10 ideas for theme nights at a vacation home with family
If you’re renting a vacation house with extended family this summer and trying to figure out ways to bring a large group with different ages together, consider planning some fun theme nights.
Here are 10 ideas:
Beach Olympics: A flip-flop toss, water balloon toss and using a seashell to fill cups with water. Winners get plastic gold, silver and bronze medals.
Neon night: Decorate T-shirts with neon paint and bring glow necklaces and bracelets. A black light adds flair to a neon dance party.
Pirate “pub” crawl: Hand out bandanas with a Jolly Roger pattern and souvenir cups. Turn each room of the house into a different “pub” serving kids’ beverages (bug juice made from Sprite and gummy worms), along with specialty cocktails for adults (prosecco poured over a popsicle).
White wedding: Celebrate a special anniversary by having a “wedding reception,” dressing up the bride and groom and designating wedding attendants. Wedding décor and a wedding playlist will get everyone in the spirit.
Parched Games: The grandchildren in our family came up with this take on the “Hunger Games” series. Follow a game of charades with a water balloon and squirt gun battle. At the sound of a whistle, get ready to shoot with a goal of capturing a hidden pirate flag without getting wet.
Casino night: Games, a Vegas-style buffet and packs of playing cards printed with a family vacation logo as souvenirs.
Luau: Pack a floral shirt, wear plastic flower garlands and play ukulele music.
Tailgate party: Dress in your favorite team’s colors and serve tailgate food.
Iron Chef America: Form teams and provide simple ingredients for a cook-off. The best dish wins.
Wii bowling tournament: Bring your Wii to the beach house, give out T-shirts in team colors and serve bowling alley food such as pizza and nachos. Players with highest and lowest scores win trophies.