My family has hosted a tournament of backyard Labor Day Games for the past three years, and it has become one of our all time favorite family traditions! Read more about how we created the Labor Day Games here.
Having this tournament is a perfect way for our family to end the summer! Here’s our top 10 favorite games to play each Labor Day! We think you’ll love them too!
- Wooden Egg Race
The wooden egg race was one of the first games we played as part of the Labor Day Games! We set up a start and finish line and pick our color egg. If you drop your egg, you have to go all the way back to the start! There may be some good-natured cheating involved in this game – we have been known to bump into each other to knock down an egg! You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3ABbLEC
2. Sponge Frisbee Toss
Sponge Frisbee toss is a new game this year, but it’s an easy one to assemble and play! Take 5 Frisbees and float them in the pool. Then each person gets to try and throw 6 of these cool sponges at the targets. You can score by how many sponges hit the targets, or by writing a number of points on each Frisbee. We bought our Frisbees on end of summer clearance in store, but you can find these great sponges here: https://amzn.to/3CJPwPt
3. Timed Puzzle Working Contest
The puzzle working contest is great for a mid-afternoon game when it’s too hot to be outside and you need something low-key to rest in the afternoon. One person at a time works the puzzle, keeping track of their time on a stop watch. We don’t let anyone else watch while you work the puzzle, so no one has an advantage of being familiar with it. We screenshot our time and take a picture to prove we finished working it. Then back in the box it goes, ready for the next person!
We try to keep the puzzle to under 100 pieces. You can find a fun one here: https://amzn.to/3e9GBMF
4. Corn Hole
Corn Hole is a perfect summer game! It’s fun to watch, and fun to play! You can set up the boards in the shade, and gather lawn chairs around to watch. Because Corn Hole is usually a team game, we’ve had to modify the rules a bit for our Labor Day Games. We find a single elimination bracket online for the number of people playing, and draw names out of a hat for the lineup.
There are lots of fun variations of Corn Hole and other bean bag toss games! This Corn Hole set is great to get you started! : https://amzn.to/3czPhf6
5. Squirt Gun Cup Race
The Squirt Gun Cup Race is an original Labor Day Game, and one of our absolute favorites! First, you’re going to cut a small hole in the bottom of a disposable cup. Then string the cups on a long piece of yarn or twine. Attach the string to starting and ending line (we use the porch railing and the side of a shed). Then fill your water guns and yell ‘Go!’ The first person to get squirt their cup from the start line to the finish line wins! It’s simple and fun, and makes everyone laugh!
6. Fill a Bucket
Fill a Bucket is another new game this year, but it’s one that everyone knows how to play. We found sandcastle buckets on clearance at the end of the summer season, and are using the sponges from above. Everyone will take a sponge and squeeze water into their buckets. The fastest to fill up their bucket wins!
7. Ring Toss (Bonus: Glow in the Dark!)
Ring toss is a classic! It’s fun for us because no matter how much we practice – it always seems to come down to luck. We usually have to do several rounds because we have a tie.
The first year we played, we had a fun variation! You can buy glow sticks here: https://amzn.to/3TwqRUv and make glow in the dark rings to play at night! This makes the game even more challenging, and lets you play even after the sun goes down!
You can find a simple ring toss set here: https://amzn.to/3qgcQNn
8. Beach Ball Collecting
If you have a pool, chances are you have floaties around. This year, we have a collection of 12 mini beach balls that we’re going to blow up and toss in the pool. Taking turns, each person has to find and collect all 12 balls in amongst all the other floaties! The fastest time wins. You can find the beach balls here: https://amzn.to/3KvG4B4
We also got beach ball decorations for the rest of our weekend! Beach ball plates and napkins, a banner, and pinwheels will be part of our end-of-summer celebration! You can find these decorations here: https://amzn.to/3QYOinA
9. Memory Game
When you’re ready for a break from all these active games, take a shot at a memory game. Similar to the timed puzzle game, each person will take turns playing a giant version of the classic memory game. The person to collect all the matches in the quickest time wins!
You can find the memory game we’re playing with this year here: https://amzn.to/3KxEpuB
10. Uno
To end a weekend filled with fun – break out the Uno cards! This card game is an old favorite that everyone knows how to play! This game is great because you can stretch it out or keep it short, depending on what your group is up for playing! Uno always ends in laughter, and is a perfect way to spend some time with friends and family!
You can find this class card game here: https://amzn.to/3AYlwhd