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Are you game for hosting a party?

Although your invitations, decorations, goodie bags, and party food may be state of the art -- party activities should also always become are a major part of your game plan.

Why? There's a good reason why parties are called entertaining. Challenging and clever party games are a great way to make your wedding shower,, or holiday party much more fun and memorable.

Bean bag toss? Musical chairs? Kid's party games are almost a necessity for any party where fun is a big part of the day's festivities.

For the grown-ups, there are the classic laughter-inducing baby shower games and bridal shower party games and, for kids of all ages a backyard scavenger hunt usually fits the bill at any party for memory-making fun and photos!

Luckily, there are so many party games to choose from it may be difficult to know where to begin! Yet deciding on the best icebreakers, games, and prizes for your event is easy if you know where to find them...and it all starts right here.

Just up ahead, get inspired with a list of the most popular party games for any occasion, and make sure to scroll down for more on holiday party games and related resources around the Web.

Have fun!

Popular party icebreakers

Guess How Many - Fill a jar with jellybeans. As they arrive give each guest a slip of paper to write down how many jelly beans they think are in the jar. The one who comes closest to the correct number gets to take the jar of jelly beans home.

Can You Feel It? - Fill a large basket with a variety of items that are different in size and texture. Ask each guess to reach inside the basket to feel each object (without looking) and describe what they are. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize.

Let's Make a Deal - Based on the TV game show, party guests are asked to produce a set of house keys, a pack of chewing gum, or other items they may be carrying with them. Assign a point value to each item requested and award a prize to the guest who accumulates the most points.

Classic kids' party games:

Bean Bag Toss Mark out a target on the floor and line kids up a few feet away. Give three bean bags to each child and let them take turns tossing them into the target.

Musical Chairs Line up a row of chairs back to back. There should be one less chair than the number of kids playing. Start the music and have kids slowly walk around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must take a seat; The child left standing is eliminated from the game. Continue to play (removing one chair each round) until only one child is left.

Simon Says Choose one child to be the leader of the group who gives commands, such as "Simon says...take one step forward" or "Simon says ...hop on one leg". The group mimics each move but only if the leader begins with "Simon says". Otherwise, they're out. The last one remaining wins the game.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey Hang up a picture of a donkey without a tail. Line up kids a few feet away and give each one a tail with their names written on the back. Blindfold the first child and slowly spin him around three times, then point him in the direction of the donkey. Let each child take a turn to see who comes closest to hitting the target.

Popular outdoor party games:

Water Balloon Toss Have plenty of water balloons ready as you pair off players who throw balloons back and forth to each other without breaking them. Each time a balloon is caught, a player must step back further away before throwing it again. The team who is the farthest apart by the end of the game wins.

Pinata Hang the pinata from a tree branch or other location high above the heads of the children taking part in the game. Provide a broom handle or stick that kids can use to take turns trying to break the pinata. Safety note: Have everyone STAND BACK as each child takes a turn swinging the stick!

Three Legged Race Pair up guests and tie them together by the ankle using cord or rope. Hold relay races in teams to see who makes it to the finish line first.

also see -> Christmas party games | Halloween party games

Kid's Party Games without The Tears

More about party games around the Web:

Party Game Central - They named it right, with hundreds of ideas for party games categorized by type of party for kids, adults and teens, including birthday, holiday and icebreaker party games, as well as activities for baby or bridal showers, with related resources.

Party Game Ideas.com - Here's another great resource for any type of party activity idea, including games and entertainment for baby showers, dinner parties, holiday get togethers, kids birthday parties and lots more, with related printables.

Party Games Etc. - Pick your activity from the dropdown menu and get hundreds of games ideas, competitions and activities for kids, teens or adults, or search by category for dance party, bridal shower or holiday games. Vision adjustment to the small typeface - not included.

Party Game Ideas - A bit more manageable here with over a hundred ideas, including instructions for keeping things jumping at a bridal or baby shower, holiday or birthday party, including adult games and related resources

Party Games - Check out a bookmarkable page of great ideas including baby and wedding shower games, icebreakers, ball and balloon games, dozens of variations on the relay race, other yard and outdoor games, guessing games, and more.