll love is Giant Connect Four. It’s still got the same rules as the original: drop your pieces into the grid and try to connect four in a row. The oversized version just makes it more fun to play outside.
15. SCAVENGER HUNT
A scavenger hunt may take a bit more setup, but it’s always worth it. To play, you’ll first need to create a list of items to find or challenges to complete. Then, split into teams, and send everyone off to tick everything off one by one.
16. FREEZE TAG
A classic kids’ field day game that works in a family-friendly Memorial Day setting is freeze tag. To play, first determine who will be “it,” just like in normal tag. You can have anywhere between 1 and 3 players be “it” at the same time, depending on how many people are playing. But when they tag someone, that person freezes in place. Other players can unfreeze them by tagging them again. The game keeps going until everyone is frozen or you switch who’s “it.”
17. DODGEBALL
To play dodgeball, divide into two teams, scatter a few soft balls in the middle, and start. The goal? Players try to hit opponents while dodging incoming throws. If you’re hit, you’re out (or you can play variations where players come back in). It gets intense super fast, and it’s always a crowdpleaser.
18. FRISBEE GOLF
You don’t need an official course to make this work. Just pick targets around your space, whether that be trees, chairs, coolers, and assign them as “holes.” Then, players take turns throwing a frisbee, counting how many throws it takes to hit each “hole”. Just like in normal golf, the lowest total score wins.
19. LIMBO
To play limbo, all you need is a stick and some music. Players take turns leaning back to pass under the bar without touching it. If you touch it, you’re out! After each round, lower the bar. It starts easy, but it gets pretty difficult pretty quickly! The last remaining player is the winner.
20. SACE RACE
What’s a more classic outdoor game to play for Memorial Day than a sack race? Rules are simple. Each player stands inside a sack and hops toward the finish line. And that’s it! You could turn this into a relay race if you wanted as well.
- 20 Outdoor Games for Memorial Day - April 6, 2026
- 10 Super Fun Easter Games for Church - March 16, 2026
- 10 TikTok-Famous Board Games - March 2, 2026