When I was a kid, we used to play in the cornfields behind my aunt’s house every Easter. Then, when I was 10, the cornfields were turned into a subdivision, complete with a big park. This was extremely exciting. There were places to run around! There were swings.
But things were, well, changing. The formerly distant outpost on the outskirts of Chicago was becoming more of a suburb. It was time to update some of our Easter traditions.
Everyone has their own Easter traditions, and those traditions can change. We can figure out new ways to celebrate while still capturing the spirit of spring.
So, if you want to add some goofy and meaningful fun to your holiday, these five Easter party games are a great idea. And the best part? You can play them at home, in a small backyard, in a park, or anywhere where you’re all together.
5 Easter Party Games
None of these games are just for the kids, though they’re all extremely kid-friendly. But Easter party games can be for all ages.
Here are five of my favorites:
Egg Toss
This is a classic outdoor Easter game. You’ve already got a bunch of eggs; let’s see how dexterous you can be with them. Have people pair up and stand facing each other. They pass a raw egg back and forth, taking a step back with every successful completion. When someone’s egg breaks, they’re out. The winner is the last pair standing.
A few notes:
- If you don’t have a lot of space, split up the teams into groups. Then, the winner of each group can play each other for the championship.
- Smaller kids can use hard-boiled eggs.
- Don’t play in the same spot where you’ll be hanging out later or you’ll have a lot of messy shoes!
Arts and Crafts
This isn’t a game as much as a fun activity, especially if it’s raining (which is not unheard of on a spring Sunday). Figure out a theme, gather your materials, and start crafting! This can be as simple as decorating eggs or as complicated as making Easter dioramas.
A few years ago, I found a rock decorating kit through an online gift guide, and it was a blast. The kids decorated rocks and then put them in the yard and around the neighborhood. They’re mostly still there, and it creates some beautiful continuity. As they grow older, the rocks remind them of their childhood. It fits the sweet nostalgia and growth of the holiday.
Guess the Jelly Beans
This one is pretty complex. Here are the tools you need:
- A jar
- Some jelly beans
Phew! I know it seems like a lot, but hear me out. You count a bunch of jelly beans, put them in a jar, and have people guess how many there are. It’s a basic variant on classic carnival games.
The best part is that you don’t really get any better at guessing by sight as an adult. Obviously, some adults are better at egg tosses. They’ll win against kids at arm wrestling (if that’s your tradition). But guessing jelly beans puts everyone at the same level.
And then you get to eat the jelly beans. Really, there are no losers.
Scavenger Hunt
This is one that can be done either indoors or outdoors. There are a few steps.
- Create a prize (possibly an Easter basket filled with goodies)
- Create clues that lead people around the area. Each clue can be Easter themed, like having to find a stuffed rabbit.
- Give participants their clues in a plastic Easter egg.
- Have people go at it.
This one takes a good bit of creativity, planning, and watchfulness. It might not be for the little kids, but they can play on a team with adults or older kids. There are a lot of scavenger hunt packs that can help you with this.
Secret Santa Gift Exchange
A lot of families have started exchanging gifts at Easter. A Secret Santa-style gift exchange is the most fun way to do this.
You just have to make sure that everyone knows the Secret Santa rules and find an easy way to play. An online Secret Santa generator allows you to randomly assign Secret Santas (and allows you to create exclusion lists, like no spouses or partners), make your wish list online, and shop for your giftee straight from their list. It only takes a few clicks on a laptop or mobile device.
A lot of people are doing themed gift exchanges for Easter, with Easter gift ideas. A Secret Santa app makes it really easy to make an Easter wish list. One of my favorites is we all ask for plants or flowers or trees. Then, if the weather is right, we plant them. Or we take them home and plant them near us.
Over the years, they grow. They bloom every year. We’re giving gifts to each other, yes, with all the goofy mystery of a Secret Santa. But we’re also giving a gift to the earth and to the future.
Make Every Easter Special
That sense of growth is what I love about Easter. It’s why I loved going to my aunt’s every year. It marked a happy shift from winter to spring.
Maybe that’s why I love these Easter party games. They imbue everything with a sense of joy. They make everything exciting. They celebrate us being together.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in a new park or an old backyard or a basement watching the rain trickle down the windows. You can have fun with each other and rejoice in the chance to grow.
If you’re doing a gift exchange for Easter, you need a Secret Santa generator that makes everything go smoothly. Elfster makes it easy to pair people up, shop for gifts, and start a Wish List. Plus, you can access it all from an iPhone app or Android app.
