Bored at your last party? I get it. Planning events that everyone enjoys can feel impossible. Some guests stand awkwardly in corners while others check their phones, waiting for something exciting to happen.
But what if I told you there’s a simple fix that gets everyone laughing, moving, and actually talking to each other?
Relay races are the secret weapon for any gathering. They’re easy to set up, cost almost nothing, and work for all ages. No special skills needed!
I’ve tested dozens of relay games at family reunions, school events, and office parties. The results? Even the shyest people join in and have fun.
In this guide, I’ll share 41 fun relay races ideas that will transform your next event from forgettable to fantastic.
Why Fun Relay Races Are Perfect for Any Event
Relay races are perfect for any event because they combine fun, teamwork, and excitement. Whether it’s a birthday party, school event, or team-building day, relay races keep everyone engaged and active.
They promote teamwork, as each participant relies on their teammates to succeed, making the race an excellent activity for groups of all ages.
Relay races are also highly customizable, allowing you to adjust the difficulty based on the age and skill level of the participants.
They don’t require a lot of space or expensive equipment, so they can easily be set up in various venues, from a backyard to a gym. The friendly competition they foster adds an energetic vibe to the event, while still encouraging collaboration.
With simple props like cones, batons, or balls, organizing a relay race is straightforward and cost-effective. Most importantly, relay races create lasting memories, as participants remember the fun and teamwork that made the event special.
Whether for a small or large group, relay races are a guaranteed way to make any event memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Top Fun Relay Races Ideas for Kids: Fun and Learning Combined
1. Egg and Spoon Relay
A race where participants balance an egg on a spoon and race to the finish line without dropping it. Supplies Needed: Spoons and eggs (or plastic eggs for safety).
How to Play:
- Each player must hold an egg on a spoon and race to the designated finish line.
- Players must carefully balance the egg without letting it fall.
- If the egg falls, the player must stop and place it back on the spoon before continuing.
Variation: Use real eggs for a more challenging balance or plastic eggs for safety. Add an obstacle course that players must navigate while balancing the egg to increase the difficulty.
2. Potato Sack Race
Participants jump in potato sacks to reach the finish line, making it a fun and bouncy race. Supplies Needed: Potato sacks (or large burlap sacks).
How to Play:
- Players step into potato sacks and stand at the starting line.
- On “Go,” they jump forward toward the finish line.
- The first person to reach the finish line wins the race.
Variation: Increase the distance of the race or add obstacles like cones to make the course more challenging. You can also play in teams, with players passing the sack to the next teammate after completing their jump.
3. Hippity Hop Ball Relay
Participants race while hopping on a large inflatable ball. Supplies Needed: Hippity hop balls or large inflatable bouncy balls.
How to Play:
- Players sit on a large inflatable ball and hop toward the finish line.
- Players must maintain control of the ball while moving forward.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Add obstacles such as cones to weave through or have players hop around turns. Alternatively, use a relay format where each player hops part of the course before tagging the next teammate.
4. Crab Walk Relay
Participants walk in a crab-like position to the finish line, making it a unique way to race. Supplies Needed: None (just space to move).
How to Play:
- Players begin in a crab walk position (on hands and feet with belly facing up).
- They must race to the finish line without standing up or using their knees.
- The first player to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: Add difficulty by including obstacles such as cones or low hurdles to crawl under. A team version can be played where each player crab walks a portion of the race before tagging the next teammate.
5. Balloon Waddle Relay
A fun race where participants must waddle while holding a balloon between their knees. Supplies Needed: Balloons.
How to Play:
- Players place a balloon between their knees and waddle to the finish line without dropping it.
- If the balloon falls, players must stop, pick it up, and continue.
Variation: Increase the difficulty by adding obstacles like cones or creating a longer course. You can also play in teams where each player passes the balloon to the next teammate after completing their portion of the race.
6. Hula Hoop Pass Relay
Teams pass a hula hoop from one player to the next without using their hands. Supplies Needed: Hula hoops.
How to Play:
- Players must pass a hula hoop to the next person in line by stepping through it and passing it down the line.
- The first team to complete the relay without dropping the hoop wins.
Variation: Set a time limit to add pressure, or increase the difficulty by requiring players to pass the hula hoop while balancing an object on their head.
7. Bean Bag Balance Relay
Participants balance a bean bag on their head or body and race to the finish line. Supplies Needed: Bean bags.
How to Play:
- Players balance a bean bag on their head or another part of their body while walking or running toward the finish line.
- If the bean bag falls, the player must stop, pick it up, and continue.
Variation: Increase the challenge by requiring players to balance the bean bag on different body parts or adding obstacles to the course. A team version can also be played, where teammates tag each other after completing their segment.
8. Leapfrog Relay
Players leap over one another in a relay format, mimicking the movement of a frog. Supplies Needed: None (just space).
How to Play:
- Players begin in a line and leapfrog over the person in front of them.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Add obstacles or make the course longer for increased difficulty. A team relay version can also be played, where each teammate leaps over the other players before tagging the next person.
9. Dress-Up Relay
A relay race where players put on and take off costumes as part of the race. Supplies Needed: Various costumes or dress-up clothes.
How to Play:
- Players must race to a designated spot, put on a costume, and then race back to tag the next teammate.
- Each teammate repeats the process until everyone has completed their turn.
Variation: Make the costumes more challenging (e.g., oversized clothes) or set a time limit for each team to complete the relay.
10. Newspaper Relay
Players must unfold a newspaper and use it to race to the finish line. Supplies Needed: Newspapers.
How to Play:
- Players start by holding a folded newspaper, and they must unfold it and step on it to move forward.
- The first player to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: To increase the challenge, players must unfold the newspaper as they go, with the next person in line doing the same with the already unfolded paper.
11. Rock, Paper, Scissors Relay
A relay race that incorporates the classic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Supplies Needed: None.
How to Play:
- Players race to a designated point, where they must play Rock, Paper, Scissors with the next teammate.
- The winner of the game proceeds to the next round, and the process repeats until all players have participated.
Variation: Incorporate different versions of Rock, Paper, Scissors (such as adding new hand signs) or create a timed version where the teams must play quickly and efficiently.
Fun Relay Races for Adults: Challenge Your Friends and Colleagues
12. Three-Legged Race
A race where two participants are tied together by their legs and must work together to cross the finish line. Supplies Needed: Ropes or bands to tie participants’ legs together.
How to Play:
- Players stand side by side, and their legs are tied together at the ankles.
- They must cooperate to run or walk toward the finish line without falling.
- The first team to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: To make it more challenging, increase the distance of the race or add obstacles along the course that participants must navigate.
13. Office Chair Relay
A race where participants sit in an office chair and are pushed by a teammate to the finish line. Supplies Needed: Office chairs with wheels.
How to Play:
- One player sits in an office chair while their teammate pushes them toward the finish line.
- The person pushing the chair must run to keep up while the seated player stays in the chair.
- The first team to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: To make it more challenging, set up an obstacle course or have the players swap roles halfway through.
14. Costume Change Relay
A relay race where players must put on and take off costumes quickly. Supplies Needed: Various costumes or dress-up clothes.
How to Play:
- Players race to a designated spot, put on a costume, and race back to tag the next teammate.
- Each teammate repeats the process until all team members have completed their turn.
Variation: Use oversized or multi-piece costumes to increase the difficulty or set a time limit for each teammate to complete the costume change.
15. Blindfolded Navigation Relay
A relay where players are blindfolded and must navigate an obstacle course. Supplies Needed: Blindfolds and cones or obstacles to create the course.
How to Play:
- One player is blindfolded and must navigate an obstacle course while guided by their teammates’ verbal instructions.
- The first team to complete the course successfully wins.
Variation: Increase the complexity by adding more obstacles or requiring players to complete specific tasks while blindfolded.
16. Human Knot Relay
A team-building game where participants must untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. Supplies Needed: None (just space).
How to Play:
- Players stand in a circle and grab hands with two different people across from them.
- The goal is for the group to untangle themselves into a circle without letting go of hands.
- The first team to untangle and form a circle wins.
Variation: Add time constraints or make the knot more complicated by adding more people to the circle.
17. Puzzle Piece Relay
Participants race to complete a puzzle by passing pieces to teammates. Supplies Needed: A puzzle with several pieces.
How to Play:
- Players race to retrieve a puzzle piece and run back to their team.
- The next teammate continues by adding the piece to the puzzle.
- The first team to complete the puzzle wins.
Variation: Use a more complex puzzle with more pieces, or limit the number of pieces each player can bring back to increase the challenge.
18. Water Cup Relay
A race where participants must fill and pass water cups to their teammates without spilling. Supplies Needed: Water cups, water source, and containers.
How to Play:
- Players fill a cup with water, race to the next player, and pass the cup without spilling it.
- The team with the most water left at the end of the relay wins.
Variation: Add obstacles or use larger cups to increase the difficulty. Players can also race through a timed course to fill the cups within a specific time frame.
19. Synchronized Step Relay
A relay race where teammates must walk in sync with each other to complete the race. Supplies Needed: None.
How to Play:
- Players must race in pairs, walking in perfect synchronization with each other.
- If they break the synchronized step, they must start over.
- The first synchronized team to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: Increase difficulty by making the race longer or adding specific movements (e.g., hopping, skipping) to the synchronized steps.
20. Team Ski Relay
A race where teammates must move together on a pair of skis. Supplies Needed: Large skis for teams to share.
How to Play:
- Teams of two or more players stand on a pair of skis and must move together to reach the finish line.
- The team must coordinate their movements and work together to maintain balance.
- The first team to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Increase the difficulty by adding turns or obstacles along the course, requiring more coordination and balance.
21. Fitness Circuit Relay
A relay where teams complete a series of fitness tasks before tagging the next teammate. Supplies Needed: Exercise equipment (cones, jump ropes, weights, etc.).
How to Play:
- Players complete a set fitness task (e.g., jump rope, push-ups) before tagging the next teammate.
- The team with the fastest completion time wins.
Variation: Use more complex or varied exercises (e.g., bear crawls, planks) to increase the physical challenge of the relay.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Relay Races: Which Is Right for You
Indoor relay races are perfect for smaller spaces and controlled environments, offering a fun way to stay active without worrying about weather.
Outdoor relay races, on the other hand, provide more room for creative obstacles and larger teams, making them ideal for events in parks or open spaces.
22. Balloon Pop Relay
A fun race where participants must pop balloons by sitting on them. Supplies Needed: Balloons.
How to Play:
- Each player races to a designated spot and must sit on a balloon to pop it.
- Once the balloon is popped, they race back and tag the next teammate.
- The first team to pop all their balloons and complete the relay wins.
Variation: Increase the challenge by requiring players to pop a specific number of balloons or making them race further before popping the balloon.
23. Spoon Race (with ping pong ball or plastic egg)
A race where participants balance a ping pong ball or a plastic egg on a spoon. Supplies Needed: Spoons and ping pong balls or plastic eggs.
How to Play:
- Players balance a ping pong ball or a plastic egg on a spoon and race to the finish line.
- If the ball or egg falls, they must stop, place it back on the spoon, and continue.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Add obstacles to the course or increase the distance for a more challenging race.
24. Paper Plate Skate Relay
A race where participants use paper plates as makeshift skates to glide to the finish line. Supplies Needed: Paper plates.
How to Play:
- Players place paper plates under their feet and slide across the floor to the finish line.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Make the race more challenging by increasing the distance or requiring players to perform a task (e.g., pick up an object) before they finish.
25. Stack the Cups Relay
A race where players must stack and unstack cups in a specific pattern. Supplies Needed: Plastic cups.
How to Play:
- Players race to a designated spot, stack a set of cups into a pyramid, and then unstack them in the reverse order.
- The first team to complete the stacking and unstacking process wins.
Variation: Increase the number of cups or set a time limit for each team to complete the relay.
26. Ping Pong Ball Blow Relay
A relay race where participants blow a ping pong ball to a finish line. Supplies Needed: Ping pong balls and straws.
How to Play:
- Players must blow a ping pong ball from one end of the course to the other using only a straw.
- The first player to get the ball to the finish line wins.
Variation: Set up obstacles in the course that players must navigate around while blowing the ping pong ball.
27. Beanbag Toss Relay
A relay where players toss beanbags into targets or buckets. Supplies Needed: Beanbags and containers (or marked targets).
How to Play:
- Players toss beanbags into containers or targets from a designated distance.
- Once all beanbags are tossed, they race back and tag the next teammate.
- The first team to complete the task wins.
Variation: Increase the number of beanbags or make the target smaller to increase the difficulty.
28. Chair Crawl Relay
A race where players must crawl under or over chairs to reach the finish line. Supplies Needed: Chairs.
How to Play:
- Players crawl under or over a set of chairs and race to the finish line.
- The first player to complete the course wins.
Variation: Add more obstacles, such as crawling under multiple sets of chairs, or set a time limit to increase the challenge.
29. Marshmallow Chopstick Relay
A relay where players must transfer marshmallows using chopsticks. Supplies Needed: Chopsticks and marshmallows.
How to Play:
- Players use chopsticks to pick up marshmallows and transfer them to a bowl or container.
- Once all marshmallows are transferred, they tag the next teammate.
- The first team to complete the task wins.
Variation: Increase the number of marshmallows or make the container smaller to increase the difficulty.
30. Book Balance Relay
A race where participants must balance a book on their head and walk to the finish line. Supplies Needed: Books.
How to Play:
- Players balance a book on their head and race to the finish line.
- If the book falls, players must stop, replace it on their head, and continue.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Add obstacles to the course or increase the distance to make the race more challenging.
31. Pass the Orange (under chin) Relay
A race where participants pass an orange from one person to another using only their chins. Supplies Needed: Oranges.
How to Play:
- Players must pass an orange from one teammate to another using only their chin and neck (without using hands).
- The first team to pass the orange down the line and finish wins.
Variation: Use a larger or heavier object for increased difficulty, or add a time limit to make the game more competitive.
32. Classic Baton Relay
A traditional relay where players pass a baton to the next teammate to continue the race. Supplies Needed: Batons.
How to Play:
- Players must run to a designated point, pass the baton to the next teammate, and continue the race.
- The first team to complete the relay wins.
Variation: Increase the race distance or add obstacles to make the course more challenging.
33. Wheelbarrow Race
A race where one player acts as the wheelbarrow while the other pushes them. Supplies Needed: None (just space).
How to Play:
- One player holds the legs of their teammate, who walks on their hands like a wheelbarrow.
- The team races to the finish line while maintaining their position.
- The first team to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: Add obstacles or increase the distance for a more challenging race.
34. Picnic Basket Dash
A race where participants must race while carrying a picnic basket. Supplies Needed: Picnic baskets or any container.
How to Play:
- Players race to a designated spot while carrying a picnic basket.
- The first player to return with the basket without dropping it wins.
Variation: Increase the distance or use a heavier or larger basket for added difficulty.
35. Fill the Water Bucket Relay
A relay where players must fill a bucket with water using a small container. Supplies Needed: Small containers and a large water bucket.
How to Play:
- Players use small containers to carry water from a source to a large bucket.
- The first team to fill the bucket to a certain level wins.
Variation: Add obstacles or set a time limit to make the race more challenging.
36. Water Balloon Toss Relay
A relay where players toss a water balloon back and forth, trying not to break it. Supplies Needed: Water balloons.
How to Play:
- Players stand across from each other and toss a water balloon back and forth.
- If the balloon breaks, the team must start over.
- The first team to complete the relay without breaking the balloon wins.
Variation: Increase the distance between players or use larger water balloons to increase difficulty.
37. Obstacle Course Relay
A relay race where participants navigate through a series of obstacles. Supplies Needed: Cones, tires, ropes, or any other obstacles to set up the course.
How to Play:
- Players must navigate through an obstacle course and tag the next teammate to continue the race.
- The first team to complete the course wins.
Variation: Add more obstacles or increase the difficulty of each obstacle for a more challenging race.
38. Tug and Run Relay (teams tug a rope, then race)
A relay where teams first tug a rope and then race to the finish line. Supplies Needed: A rope.
How to Play:
- Teams must tug a rope in opposite directions for a designated amount of time or until a marker is reached.
- After tugging, the team must race to the finish line.
- The first team to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: Increase the length of the rope or add a time limit to the tug-of-war segment to make it more challenging.
39. Sack Race Relay
A race where participants hop in a sack to reach the finish line. Supplies Needed: Potato sacks or large bags.
How to Play:
- Players hop into a sack and race to the finish line.
- The first player to cross the finish line wins.
Variation: Increase the distance or add obstacles along the race route for more challenge.
40. Dizzy Bat Relay
A relay where players spin around a bat and then race. Supplies Needed: A bat or stick.
How to Play:
- Players must place their forehead on the bat and spin around it several times.
- After spinning, they race to the finish line while trying to maintain their balance.
- The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Variation: Add more spins or set a time limit for additional difficulty.
41. Flag Grab Relay
A relay where participants race to grab a flag and return it to their team. Supplies Needed: Flags.
How to Play:
- Players race to a designated point where a flag is placed.
- They grab the flag and return it to their team to tag the next player.
- The first team to collect all the flags and complete the relay wins.
Variation: Add more flags or increase the distance to the flag to increase the challenge.
How to Set Up Your Relay Race: Step-by-Step Instructions
Setting up a relay race doesn’t have to be hard. With a few simple steps, you can create a fun activity that everyone will enjoy. Here’s how to do it:
Choose Your Space
Pick an area with enough room for people to run. This could be a backyard, park, gym, or beach. Make sure the ground is safe and free of holes or items that might cause trips.
Mark Your Course
Set clear start and finish lines. You can use rope, chalk, cones, or even sticks to mark these spots. For indoor races, try tape or paper signs.
Form Teams
Split people into equal groups. Teams of 4-6 work best, but you can adjust based on your total count. Try to mix ages and abilities for fair play.
Explain the Rules
Keep rules simple and clear. Show how to pass items, where to run, and what counts as a finish. Do a quick demo so everyone gets it.
Safety First
Check the area for hazards. Have water ready for hot days. For kids’ races, have adults watch the course.
Get Your Gear Ready
Gather all items needed: batons, balls, water cups, or special props for your race type. Have extras in case things break.
Time to Start!
Begin with a clear signal – a whistle blow or loud “Go!” works well. Keep track of which team finishes first.
Setting up relay races is quick and easy. Soon you’ll have people running, laughing, and making great memories together!
The Bottom Line
Relay races pack fun, laughs, and team spirit into any event. They bring people together in ways few other activities can match.
In this post, I’ve shared 41 fun relay races ideas that work for all ages and settings. From simple baton passes to wacky costume relays, these games need little prep but create big memories.
What makes relay races so special? They include everyone, cost almost nothing, and can be changed to fit any space or group.
So what’s next? Pick a race from this list, grab some friends or family, and give it a try. You might be amazed at how something so simple creates such joy.
Have you tried any of these relay races? I’d love to hear which ones worked best for you! Share your stories in the comments below.
