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Make Your Next BBQ a Hit With These Backyard Games

It’s easy to lure the kids away from the TV and social media when you add these outdoor games to your collection
BY Sandy Lindsey TIMEMay 28, 2022 PRINT

The sun is shining and the temperatures are up—finally! It’s time to get the family and friends together for some competitive backyard fun.

A Must-Have Classic

L.L. Bean Horseshoes
(Courtesy of L.L. Bean)

L.L. Bean Tournament Horseshoes

$119

Leon Leonwood “L.L.” Bean loved to play horseshoes at his hunting and fishing camps. In his 1927 catalog, he wrote, “Put a pair of stakes out near your camp or cottage and note how quickly your place becomes popular,” and that’s still true today.

Hand-Crafted Family Fun

Amish Toy Box Croquet
(Courtesy of Amish Toy Box)

Family Tradition 8-Player Amish-Made Wooden Croquet Set

$309.50

Playing croquet is how the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Amish enjoy spending a warm Sunday afternoon. Their enthusiasm for the game is evident in this carefully crafted, maple hardwood hard-to-find eight-player set that allows more people to join the fun.

Watch Out Below!

Gigantic Jenga
(Courtesy of Jenga)

Jenga XXL Gigantic Cardboard Edition

$299.95

Jenga is a Swahili word meaning “build.” Jenga XXL builds on the excitement with an enormous eight-foot-high tower that’s made of cardboard to ensure that it doesn’t hurt players or pets when it comes crashing down. It disassembles easily and compactly for storage.

A Game of Skill

(Courtesy of Caliber Games)
(Courtesy of Caliber Games)

TowerBall

$189.99

The 360-degree alternative to cornhole, TowerBall was created as an entirely new approach to the classic simplicity of backyard toss games. The result is a fusion of cornhole and darts, in a game that’s fun and challenging for players of all ages, from kids to highly competitive adults.

Fun That’s Ready to Go

Baden Pickleball
(Courtesy of Baden Sports)

Champions Pickleball Set

$249.99

While the latest trendy new home accessory may be a formal pickleball court, this lets you get your game on now without waiting for a construction crew. The high-quality Champions Pickleball Set has everything you need for backyard or driveway games, including an easy-to-set-up portable net.

A New Way to Kick

Hammacher Dart Board
(Courtesy of Hammacher Schlemmer)

Hammacher Schlemmer Kickball Dartboard

$179.99

You may think you were great at kickball, but can you hit a Treble 20 or Bullseye? Maybe a rousing game of Cricket, 501, or Around the Clock is more your style. Backyard entertainment goes big with this six-foot-tall challenge that combines the athleticism of soccer with the precision of darts.

Sandy Lindsey is an award-winning writer who covers home, gardening, DIY projects, pets, and boating. She has two books with McGraw-Hill.
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