Activities & Games
Six outdoor games that work for all ages, with setup instructions, age adaptations, equipment costs, and buy-vs-rent guidance. Plus relay race formats and how to organize games for groups of 30 to 100 people.
The best reunion games have low barriers to entry, don't require athletic skill, and can run simultaneously so everyone is playing at once rather than watching.
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Plan your reunion activities in Reunly
Add your game schedule to the reunion timeline so everyone knows when to gather for relay races, tug of war, and the cornhole tournament.
The decision is simple: if the item costs less than 2x the rental fee and you will use it again, buy. If it is expensive, large, or a one-time novelty, rent.
| Item | Buy | Rent | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornhole boards | $30–80 | $25–40/day | Buy — you'll use it again and the price difference is small |
| Bocce ball set | $25–60 | $15–25/day | Buy — compact to store, used for years |
| Giant Jenga | $40–80 | $30–50/day | Rent if this is a one-time event; buy if you host annually |
| Horseshoe set | $30–60 | $15–25/day | Buy — durable and timeless |
| Tug-of-war rope | $15–30 | N/A — usually $0 with other rentals | Buy — very cheap and lasts forever |
| Dunk tank | $500–1,500 | $200–400/day | Always rent — expensive, bulky, hard to store |
| Bounce house / inflatable | $1,000+ | $250–400/day | Always rent — requires professional setup and storage |
| Lawn games bundle (multiple items) | Varies | $100–200/day for a package | Renting a package from a party rental company is often cost-effective if you need many items at once |
The best outdoor reunion games work across a wide age range and don't require athletic skill. Top choices: cornhole (all ages, easy to learn), bocce ball (gentle and strategic — popular with older guests), ladder toss, giant Jenga, capture the flag (kids and teens love this), three-legged race and relay races, tug of war, and sack races. For large groups, organize games that can run in parallel so everyone can participate rather than waiting for one game to finish.
Set up two parallel lanes with equal distances. Divide guests into teams of 5–8 people — mix ages on each team so no team is all adults or all children. Classic relays: egg-and-spoon race, three-legged race, potato sack race, water-balloon-on-a-spoon race. Have a clear starting line, turning point, and finish line. Use a whistle to start. Award points to winning teams and track scores across multiple events for an overall champion.
Buy if: the game is under $50, you'll use it again, or it's cornhole/bocce which are year-round games. Rent if: the item is expensive (dunk tank: $200–400), large (inflatable bouncer: $250–400), or you only need it for one event. Party rental companies offer packages of lawn games (cornhole, horseshoes, bocce, ladder toss) for $100–200/day — often cheaper than buying everything separately if you don't already own them.
Reunly's timeline feature keeps every activity on track — from the kickoff cornhole tournament to the final tug of war.