As I was diligently working on family reunion helper’s latest family reunion theme- CIRCUS!, I was reminded of some fun games we have played using balloons.  Balloons are easy to incorporate into your family reunion theme- just keep a bag of balloons in your reunion planning kit and if you need a game to fill up some time pull them out and ta-dah – you’ve got  a fun family reunion game that will keep your reunion “popping”!

Balloon Stomp

An area of your family reunion site is cordoned off or you could use an inside area. Participants tie a balloon to each ankle. On a whistle all the contestants have to try to stamp on each other’s balloons and pop them. If both of your balloons are popped you are out. The winner is the last one with a balloon on their leg.

Bead Bop

Fill 20-30 balloons with two to four beads each and hide the filled balloons around your family reunion area. Divide your family into two or more teams. Each team must find as many balloons as they can, pop them by themselves, and return with their beads. The team with the most beads at the end of the game is the winner.

Balloon Blast

A large number of balloons are inflated and placed around your family reunion site. If outside, try to find an area where balloons aren’t popped by rocks etc. A few special balloons have a winning ticket placed inside them prior to being blown up. On the word “GO” everyone tries to pop the balloons (no pins allowed- they may only use their body) as quickly as possible to find the winning tickets. The contest ends when all the balloons are burst and prizes are awarded.

Balloon Pop

This is really a less hectic version of Balloon Blast, Balloons are attached to a fence, wall or a ceiling. Give participants a pin on a stick or turn the game into a balloon dart game and give everyone three darts. If they pop a balloon that contains a winning ticket they get a prize.

HINT: To fool family members, you may wish to put a ticket in all the balloons although most will say "Sorry Try Again" or something similar.

HINT: If you put balloons on the ceiling put some small squares of colored craft tissue inside when blowing them up. When the balloon pops this comes down like confetti adding to the fun.

HINT: Instead of prizes you can write some challenges down on small scraps of paper (examples include: sing a song, do a ballet move, say the alphabet etc.).

Balloon Hug

Blow up about 20-30 balloons and place them on the floor. Each person has 2 minutes to pick up and hold as many balloons as possible. They must pick up the balloons all by themselves without help, put them in their clothes, between their legs, under their arms, between their teeth, etc. Two or three people go at a time while others watch and then let the next group take a turn. The person who holds the most balloons when their time is up is the winner and will compete in the “finals” for the championship!

Psycho Balloons

Blow up balloons, putting a small marble through the neck of each one before tying the end. (This makes the balloons move in unexpected ways.) Release into the group one more balloon than people. The object is to keep the balloons up in the air. Play this in two teams, each side with an extra balloon. The team who lets a balloon drop to the floor first loses.