Labor Day Backyard Bash: 10 Fun Games & Food Challenges for All Ages

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial send-off to summer—a final opportunity to soak up some sunshine, enjoy delicious food, and spend quality time with loved ones before the busyness of fall begins. Whether you’re hosting a neighborhood block party, a casual backyard cookout, or just having a few friends over, we’ve got just the thing to take your party to the next level.

In a past blog, How to Host the Ultimate Family Cookout, we covered the essentials—party planning tips, menu ideas, décor suggestions, and more. If you’re looking to expand on the fun, this post is your go-to guide for the games and activities portion of your event!

We’ve gathered a list of 10 fun-filled games and food challenges, ranging from silly and simple to surprisingly competitive. Whether you’re hosting for kids, adults, or both, this lineup has something for everyone.

1. Backyard Games Tournament

Why settle for just one yard game when you can create a mini backyard championship? A games tournament is a great way to bring people together through a little friendly competition—and it works just as well for large family gatherings as it does for smaller cookouts.

How to get started:

1. Choose 3–5 classic yard games: cornhole, frisbee toss, horseshoes, whiffle ball, or even ring toss.
2. Set up a tournament bracket or round-robin format.
3. Keep score for each game:
   1. Win = 3 points
   2. Tie = 2 points
   3. Participation = 1 point

(Tip: Check out our handy printable scorecard below!)

At the end, tally up the totals and crown the MVP (or winning team). The prize? Maybe a silly homemade trophy or the honor of being first in line for dessert!

Host Tip: Encourage kids and adults to play together or divide into family teams to keep things inclusive and lighthearted.

2. Build-Your-Own Burger or Sandwich Showdown

Once the games are underway, your guests will be ready for food—and what better way to feed them than with a hands-on, build-your-own sandwich or burger station?

Set out a full spread of toppings, proteins, condiments, and fresh veggies, alongside baskets of Martin’s Sandwich Potato Rolls, Big Marty’s Rolls, or Hoagie Rolls. Guests can get creative with their combinations, adding everything from grilled pineapple to spicy pickles, or keeping it classic with lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

To turn it into a contest, let guests vote on categories like:

• “Most Creative Combo”
• “Stacked to the Sky”
• “Best Use of Spicy Sauce”

Small prizes or paper ribbons make it feel like a fun food fair—and you’ll be amazed at what people come up with when they have an incentive, plus free rein to experiment!

Looking for inspiration? Check out our Burger Toppings Bar and DIY BBQ Platters blogs.

3. Slider-Making Relay Race

Ready to turn mealtime into a full-blown event? The slider-making relay race is a high-energy, hilarious competition that gets everyone involved—especially kids and teens.

How it works:

• Divide guests into 2–3 teams.
• Each team sets up a “slider assembly line” with the same ingredients plus a supply of Martin’s Slider Potato Rolls or Sweet Party Potato Rolls.
• Teams race to assemble as many neat, identical sliders as possible within a set time frame (usually 3–5 minutes). One person slices the rolls, another adds the toppings, and so on.
• Each completed slider earns a point—but sloppy ones can be disqualified by a judge!

The catch? Each slider must include the same ingredients and meet quality control standards—no upside-down buns or missing cheese allowed! Assign a “judge” to inspect the final stack and declare a winner based on speed and consistency.

Bonus idea: After judging, serve up the sliders as a snack or appetizer. It’s a fun way to feed a crowd while keeping the energy high. (Just be sure to use proper food safety protocols while preparing/serving the food.)

4. Spicy Chicken Challenge

Turn up the heat with this thrilling taste test! Offer a lineup of spicy chicken sandwiches or sliders, each one hotter than the last.

Set up:

• 3–5 spice levels, ranging from mild to scorching
• Martin’s Sandwich Potato Rolls or Slider Potato Rolls for serving as sandwiches or sliders
• Bonus toppings like spicy slaw, pepper jack cheese, or jalapeño slices for extra kick

How to play:

• Participants try each level in order.
• Compete to see who makes it through the hottest sandwich
• The last one standing wins!
• Cool down with sweet drinks or watermelon after

Tip: Be sure to have some milk or a yogurt-based sauces nearby—for those who fly too close to the sun!

For sandwich ideas and heat level inspiration, visit our Spicy Sandwich Showdown blog.

5. Nature Scavenger Hunt or Backyard Bingo

For a quiet activity that keeps younger guests engaged or a simply a calm break between food and games, a nature-themed scavenger hunt or bingo game is the perfect addition!

Ideas:

• Color Match Hunt: Find items that match specific colors and place them on a color-coded sheet.
• Nature Bingo: Use printable bingo cards with items like “feather,” “flower,” or “something red.” First to get five in a row wins!
• Clue Hunt: Leave simple riddles around the yard that lead to a hidden “treasure” (small toys, snacks, or a prize box).
• Include clues, riddles, or photos for older kids to level up the challenge.

Set up a small prize station with bubbles, stickers, or fruit snacks as a reward for participation.

Want to make it even easier? See below for a printable sample you can customize!

6. Marshmallow (or Sweet Roll) Toss

Few things are funnier—or more memorable—than trying to catch a marshmallow in your mouth from across the yard. This classic party game gets even better with a twist: use Martin’s Sweet Party Potato Rolls for a slightly larger, squishier challenge!

How to play:

• Stand 5 feet apart (or more).
• One player tosses; the other tries to catch the marshmallow in their mouth.
• Move back a step after each successful catch.
• Keep score by the number of successful tosses!

This game is simple, safe, and sure to bring laughter to guests of all ages.

Bonus Idea: End the night with DIY S’mores using marshmallows tucked inside deep-fried Martin’s Sweet Party Potato Rolls as a creative graham cracker swap.

7. Taste Test Challenge

This interactive challenge turns everyday foods into a fun guessing game. It’s especially fun for older kids, teens, or food-loving adults.

Challenge ideas:

• Guess the Spread: Guests try to identify different sauces, dips, or condiments by dunking a French fry or chicken nugget.
• Drink Discovery: Pour small samples of mystery seltzers, sodas, or juices into unlabeled cups and test your guests’ tastebuds.
• Mystery Ingredients: Offer participants mini appetizers on Martin’s products, then see who can guess the most toppings or ingredients correctly.
• Blindfold Build: Have one guest direct a blindfolded partner to assemble a particular sandwich—without peeking!

Make it competitive with scorecards and mini prizes, or keep it casual as a conversation starter between other games.

Tip: Check out our Recipes Archive for inspiration on sauces, appetizers, sandwiches, and more!

8. Bobbing for Apples & Pie Tin Toss

These two carnival-style classics are perfect for hot afternoons—and they’ll leave your guests both cooled off and thoroughly entertained.

Bobbing for Apples:

• Fill a large tub or kiddie pool with water and floating apples.
• Set a 30-second time limit.
• Keep score by how many apples each player grabs without hands!

Pie Tin Toss:

• Fill lightweight tins with whipped cream.
• Cut out a large board with a head-sized hole.
• Gather a volunteer (like the party host or a brave parent) to serve as the “target.”
• Challenge players to stand behind a line and toss whipped cream pies at the target.

Both games work well back-to-back and make for fun photo ops—especially when kids get a little whipped cream happy.

Bonus: Dive head-first into fall with our favorite Apple Recipes.

9. Tug of War

Few games bring out the laughter and energy like the timeless classic, tug of war. It’s great for getting kids moving—and it makes for an excellent tie-breaker in your backyard games tournament.

How to play:

• Use a long, sturdy rope and divide guests into two evenly sized teams.
• Mark the center line on the ground with chalk or tape.
• The first team to pull the other past the marker wins!

You can even create multiple matchups: adults vs. kids, siblings vs. cousins, or neighbors vs. family.

Use as the grand finale or tie-breaker if you’re keeping tournament points from earlier games.

10. Pie-Eating Contest

What better way to end the day than with a fun, messy dessert challenge? The pie-eating contest is a cookout favorite that works well for both kids and adults.

Rules:

• Use mini pies (fruit, chocolate, or cream-filled)
• No hands allowed!
• First to finish wins

Offer small prizes for participation or best effort, and keep napkins (or a hose!) handy.

Bonus: Browse our Dessert Recipes Archive to find pie ideas like Ice Cream Freezer Pie, Coconut Cream Pie Sweet Rolls, and Mini Cheesecakes!

Bonus Games & Honorable Mentions

Need more ideas or looking to round out your lineup? Try these:

• Water Games Station: Sprinkler tag, sponge relay, slip-n-slide, water balloon toss
• Potato Sack Race: A nod to Martin’s “Potato” Rolls—classic and simple
• Team Sports Zone: Volleyball, pickleball, badminton, capture the flag
• Lawn Game Alternatives: KanJam, lawn bowling, ladder toss
• DIY Dessert Bar: Ice cream sliders on Martin’s Sweet Dinner Potato Rolls

Printable Party Extras

To make planning even easier, we’ve created a few helpful printables you can download and use during your Labor Day celebration. These are perfect for tracking scores, organizing games, and keeping the fun going all day long!

• Backyard Games Scorecard

  Keep track of tournament points for individuals or teams with this handy sheet. Includes space to list each game, record points earned, and even vote for an MVP.

• Scavenger Hunt Bingo Sheet

  Perfect for younger guests, this printable bingo card features common nature-themed items to find around the yard. Use checkboxes, stamps, or stickers to mark off each one.

• Slider Relay Instructions Sheet

  Planning to run a slider-making relay race? This simple guide walks you through setup, team roles, timing suggestions, and judging tips—so everything runs smoothly and safely.

Bonus: Download All Three! 

Labor Day is a time to unwind, reconnect, and celebrate the joys of summer—good food, good company, and good fun. Whether you go big with a full tournament or just try a few simple games, these activities will bring laughter, connection, and unforgettable memories that last well into fall.

Don’t forget to take photos and tag us in your festivities on social media so we can see your slider creations, pie-filled smiles, and ultimate game-day victories!

Looking for more inspiration? Browse our full blog archive for cookout recipes, party tips, and other seasonal ideas.

Related Blogs:

• https://potatorolls.com/blog/host-ultimate-family-cookout/