25+ Fun Graduation Party Games and Activities
Our graduates are eager to celebrate success after persevering through their final school year. Whether you're planning a smaller, private shindig for your graduate and his/her closest friends or working with your school to offer a safe, central Project Graduation style party – we've got fun icebreakers, games, and activities ready to entertain your grads and make lasting memories. Pro Tip: Get ideas for unique grad party themes here!
In-Person Party Games & Activities
Guess Who? – Place the name of a teacher on a post-it or name tag. When a guest comes in, stick it on his or her back. The guest then asks other guests yes or no questions about the teacher and must guess who it is by the end of the night.
Dress Up – Set out lots of costume items such as huge jackets, glasses, suspenders, boas, hats, tiaras, and scarves. Ask each guest to put on 2 or 3 items and take a group photo.
Musical Partners – Get everyone up and dancing! Start with one couple on the dance floor. Stop the music and the couple then splits and each person selects another partner to dance with. Repeat this until the dance floor is full.
I Remember When – This is a sweet and often touching game. You'll need lunch bags, one per guest, plus paper and pens to write on. Set up the bags and the paper so that each guest can write something they remember about the other guests and place it in their bag. Be sure to stress to the guests that only nice things should be shared.
Limbo – An old favorite is new again! Play some fun music while the guests stand in line waiting to bend backwards low enough to fit under the limbo stick (broom handle, yardstick, etc.). In order to win, the limbo master must not touch the stick or fall on the floor while limbo-ing under the stick (which is usually held by 2 people).
Octopus Tag – This is one of the graduation party games where no one is out! A first person is chosen who is the octopus. The rest of the group are fish. Each person tagged joins the octopus. Play continues until there is one fish left.
Talent Show – As a break from the normal graduation party games, a talent show lets everyone get a drink and watch the entertainment. Set aside a stage with lighting (if possible) with music pre-arranged to suit each act. You can ask the guests to prepare something in the party invitations and give them a theme if you wish.
Sing A Long – In a 'camp fire' style, have the guests sing some classic songs in unison. This is a great way to showcase the musical talents of some of the graduates.
Dance Competition – Arrange a dance floor. Also have music in keeping with the party theme. Guests have to dance with a judge eliminating people as the music goes on. The last couple or person still on the floor wins. Good fun graduation party games.
Name that Tune – Set up music on a CD. Ask players how many notes they need to hear to name the tune. Play they number of notes and see if they get it right. This can become highly competitive!
Wink Murder – All guests sit in a circle with closed eyes. The host taps one person on the head and that person is the murderer. Tell everyone to open their eyes as the game now begins. The murderer must successfully wink at four or five guests without getting caught. All guests winked at must show they are murdered by doing their best dramatic death scene. If a player catches someone winking, he or she immediately raises a hand and secretly tells the host. If they're right, they win! If they're wrong, they "die" and the game continues until the murderer winks at all the victims.
Name That Pop Star – Put some pop star names in a hat. Ask your guests to take it in turns to pick one out and then to sing a verse of one of their songs. The other guest must try to guess the pop star. Award prizes for the best performance.
Head the Balloon – Ask guests to walk along a short course while keeping a balloon up in the air using only their heads.
Pass The Orange – Divide the group into 2 teams. The people must pass the orange from neck to neck using only chins and necks. The team that can get the orange to the last neck in line the quickest without dropping the orange wins.
Yes/No – A classic among graduation party games. Set up a small stage area. Bring out each player and ask them questions which they must avoid saying yes or no to. For example: Do you like cake? Are you going on vacation? Allow up to 20 questions per player. They are also out if they hesitate for more than 5 seconds.
Time Capsule – Ask guests to predict the future for the graduate. They will write down their opinion of where the graduate will be and what they will have achieved in say 5, 10 or 15 years.
Bonfire – Weather and safety permitting, coordinate an outside bonfire overseen by a professional where kids can chill or even roast marshmallows.
Door Prizes – Connect with local businesses to offer prizes like gift cards, free services and even something big, like an iPad or laptop.
Yearbook Sign – Encourage students to bring their yearbooks and provide pens for them to sign one another’s throughout the night; have a designated table where they can drop off and pick their yearbooks back up
Photo Booth – String up a colorful sheet, curtain or banner for a photo booth; oversized props create a fun space for students to take pictures with one another. A quick run to your local dollar store can supply all the props you need!
Graffiti Wall – Cover one wall in your venue with bulletin board paper, and provide sharpies for students to write messages and their favorite quotes from teachers
Magic Show – Bring in a local magician or hypnotist who can wow the crowd!
Glow in the Dark Party - Hand out glow sticks, glow necklaces and bracelets that add a nightclub touch to your festivities and dance party.
Senior Video – Host a viewing of the Senior Slideshow or a movie created from the students’ past year.
Plan ahead – SignUp is the perfect tool for scheduling all your volunteers and supplies to make sure Project Graduation goes off without a hitch!
Virtual Party Games & Activities
Get extra creative with your graduation party activities this year with virtual activities for those unable to attend in person. Things like putting on a talent show, viewing the senior video, and playing games like Name that Tune are easily converted or extended into digital activities with a video platform like Zoom. Here are 5 more ideas for online graduation party fun, with at-home attendees in mind.
Name, Place, Animal, Thing – To play, pick a letter. Then each player has to list a famous person's name, a place, an animal, and a thing that begins with that letter. The first person to type them into the Zoom chat wins.
Codenames Online – A board game turned virtual, channel your inner spy with Codenames. Using clues provided by selected "spymasters", players must identify all of their team's secret agents (who can only be identified by their codenames) before the other team does. Get all the details of how to play here.
Charades – It's an oldie but goodie that translates easily to video. Divide your group into teams and use a charades word generator to choose your words and phrases. Have the person who is acting out the charade use the Zoom "spotlight" feature – this puts the focus on a specific person for all participants. Their team has one minute to figure out the phrase.
Virtual Escape Room – For a remote adventure, book an escape room (or multiple) at the Escape Game. Your party interacts with someone physically in the escape room – they carry a live camera and handle the clues in the room for you. They also provide a dashboard so you can get a 360-degree view of the room, plus a view of the objects you have found. You have 60 minutes to find your way out of the room!
Video Interviews – Before party day, contact graduates' family, friends, and teachers and ask them to record a 30-second video on their phone talking about or to the graduate. Have them share what they love most about the graduate, a favorite memory of them, or a message of encouragement. Collect the videos and compile them into one surprise video for everyone to view together at your virtual event.
Pro Tip: Remember to use SignUp to organize volunteers, supplies, and refreshments – even keep track of attendees!
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