What Games To Play at BBQ Tailgating Parties?

Barbecue Tailgating parties are all about having fun with your gang. Having games at your party guarantees that people will be having loads of it.

While there are many games one can play outdoors, not all are suited for tailgating. Tailgating games must be:

• Simple to Learn: so you get maximum participation
• Easy to Make: so that you don’t have to build a complication contraption
• Easy to Carry: so that your vehicle isn’t overloaded
• Promote Player Movement: So that people can easily digest the food

The games I have listed below are all that and much more. Interested? Read on!

How to Play?

1. Build a tower with all the pieces by placing three blocks per story.
2. Each player takes turns to remove the blocks.
3. Take one block out and put it on top of the tower.
4. You can only pick a block that is located below the top-level.
5. If you want to make it more difficult, allow the contestant to only use only one hand at a time to remove the blocks.
6. You are allowed to tap the structure if you wish to find out which piece is loose.
7. You should complete the top level with three blocks before starting another one.
8. If you have moved a piece that you did not want to pull out, you need to put it back before taking another one.
9. The person who drops the tower gets eliminated.
10. The last one to put the block on top before the tower collapse is the winner.

Giant Jenga is super fun as it requires more physical movement. Everyone watching the game also gets an adrenaline rush just because of the anticipation of the tower falling. 

If you plan to play this game, ensure that you have a large, flat, and clean surface to play this game. Also, players need to be a little alert when the tower begins to collapse so that no one gets hurt.

Dizzy Bat

Dizzy Bat is an excellent tailgate party game! This game is also known as Louisville slugger, The Spins, and D-bat. It is a game that is best played individually and not in teams. 

To play the game, you need a bat, cans of beer, and a stopwatch to track the time. You also need to be of legal drinking age as this game involves drinking.

How to play?

1. Take a Wiffle ball bat and cut off the bottom end so that the hollow bat resembles a long vase. 
2. Pour beer into the hollow bat.
3. Toss the empty can to the ‘pitcher’ as it will be used in the game.
4. The player now has to drink the contents in the bat while the audience chants.
5. Another person times the duration the player takes to chug the beer.
6. The player has to then spin with their head on the bat while the bat touches the ground. The player must do as many spins as the seconds that they took to finish the beer. 
7. After they finish spinning, the player must hold the bat in their hands. The ‘pitcher’ then takes the empty beer can, crushes it, and pitches it to the player.
8. The player needs to hit the crashed can with the bat.
9. If a player misses the pitch, he or she has to refill the bat and try again. If a player collapses during the game, then she or he is disqualified. 

The winner is the one who can complete the task in the shortest time. They are crowned as the Dizzy Bat Champ!

Kan Jam

This game needs just two ‘Kans’ and a frisbee to play with. A Kan is typically a standard-sized, plastic trash can with a slit on one side that is big enough for the frisbee to pass through. 

How to Play?

1. Place the Kans about 50 feet away from each other.
2. You and your partner stand at opposite Kans.
3. When one partner throws the frisbee, the other deflects it. The players alternate between throwing and deflecting. 
4. You need exactly 21 points to win the match. If your score adds up to more than 21 points, you must subtract the points instead of adding it.
5. The opposing team cannot touch the frisbee when it is not their chance. They lose 3 points if they do that. If they block when the opposing team is at 19 or 20 points, the other team wins automatically.
6. If you step over the throwing line or double hitting, catching, or carrying the disc, you don’t get any points for that throw.

The score calculation for the game is straightforward. You can score points in the game in the following three ways:

• Dinger (1 point): This happens when your teammate redirects the disc to hit the Kan, but not go inside.
• Deuce (2 points): This occurs when the disc is thrown, and it hits the kan without the teammate’s assistance.
• Bucket (3 points): This happens when the teammate deflects the throw into the Kan.
• Instant Win: If the disc goes into the can through the slit without the second player’s help, it is an instant win for that team!

The best part is people of all age groups can play the game! So, for your next BBQ tailgate, get ready to smash some Kans!

Ladder Toss

Ladder Toss, popularly, also known as ladder golf, is a popular tailgate and BBQ game. It is also known by many other names such as ladder ball, blongo balls, bolo golf, bolo toss, and many more. The game is simple to understand and play. 

The game includes ladders and bolas. ‘Ladders’ are simply the targets with three rungs, and ‘Bolas’ are basically two golf balls connected with a rope. The bolas are thrown onto the ladder to win the game.

How to Play?

1. Place the ladders roughly 15 feet away from each other.
2. Each of the rungs on these ladders has a different point value. The top rung has 1 point, the middle rung has two, and the bottom rung is worth three points. 
3. Each of the players tries to land three bolas on the ladder rungs to earn as many points as possible.
4. After the teams have thrown, the points are tallied. The first team to reach 21 points wins!

Ladder Toss is played either with two people or four people. If two players are playing the match, each player takes one set of the three bolas and meets at one ladder. If four people are playing then, they are divided into two teams. 

As per rule, only one team is allowed to score per round and then receive the point difference between the teams. However, rules can be modified based on the people you are playing with. If you wish, you can always alter the rules to suit the people you are playing with! Remember, the purpose of the game is to have fun!

Beer Pong

Beer pong is always fun at tailgating. The game can be played individually or in teams, with each team having an even number of players. The rules to play this game vary slightly from region to region. 

To play the game, you need a table, plastic cups, ping-pong balls, and beer, or any other beverage. Traditionally, 16-ounce red plastic cups are used. However, if you wish, you can also use 12-ounce cups. The goal of the game is to sink all of the opponent’s cups.

How to Play?

1. Arrange six cups on each side of the table. Arrange them in a triangle with a single cup pointing towards the middle of the table. 
2. Pour approximately three to four ounces of beer in each cup. 
3. Before playing a shot, players can inspect the opponent’s cup to determine if the adequate amount of beverage is maintained.
4. After this, the teams take turns in shooting the ball. Each player tosses the ball, aiming to land it into the opponent’s cups. 
5. The shooter’s elbow cannot cross the table’s end while shooting the ball into the cup. 
6. If your ball hits the table before going into a cup, then 2 cups are removed – the cup you sank and another one cup of the defender’s choice. However, if you bounce the ball, the opposing team can swat the ball away.

This game is generally played with adults of legal drinking age. However, if you want to play it with children, then all you need to do is replace the beer with a non-alcoholic beverage of children’s choice.

Flip Cup

This is another game that can be played on the table. It is basically like a relay race where one team needs to finish all the beer in the cups before the other team finishes their beer. This game needs quick hand-eye coordination and is generally played with four people on each team. However, the larger the team, the more the fun. 

How to play?

1. Place plastic cups along the side of the table in front of each competitor. 
2. Add the beverage to the cups in the decided amount. 
3. Pick an end of the table to start. 
4. Pick up the cups, toast the other player’s cups and touch the cup again on the table. Now, drink all the contents of the cup.
5. Once finished, the player has to place the cup on the edge of the table, with its base slightly jutting out. 
6. The player must then flip the cup with one hand so that it lands with the open end facing down. 
7. Once the cup lands, it is a signal for the next team member to begin drinking their cup and then proceed to flip. 
8. The race continues like this until one team has consumed all the beer on their cups and flipped them successfully. 

This game is generally played with adults of legal drinking age. However, if you want to play it with children, then all you need to do is replace the beer with a non-alcoholic beverage of children’s choice.

Cornhole

Cornhole is a fun game where players take turns to pitch small bags filled with corn (sand or beans can also be used) at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, and one on the platform scores one point. The game continues till a player reaches a score of 21. 

The platform is generally 4’x2′ in measurement and made of wood. However, one can also use plastic as a substitute. The bags typically measure 6’x6′. They are made of duck cloth and filled with dry feed corn. 

How to Play?

1. Set the boards directly facing each other with 27 feet between the front edge of each board. 
2. Choose which side of the board you would like to throw from.
3. First, you throw one bag into the hole, after which your opponent gets her or his turn to repeat the step. 
4. To prevent a foul, your feet should not go past the front edge of the board. If you make a foul, then you get pelted with cornhole bags!
5. Once all the bags are tossed to the other side, add the score. 

Before you begin, pick which side of the board you will throw from. You can play this game individually or in a group. 

If it is a two-player game, you can begin by throwing from the left side of the board. Then, you can walk directly across to the other board and throwback from the right side. 

In a four-player game, your partner’s pitching bag will be opposite and across from your position. So, pick your bags and get ready to play!

Now, scoring is pretty simple in this game. As mentioned above, a bag in the hole equals 3 points, and one on the board equals 1 point. The game goes on till the team reaches 21 points with a lead of 2 or more points. 

The first team that wins two games is the winner of the match. 

While playing the game, make sure that the surface does not have any debris that might spoil the bags. You should make sure that the boards are placed in a stable position to prevent moving while playing the game.  

Cornhole players often use special lingo to talk about the game. Here is a list of some of the fun jargon:

1. Woody Boarder: is used when someone’s bag that ends up on the board.
2. Corn on the Cob: is used when someone puts every bag on the board.
3. Nothin’ But Corn: is used when a bag is tossed through the hole without even touching the board.
4. Cornhole, Holer, Corn in the Hole: is used when someone throws a bag in the hole.
5. Dos Cornhole: is used when someone throws two bags in the hole.
6. Holy Moly Triple Cornholy: is used when someone throws three bags in the hole.
7. The Great Cornholio: A player who throws 4 bags in the hole. All the other players bow down to the cornholer
8. Get That Corn Outta My Face!: is used when a player successfully counteracts their opponent’s attempt to score.

Pocket Passer 

Pocket Passer is a football throwing tailgate game that is similar to cornhole. It can be played by people of all ages and is generally played with four people divided into two teams. All you need to play is two pocket passer boards, two nets, and two footballs. 

How to play?

1. You and your teammate need to stand behind one board. The other two opponents will stand behind the other board. The official pocket passer distance is 15 feet between the boards.
2. Each teammate has to throw one football on the opposite board. The aim is to make it go through the holes for earning the points. 
3. The first team to reach 21 points wins. 

The score point for each hole are:

• Top hole: 3 points
• Middle two holes: 2 points
• Bottom three holes: 1 point

If a player happens to make two shots in a row, then the term used in such cases is heating up’. It indicates that if the player happens to throw three shots in a row, they are ‘on fire’ and can continue shooting till they miss!

Washer Toss

Another favorite among the tailgaters is Washer Toss. It is easy to learn and easier to carry. The objective of the game is to get the washers into the target. All you need to play is metal washers and target objects. 

The target object is basically a square box with a hollow inner ring at its center. 

How to Play?

1. Place the targets at a set distance – usually around 20 paces away from the target. 
2. Give each player three washers.
3. The players toss their washers alternatively. 
4. The process is repeated until all the washers are tossed.

Scoring for the washer toss is very easy. A washer that is in the circle is worth three points. A washer in the box, but not in the circle, is worth one point. The total points needed to finish the game is 21. 

Ensure that you paint the metal washers in different colors so you can easily calculate the points. It’s best to carry spare washers apart from the three you will need of each color.

You can adjust the distance from the target to suit the skill of the players.

Final Thoughts

Games are a vital part of a barbecue tailgating event, and I hope this post gave you some ideas to make your next Barbecue Tailgating Party even more fun.

If you have questions or need clarifications, please feel free to drop me a line in the comments, and I will be sure to respond.

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