40 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids: Backyard Games, Playground Games, and More

Jump rope solo, skip with siblings, or round up the whole gang for double dutch.

It's hard to beat classic outdoor games for kids when it comes time to entertain them during the long school-free summer months, at birthday parties, or when they've spent too much time on screens. From hide-and-seek to ghost in the graveyard, these outdoor games are sure to keep your crew, and whichever neighborhood kids stop by, busy for hours. Best of all, you can play almost all of these playground and backyard games listed below without spending any money. Time to  load up the sunscreen, head outdoors, and play!

If you don't mind getting wet, check out these Favorite Water Games to Play With Kids, and keep the party going in the great outdoors with one of the activities from our Guide to Outdoor Activities for Kids.

Rodeo, Duck Race, Pineapple Festival, and More Fun Things to Do in Orlando This Weekend With Kids

Party into the night at this family-friendly festival celebrating the flavors of Puerto Rico at the Lake Nona Pineapple Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Looking for the best things to do in Orlando this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list!

The rodeo is coming to town this weekend! Visit Osceola Heritage Park for the annual Silver Spurs Rodeo this Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, catch the excitement of hundreds of rubber ducks racing around the lazy river at Island H2O Water Park's Duck Race, or savor the flavors of Puerto Rico at Lake Nona's Pineapple Festival. There's even more fun in store—read on to discover all the exciting events happening this weekend!

Spring Festivals, Outdoor Movies, and More Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend with Kids

Run for the Zoo in Lincoln Park, photo by Brigid Gallagher for the zoo.

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend!

Do you hear that? It's cicadas, and if you live in an area with grass and older trees, they may be crawling up the sides of your house now! You can learn more about them this weekend at a hike at St. James Forest Preserve this weekend. If you want to avoid them, visit a carnival-- they often take place on concrete or asphalt, and they're happening in LaGrange, River Grove, and Wheaton this weekend. Or check out something else that flies at Bolingbrook's Cavalcade of Planes.

This is a great time to make  summer plans in Chicago. Check out the full line-up of summer festivals; look at the city from above at Navy Pier's new Flyover experience, or plan a summer trip to the Door County

Have a great weekend in Chicago!

Butterfly Festival, Free Outdoor Movies, and More Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

Kids can enjoy all things butterflies at the Annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the center

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

School's out for summer and that means great Atlanta events, like FREE outdoor movies, including Lawrenceville Movie Club on Friday and Peachtree Corners' Flicks on the Green on Saturday. The first weekend of June in Atlanta always means the popular Chattahoochee Nature Center Butterfly Festival, where visitors can get close to the beautiful creatures on Saturday and Sunday. Read on for more fun ideas to make the most of the start of summer! 

Pride Celebrations, County Fairs, and More Fun Things To Do in San Francisco This Weekend

Pride photo courtesy of the Filoli Center

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list. ​

Summer is near and summer fairs are here! Our favorites taking place this weekend are the San Mateo County Fair, with live music and free kids' activities, and the family-favorite SJMade Fest in San Jose, which features a huge kitten lounge and loads of live K-Pop entertainment. Kick off Pride Month this weekend with the Filoli Pride in Woodside and Family Pride Day in Santa Cruz.

Read on for more of our top picks for the weekend, which include delicious cherries, baseball & fireworks, sand castle contests, and so much more!

Pages