Racing Party Games

racing party games

Speed is of the essence with these racing party games and activities. Some of these speed and agility based games are just the thing to set your party apart from others. Teamwork, independent strengths and smarts all have a place in these game strategies. Find over 15 different racing games and activities below in alphabetical order.


racing party games

Speed is of the essence with these racing party games and activities. Some of these speed and agility based games are just the thing to set your party apart from others. Teamwork, independent strengths and smarts all have a place in these game strategies. Find over 15 different racing games and activities below in alphabetical order.



Balloon Sandwich Race

Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To sandwich a balloon between yourself and partner and race down track
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Balloons

Rules: Divide all the players into teams of two. Give each team one equal sized inflated balloon. There are many ways to race with the sandwiched balloon. When the race starts players must sandwich the balloon in the position for the game. If the balloon becomes loose and falls, teams must stop and reposition the balloon and continue. The first team across the finish line wins.

Ideas of where you can sandwich the balloon:

  • between their heads
  • between their stomachs
  • For an individual race, have players place the balloon between the knees



Banana Pants

Objective: To be the first one to the finish line while hitting a ping pong ball with a banana tied to your waist.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: Bananas, ping pong balls, string

Rules: Have all the players stand in a row in a large room or hallway. Give each player one banana and have them use a string to tie it around their waist or belt so that it is hanging between their legs. When the player is standing, the banana should not be touching the ground, but no more than six inches above it. Give each player one ping pong ball. When the race starts, players will then attempt to use the banana to hit the ping pong ball to the finish line. The first player to the end wins.



Black Out

Ages: Adult party games
Objective: Black Out is a game where players try and dress themselves while blindfolded.
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Blindfolds, stop watch, extra clothing

Rules: This game can be played individually or as couples. Depending on your guests, players can either leave their shirts and pants on, or wear a bathing suit. Blindfold the player or couple to go first. Place several articles of clothing in a pile in the middle of the room. Shirts, sweaters, socks, pants and hats are all good options. For couples, have two of everything. When the clock starts the player or couple must then attempt to dress themselves while blindfolded. Play a fun song as the players dress themselves to get everyone in the mood. The player with the best dressed time wins. Marks can be taken off for clothing that is inside out or backwards if you want.



Butter Fingers

Objective: To unwrap a gift while wearing oven mitts.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: A wrapped gift box and oven mitts for each player

Rules: Before your guests arrive, wrap several gift boxes really well with a lot of paper and tape. The more layers the better. Have all the players sit in a circle and give them each a pair of oven mitts to put on. Hand out one of the gifts to each player. When everything is in place, players will then attempt to open the gifts with their hands without taking off their mitts. If you want, place a kazoo or party blower inside the box, so that the player must be the first to blow the kazoo to win this version of racing party games.



Clothes Peg Race

Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To try to clip as many clothes pegs on their opponents as they can
Players: 5 or more
Materials: Clothes pegs

Rules: Give every player 4 clothes pegs. For older players you may wish to give more. If players are having a difficult time running and holding onto the clips they could clip their extra pegs on their shirts. If you wish beforehand, paint the clothes pegs different colors to represent the different players. Or for fun before the game starts, have players color or decorate their pegs to know which ones are theirs. When play begins players must try to clip their pegs on to the other players clothing and try not to get clipped themselves. If a clip falls players must pick it up and try again. If a player themselves is victim of being pegged, they may take that peg off and try to re-clip it on another player. If a player runs out of clips, they must try and keep away from the other players until the end of the game. When the game is finished the player with the fewest amount of pegs clipped to their clothing wins.



Clothes Peg Relay

Objective: To race while carrying clothes pegs one at a time between your knees down to the other end of the raceway and drop it in a cup
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Clothes pegs, two cups per player/team

Rules: Divide all the players into teams of two or play as individuals. This game is best played in a hallway, large room or outside with at least 10-15 feet of race track. Spread players out and line up a cup at each end of the playing area. Give each player at the starting line one peg. When the race starts, players place the peg between their knees and try to make it to the other end with it in place. Once at the other end, players must stand above the cup and try to drop the peg inside their team's cup. Players must keep attempting to drop the peg with their knees until they get it into their cup. Once successful players they will race back to the beginning point to collect their next peg. First team or player to move all of their pegs wins this version of racing party games.



Dizzy Lizzy Race

Ages: 7 and older
Objective: To spin round and round an object and then try to race without falling to the ground
Players: 4 or more
Materials: A baseball bat or short broom handle for each player

Rules: Play in a large grassed area with open surroundings for safety. Players may wish to wear bicycle helmets for extra safety. Have players line up on the starting line at least two arms lengths apart. Give each player a baseball bat or short broom handle. When the race starts, players will place the baseball bat or broom on the ground and spin around it 5 to 10 times depending on the age of the player. Have players count out loud. When each player has finished their spinning they must then attempt the run down to the other end race track. Racers will not be penalized for falling. First player across the finish line wins.

For an added challenge, the players have to collect objects along the race to carry to the finish line.



Egg and Spoon Race

Objective: To race with an egg on a spoon without dropping the egg
Materials: Spoons, eggs (boiled or raw)

Rules: All players line up individually. They place the egg onto their spoon. Race with your egg. You can’t drop it or touch it with your hand. First player to cross the finish line wins this version of racing party games.



Elephant Race

Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To hold onto your teammates as you work together to win a race
Players: 8 or more
Materials: Coordination and teamwork

Rules: Divide all the players into two teams. Have teams pick a leader. Have that player stand at the starting line. Other players will then line up behind the leader and hold on to the shirt of the person in front of them. Another way is to have players link arms creating a chain link effect, or hold hands. Players will run sideways down the race track. When both teams are ready and attached, start the race. Teams must work together at the same speed and get all the players to the end without coming unattached. The first team to make it wins. If a team becomes separated they must stop and re-attach. For an extra challenge add pylons or other objects on the race track for the teams to run around.



Frozen Caveman Tag

Ages: 4 and older
Objective: To try to freeze as many caveman as you can without others unfreezing them
Players: 5 or more
Materials: Speed and agility

Rules: This game should be played in an open area without any obstructions for safety. Pick a player to be the freezer. When the game starts that player must then try to tag the other players as they run away. When a player is tagged, they must stop and freeze where they are. Other un-tagged players can attempt to unfreeze those players by touching them. Play continues until all players are frozen, or time is up. Pick a new player to be the freezer and play another round to keep playing racing party games.



Ghosties

Age: 8 and older
Objective: To try to catch the other players
Players: 5 or more
Materials: Flashlights

Rules: Well, you need 3 or more players and a blindfold. This game is better played at night (switch off the light). The person blindfolded needs to be spun a few times so say if you were 11 you would be spun 11 times. Once they have been spun they try to get the other players. The person who is caught is the ghostie, and then you do it again. Submitted by Emily in the U.K.



Moon Walk

Ages: 3 and older
Objective: Moon Walk is a delicate walking game where players try and walk on bubble wrap without popping any!
Players: 3 or more
Materials: Bubble wrap

Rules: Spread out a large piece of bubble wrap on the ground. Have each player one at a time carefully try and walk over it without popping any. Set a time limit if players are taking too long. The person with the fewest pops wins!

For another racing party games variation, have players crawl or roll across the bubble wrap. Also try with different kinds of foot wear like shoes, boots, socks or bare feet.



Musical Gift

Age: 5 and up
Objective: To try to be the last to unwrap the gift
Players: 4 or more
Materials: One gift, many kinds of wrapping paper, tape

Rules: Wrap a gift lots of times with different colors and styles of wrapping paper. Play some music. When the music starts, pass the gift from person to person. Stop the music. The person holding the gift has to take off the first layer of wrapping paper. When the music starts, pass the gift and continue to repeat this step.. When all the layers of wrap are off, the last person gets the gift. (The one stopping and starting the music has to close their eyes and not look to be fair.) Submitted by Jada in Scarborough



Oranges Are Red

Ages: 13 and older
Objective: To pass oranges from person to person under your chin
Players: 8 or more
Materials: Oranges

Rules: Divide all the players into two teams and have them stand in a row. Give the first player an orange and have them place it under their chin. When the race starts players must then pass the orange from player to player using only their chins. If the orange falls, players must pick it up and start that orange from the beginning. The first team to pass the orange through their team wins. Added challenge is to have to pass multiple oranges through the line.



Three Legged Race

Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To race with a partner, where your legs are tied together
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Strong ribbon, scarves or old neck ties

Rules: Tell players to pick a partner. However, if you feel you should pick the teams then try to match pairs evenly (example: height, strength, etc.). Help teams tie their inner legs together, just above the ankle. Double check all the players are tied before the race begins. When the race starts, players must work together to run down the race track without falling. Players will not be penalized for falling, they are able to get up and rejoin the race. Preferably play on a grass field incase teams fall. The first team across the finish line wins.



Toilet Roll Mummy

Players: 4 or more
Materials: Multiple rolls of toilet paper

Rules: You will need to get a partner and one of you needs to wrap the other one with the toilet paper roll to look like a mummy. The person wrapped like a mummy will be covered from head to toe in toilet paper. The first team to complete their mummy is the winner. This is quite a challenging game and will probably be filled with laughter.



Tower of Power

Ages: 3 and older
Objective: To build the tallest tower using blocks and various objects without it falling over.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: Blocks, cereal boxes, tissue boxes, anything stackable

Rules: Divide players into two teams. Using only the materials provided, teams must work together and try to construct the tallest tower. The tallest structure that doesn't fall over wins.

tower of power game

Alternative: Go with individuals instead of teams, or use a stopwatch for the fastest tower. At the end of play, have everyone work together to try and build one big tower. Then have all the participants stand beside it for a group photo. This gives you more variations of racing party games. 


tower of power game

Ages: 3 and older
Objective: To build the tallest tower using blocks and various objects without it falling over.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: Blocks, cereal boxes, tissue boxes, anything stackable

Rules: Divide players into two teams. Using only the materials provided, teams must work together and try to construct the tallest tower. The tallest structure that doesn't fall over wins.

Alternative: Go with individuals instead of teams, or use a stopwatch for the fastest tower. At the end of play, have everyone work together to try and build one big tower. Then have all the participants stand beside it for a group photo. This gives you more variations of racing party games. 



Wheelbarrow Race - Racing Party Games

Ages: 7 and older
Objective: To race with a teammate forming a wheelbarrow down a track
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Strength and coordination

Rules: Select teammates or have people pick a partner. Have players line up at the starting line. Teams must decide who will carry the legs and who will use their hands to move your team's wheelbarrow. Have one player from each team lie down on their belly with their hands out, behind the start line. Try to play on a grass area. Have the other teammate then pick up their legs. Usually at the ankles, or tuck their ankles tucked under their arms. When all players are ready, start the race. Teams will attempt to work together as they can only move as quickly as the one teammate's arms can move. Teams will not be penalized for falling, if they fall just get up and continue. The first team across the finish line wins.