Water game ideas are perfect for cooling off and having fun during warm weather, especially at parties, summer camps, or family gatherings. These games often combine physical activity with splashes and laughter, making them ideal for kids and adults alike. Classic games like water balloon toss and sponge relay encourage teamwork and quick reflexes, while others like slip ‘n slide races and sprinkler tag keep everyone moving and drenched.
More creative ideas include water limbo, where players bend under a stream of water from a hose, or “Drip, Drip, Splash,” a wet twist on duck-duck-goose. Some games even involve strategy, like water cup races or building boats to float in kiddie pools. Whether using water guns, buckets, sprinklers, or just a garden hose, these games add excitement and refreshment to any outdoor event.
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Water Game Ideas
Here’s a huge list of 100+ fun, creative, and splashy water game ideas for kids, teens, and families—perfect for hot summer days, parties, camps, or backyard fun.
💦 Classic Water Games
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Water balloon toss
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Water balloon fight
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Slip ‘n slide races
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Sponge relay race
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Sprinkler tag
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Drip, Drip, Splash (like Duck, Duck, Goose)
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Water gun freeze tag
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Cup over the head relay
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Wet T-shirt relay
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Water bucket race
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Hose limbo
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Splash dance party
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Kiddie pool fishing game
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Pool noodle jousting
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Water balloon volleyball
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Pool basketball
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Water baseball (with a kiddie pool for bases)
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Wet sponge dodgeball
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Water balloon piñata
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Bobbing for water toys
🌊 Pool Games
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Marco Polo
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Shark & Minnows
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Mermaid races
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Underwater tea party
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Pool treasure hunt
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Submarine ring toss
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Floatie race
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Pool noodle sword fights
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Pool ping pong scramble
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Torpedo dive game
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Dolphin dive contest
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Floating basketball
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Swim through the hoop
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Pool volleyball
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Splash contest
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Human whirlpool (swim in circles)
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Tread water challenge
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Pool tag
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Underwater breath-hold contest
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Push your partner on a floatie game
💧 Water Relay Races
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Sponge soak-and-run
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Fill-the-bucket with a cup
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Scoop & spill relay (ladle water from one bucket to another)
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Ice cube transfer
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Leaky cup relay
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Towel water race (transport water in a towel)
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Balance-a-cup-on-your-head race
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Water bucket over-the-head chain
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Balloon pop relay
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Fill the bottle with a sponge
🎯 Target & Aim Water Games
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Water balloon dart board
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Knock down cans with a water gun
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Spray the cup off the fence
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Water gun bullseye challenge
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Balloon launcher competition
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Hose bottle blast
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Shoot-the-ping-pong-ball race
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Cup stacking with water guns
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Sponge target toss
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Water bottle bowling
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😂 Silly & Creative Water Games
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Musical sprinkler chairs
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Water balloon hot potato
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Squirt gun painting (with washable paint)
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Wet sock race
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Ice cube melt race
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Water obstacle course
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Splash limbo with a hose
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Catch the splash (kids try to catch a falling water balloon)
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Kiddie pool hopscotch
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Blindfold water balloon toss
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Floatie fashion show
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Belly flop contest
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DIY water slide with plastic tarp
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Crawl through the sprinklers challenge
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Wet freeze dance
👶 Toddler-Friendly Water Play
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Water table fun
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Mini sprinkler waddle
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Bubbles & buckets
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Scoop & pour station
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Float the duckies
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Sponge shapes matching
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Ice cube sensory bin
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Puddle jump (mini splash pads)
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Water painting on sidewalk
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Water coloring with food coloring & ice cubes
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🌈 Group & Team Games
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Human car wash (kids crawl through pool noodles and sprinklers)
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Tug of water war (with buckets)
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Team water balloon dodgeball
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Sponge tower challenge
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Water trivia splash (wrong answer = splash)
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Pass the water balloon without hands
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Hose tag team
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Balloon on a spoon relay
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Slip & slide capture the flag
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Tug-of-war over a kiddie pool
🧊 Cool Down Water Games
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Ice block treasure hunt
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Frozen t-shirt race
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Ice water bucket drop
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Ice cube relay
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Ice bath dare game
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Coldest splash contest
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Frozen sponge toss
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Ice foot fishing
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Melting snowman sponge game
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Arctic animal rescue (frozen toys in ice)
How to Play
🎯 1. Water Balloon Dart Board
What You Need:
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Water balloons
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Large board or fence
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Thumbtacks or nails
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Chalk or tape (to make target rings)
Steps:
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Fill water balloons and tie them off.
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Attach them to a board or fence in a dartboard pattern using tacks/nails.
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Draw or tape concentric circles around the balloons to make a target.
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Have players take turns tossing darts or bean bags (or using water balloons as darts) at the balloon board.
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Award points based on which section they hit.
💦 2. Knock Down Cans with a Water Gun
What You Need:
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Empty cans or plastic cups
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Table or raised surface
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Water guns
Steps:
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Stack the cans into a pyramid (3-2-1 or 4-3-2-1 style) on a table.
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Mark a shooting line several feet away.
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Each player gets a turn to knock down as many cans as they can using their water gun.
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Keep score by how many cans are knocked down in one turn.
🥤 3. Spray the Cup Off the Fence
What You Need:
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Plastic cups
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Fence or table edge
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Water guns
Steps:
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Line up plastic cups along a fence rail or the edge of a table.
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Mark a shooting line about 5–10 feet away.
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Players aim their water guns and try to spray the cup until it falls off.
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Time each player to see how quickly they knock theirs down.
🎯 4. Water Gun Bullseye Challenge
What You Need:
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Poster board or large paper
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Markers or tape to draw target circles
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Water guns
Steps:
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Draw a bullseye target with rings on the board and hang it up.
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Assign points to each ring (outer ring = 5, inner = 10, bullseye = 20).
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Players take turns shooting the water gun and trying to hit the center.
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Mark the wet spot after each turn and tally scores.
🎈 5. Balloon Launcher Competition
What You Need:
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Water balloons
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Balloon launcher (store-bought or DIY slingshot)
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Targets (buckets, chalk circles, or hula hoops)
Steps:
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Fill and tie water balloons.
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Set up the targets at different distances with point values.
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Players use the balloon launcher to try to land balloons in the targets.
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Keep score based on where the balloon lands.
🚿 6. Hose Bottle Blast
What You Need:
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Empty plastic bottles
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Hose with spray nozzle
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Table or fence top
Steps:
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Set the bottles on a flat surface or fence rail.
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Mark a starting line about 10 feet away.
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Use the hose spray to try to knock bottles down or off the surface.
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Take turns or play in teams to see who can blast the most bottles in the shortest time.
🏓 7. Shoot-the-Ping-Pong-Ball Race
What You Need:
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Ping pong balls
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Water guns
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Long table or gutter track (or just a smooth surface)
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Tape to mark start and finish lines
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Steps:
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Place ping pong balls at the starting line.
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Players aim their water guns at the balls to push them toward the finish.
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First to cross the line wins!
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Optional: Set up obstacle paths for extra challenge.
🧱 8. Cup Stacking with Water Guns
What You Need:
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Plastic cups
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Table
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Water guns
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Steps:
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Stack cups in a pyramid (3-2-1).
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Players stand back and use water guns to knock down the stack.
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Time the players or count the number of cups knocked over per turn.
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For an extra challenge, restack after each player.
🧽 9. Sponge Target Toss
What You Need:
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Large sponges
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Buckets, hula hoops, or drawn target zones
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Water
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Steps:
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Soak sponges in a water bucket.
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Place targets at various distances.
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Players toss the wet sponges at the targets, trying to land them inside.
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Assign different points to different zones or targets.
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Tally scores for competition or team play.
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🎳 10. Water Bottle Bowling
What You Need:
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6–10 filled water bottles (as pins)
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Ball (any lightweight plastic ball)
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Flat surface like pavement or a driveway
Steps:
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Set the water bottles up in a triangle shape (like bowling pins).
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Players roll the ball toward the bottles from a set distance.
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Score based on how many bottles are knocked down.
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Play in rounds just like real bowling!
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Hi, I’m Maggie Culp, the founder of PartyVibesFun.com, based in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States! With a passion for creating unforgettable celebrations, I specialize in turning any event into a fun and vibrant experience. From birthday parties to themed gatherings, I’m here to help you bring your party ideas to life with ease and excitement. Whether you’re looking for unique games, creative themes, or party planning tips, I’m dedicated to making sure every moment of your event is filled with joy. Let’s create memories together and make your next party the talk of the town!