Celebrations
Birthdays
By
Christine Gauvreau
Christine Gauvreau
Christine Gauvreau is an event planning expert with over 10 years of professional party planning experience. She co-founded an event planning business that specializes in kids' parties. She has written for The Spruce on topics related to children'sparties for almost five years.
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Updated on 05/01/23
Round up your Western pals because it's time to playat the dude ranch with these cowboy-themed party games and activities.
01 of 13
Horse Riding Races
(Video) Country Fun Party Games from "A Cowboy & A Dancer" EntertainmentHave kids line up and race on stick horses or horses made of pool noodles. They can race one-against-one or split up into teams and race relay-style.
To make a pool noodle horse, fold the top end of the noodle over and secure it with twine. Decorate with googly-eyes and a mane made out of fabric, craft foam, or yarn.
02 of 13
Balloon Stampede
Fill your play area with balloons. Then set the cowpokes loose on a balloon-popping stampede. Fill the balloons with prizes such as cowboy stickers and temporary tattoos before inflating. Once the stampede is over, kids can go back and collect the prizes.
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Homemade Wanted Posters
This cowboy party activity requires a little bit of advance preparation. When you send out your Western party invitations, include a note that asks parents to email you a photo of their child. Or, you can take pictures of guests as they arrive and print them in time for the activity. Once you have a photo of each guest, mount it on a piece of paper, cardstock, or poster board (depending on the size you wish) with the word “Wanted” printed across the top. Leave enough room below the image for the kids to complete the poster themselves.
Write one Old West nickname per party guest on a small sheet of paper. These words will be used in front of the party guests’ real names on their wanted posters. Some suggestions:
- Dastardly
- Coal Eyes
- Rattlesnake
- Panhandler
- Lasso
- Saddle Hands
- Leather Foot
- Bootprint
Fold up the cowboy nicknames and place them in a cowboy hat.
In a second cowboy hat, place papers on which you have written bad deeds. You can use a combination of traditional Wild West crimes like bank robbery and train hijacking with silly crimes such as stalling at bedtime or burying vegetables under a napkin.
Have party guests sit around a table with their wanted posters, some crayons, markers, cowboy stickers, and any decorative supplies you wish. Pass around the cowboy hats and have each child select a paper from each hat. Then have them complete their posters with their cowboy nicknames and the crimes for which they are wanted. For instance, a completed poster might read something like: “Wanted! Coal Eyes Matthew. For: Feeding his homework to the dog.”
Hang the wanted posters around the party area until the end of the event. Then send them home as party favors.
04 of 13
Lasso Toss
(Video) 13 Cowboy Party Games And Activities For Kids 🧧Gather your party guests for some Old West lasso tossing. Because real lassos can be dangerous, you should consider using a hula hoop or rope rings instead. Place a rocking horse or sawhorse at a fair distance from the line where players will stand. Give each player three tries to loop the lasso around the horse’s neck.
If you don’t have a rocking horse, try staking a stick horse into the ground.
Continue to 5 of 13 below.
05 of 13
Beanbag Boot Toss
To play this game, set up cowboy boots on a table. Draw a line a few feet away from the table. Have players stand behind the line and toss beanbags at the boots. Award prizes to players who can knock over a boot.
06 of 13
Rodeo Rides
If you have a seesaw, attach a saddle to each end. Place a child on each saddle and have two adults guide the seesaw up and down.
Another way to give rodeo rides is to secure a saddle to a red wagon, bicycle, or another suitable ride on toy. Have an adult pull the rider around a rodeo ring or obstacle course.
07 of 13
Snake in My Boot Relay
(Video) 4 FUNNY GAMES FOR YOUR NEXT PARTYThis game is fun for any cowboy-themed party, but it might also be especially enjoyable for a Toy Story party. Divide players into two teams. Give each team a cowboy boot. At the other end of the play space, place two buckets filled with rubber snakes. On the signal, the first players for each team race to retrieve a snake, bring it back and place it in the boot. Those players then tag the next players in line, who also race to place a snake in their boots. The relay race continues until one team has had each of its members collect a snake and drop it into the boot.
08 of 13
Tin Can Target Practice
On a sawhorse or table’s edge, line up one tin can per player. Have kids stand a couple of feet from the tin cans. Give each player a squirt gun and a bucket of water for refilling. When you signal the start of the game, kids squirt water at the cans, attempting to knock them down. When a player knocks over his can, he gets to claim a reward from a collection of trinket prizes.
Continue to 9 of 13 below.
09 of 13
Gem Mining
Before the party, have your kids paint a collection of rocks. Mix the painted rocks with plain rocks and put them all into a baby pool filled with water. Give kids sieves and have them mine for the gems. You can also play this game in a sandbox. Bury gold-painted rocks or gold nuggets in the sand and have them panhandle for the gold.
10 of 13
Blindfold Branding
Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a classic party game that is often changed to suit the theme of a party. In this cowboy version, instead of pinning a tail on a donkey, kids stamp a brand on a cow.
Hang up a poster of a cow. Cut a large sponge into the shape of a horseshoe and attach it to a stick. Dip the horseshoe-shaped sponge into some craft paint. Blindfold players and see who can come closest to branding the cow in a pre-determined spot.
(Video) Cowboy party URHere eng. campOther variations of the pin the tail game to play:
- Pin the tail on the horse.
- Pin the badge on the sheriff.
- Pin the hat on the cowgirl.
- Pin the boot on the cowboy.
11 of 13
Horse and Wagon Race
Gather players into groups of three. On each team, one player sits in a wagon or cardboard box that is decorated like a horse coach. The other two players are the horses who must pull their cowboy, in the wagon, across the finish line.
12 of 13
Cattle Corral
In this game one player is the rancher, trying to corral the cattle. The remaining players are the cattle. Tape off a square on the lawn to serve as the corral.
Play begins with the kids running around freely while trying to avoid being tagged by the rancher. When a player is tagged, he must go and stand in the corral. Another of the cattle players can go into the corral and tag him to set him free, but if that player is caught by the rancher while doing so, he also becomes a cowboy and must help corral the remaining players. Play continues until all the cattle players are in the corral and only ranchers remain outside of the box.
This same game can be played where the corral is a jailhouse, the “it” player is the sheriff, and the other players are bank robbers.
Continue to 13 of 13 below.
13 of 13
Cowboy Hat in the Ring Toss
(Video) Cowboy Party At OutpostPlace a hula hoop on the ground. Have your little cowboys line up behind a line and try to toss their hats into the ring. Award a prize for players who land their cowboy hats inside the hula hoop.
You can also draw a large bullseye target on the lawn (use lawn paint) and have the player whose hat lands closest to the bullseye win the game.
FAQs
Play These Fun Games at Your Cowboy Party? ›
For a western-style party, have guests attend in their best cowboy and cowgirl gear. Think cowboy hats, cowboy boots, plaid, and red bandanas. Don't forget to add turquoise jewelry and plenty of fringe.
What do you do at a cowboy party? ›- 01 of 13. Horse Riding Races. Westend61/Getty Images. ...
- 02 of 13. Balloon Stampede. ...
- 03 of 13. Homemade Wanted Posters. ...
- 04 of 13. Lasso Toss. ...
- 05 of 13. Beanbag Boot Toss. ...
- 06 of 13. Rodeo Rides. ...
- 07 of 13. Snake in My Boot Relay. ...
- 08 of 13. Tin Can Target Practice.
For a western-style party, have guests attend in their best cowboy and cowgirl gear. Think cowboy hats, cowboy boots, plaid, and red bandanas. Don't forget to add turquoise jewelry and plenty of fringe.
What games did kids play in the Wild West? ›- A Cowboy Birthday Party Theme just begs to have some games. ...
- Cattle Roundup. ...
- Wagons & Horses. ...
- Escape From Jail. ...
- Horseshoe Toss. ...
- Water Gun Shoot Out. ...
- Bandit Hunt. ...
- Boot Toss.
Shindig – A dance, party, celebration.
What would cowboys do for fun? ›- 9 Time Pass Options That Kept Wild West Folks Entertained. You won't believe some of them even existed once upon a time. ...
- Attending Medicine Shows. Image. ...
- Attending 'Living Picture Shows' Image. ...
- Attending Minstrel Shows. Image. ...
- Watching Prizefighting. Image. ...
- Attending Public Hangings. ...
- Gambling. ...
- Attending Circuses and Sideshows.
Place old cowboy hats on walls and doors. Change your usual light bulbs to yellow light bulbs. Get a couple of hay bales and cover with hessian bags for your guests to sit on. Set out cowboy hats and sheriff badges for guests.
What is the cowboy hate rule? ›Never lay a cowboy hat down on the brim. Place your hat on it's crown, brim up. You may also use a hat stand or rack. Never show the inside of of your hat. The hat band, and the inside of the crown should not be in or for public view.
What is cowboy etiquette? ›When being introduced to a lady, remove or tip your hat—but never to a man. (That's an insult.) Keep your hat on at the bar, in public buildings, and at the theater, unless it's blocking someone's view. Many rodeo cowboys believe it's bad luck to lay their hat on a bed.
What outdoor games did kids play in the 50s? ›In the 1950s children often played games in the streets outside their houses. This was much safer, as fewer people owned cars and there was far less traffic. Children also played different types of games, with more simple toys. Instead of computer games, they had footballs, hula hoops, skipping ropes and cards.
What were the Games of Chance in the Old West? ›
Faro was the most popular game of the time and was known as the "King of all games." It was not the only game people played, and monte, Vingt-et-Un (twenty-one), roulette, chuck-a-luck were all popular ways to take a risk.
What does a cowboy call a friend? ›So we here at Save the Cowboy have put together a guide on how to be a friend...or as we like to say, a pard. There are many thoughts on how to recognize a pard, but we can't control other people's actions. So we will focus on how you can be a pard.
What is basic cowboy slang? ›- Above Board. Something that is honest and legitimate. ...
- Ace-High. This term comes from poker, but was also used to refer to things that were fine, luxurious, and respectable. ...
- Airin' the Lungs. Cussing. ...
- Barn Sour. ...
- Desert Canary. ...
- Howdy. ...
- Tarnation. ...
- Tenderfoot.
Cowboys in the United States relished similar "chuck" (also called grub or chow). Canned and dried fruit, "overland trout" (bacon), beans, fresh meat, soda biscuits, tea, and coffee.
What's the most people at a cowboys game? ›...
AT&T Stadium.
AT&T Stadium Location in Texas Show map of Texas Show map of the United States Show all | |
Former names | Cowboys Stadium (2009–2013) |
Address | 1 AT&T Way |
Location | Arlington, Texas |
Construction |
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At night the cowboys told stories around the campfire or listened to fiddle or harmonica music. Wake up time was often four o'clock in the morning. Each morning the cowboy had to make his bed and load it on the chuck wagon, or the cook might leave it behind. The chuck wagon moved ahead of the herd to the night's camp.
What are 2 fun facts about the cowboys? ›#1 – The Dallas Cowboys franchise was granted on January 28, 1960! Just last year they celebrated their 60th year as a team. #2 – Since their founding, they've won FIVE Superbowl's, which ties them for 3rd place with the San Francisco 49ers.
What is cowboy western food? ›Along the trail, the staples of a cowboy diet consisted of beans, hard biscuits, dried meat, dried fruit, and coffee. Occasionally, a type of bread known as pan de campo (or “camp bread”), which was cooked on a skillet was also available. These along with a little bit of sugar were the staples of the chuckwagon pantry.
What should a host do during a party? ›- They have fun. ...
- They don't force games. ...
- They embrace basic desserts. ...
- They keep the wine glasses full. ...
- They know lighting matters. ...
- They play fun music. ...
- They know when to tuck their kids in. ...
- They don't freak out if everything isn't perfect.
- Honey & Herb Oven Roasted Carrots. ...
- Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes. ...
- Easy Stuffing. ...
- Baked Beans. ...
- Garlic Butter Mushrooms. ...
- Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes. ...
- Southern Fried Corn. ...
- Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
What drinks were popular in the Wild West? ›
Also popular was Cactus Wine, made from a mix of tequila and peyote tea, and Mule Skinner made with whiskey and blackberry liquor. The house rotgut was often 100 proof, though it was sometimes cut by the barkeep with turpentine, ammonia, gunpowder, or cayenne.
What kind of food do you serve at a backyard party? ›- 100+ Best-Ever Party Appetizers. ...
- Joy the Baker. ...
- Creative Slow Cooker Dinners. ...
- Potato Chip Crispies. ...
- Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken (Just 7 Ingredients!) | foodiecrush.com. ...
- Beer Batter Hush Puppies Recipe. ...
- Oven Baked Ribs with Chipotle BBQ Sauce. ...
- Grilled Shrimp with Mustard Sauce | foodiecrush.com.
1) Live each day with courage. 2) Take pride in your work. 3) Always finish what you start. 4) Do what has to be done.
What is the modern cowboy code? ›The cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. He must always tell the truth. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
What does a black cowboy hat mean? ›Q: What do different cowboy hat colors mean? In old Western movies from the 1920s to 1940s, “bad guys” wore black hats while “good guys” wore white ones.
What is the original cowboy code? ›The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. He must always tell the truth. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
Is there really a cowboy code? ›First chronicled by the famous western writer, Zane Grey, in his 1934 novel The Code of the West, no "written" code ever actually existed. However, the hardy pioneers who lived in the west were bound by these unwritten rules that centered on hospitality, fair play, loyalty, and respect for the land.
Why not put cowboy hat on bed? ›Never set your cowboy hat on a bed, which brings on an argument, bad luck, injury, or even death. The roots of this famous superstition are hotly debated. One theory is that a person's hat was often placed on top of their coffin, and no one wanted to conjure up that image in their bedroom.
What are the 5 out of outdoor games? ›There are a variety of outdoor games that are played in India like Kho-Kho, kabaddi, cricket, volleyball, basketball and football.
What are 6 examples of the outdoor games? ›- Hide and Seek. Everyone has played this one. ...
- Kick the Can. This game is a variation of tag and hide & seek. ...
- Capture the Flag. This game is most fun when played with a large group. ...
- Parachute. ...
- Traffic Cop. ...
- Four Square. ...
- Hopscotch. ...
- Jump-Rope and Double Dutch.
What are some old timey games to play? ›
Indoors, play timeless old games like Charades, Hide and Go Seek, or Sardines. Other great indoor games include Jacks, marbles, and the feather game, where children blow a feather to try to keep it in the air. Keep a few of these old-school, classic games to play with children in your parenting arsenal.
How do you play Bear Ninja cowboy? ›- Cowboy = both hands mimicking pistols, pointed at your opponent.
- Ninja = both hands at about face level, hands flat and poised for a martial arts attack.
- Bear = hands up, fingers curled like claws, ready to rip your opponent to shreds.
Faro was by far the most popular and prolific game played in Old West saloons, followed by Brag, Three-card-monte, and dice games such as High-low, Chuck-a-luck, and Grand hazard.
What games were played in saloons? ›Many saloons offered games of chance like Faro, poker, brag, three-card monte, and dice games. Other games were added as saloons continued to prosper and face increasing competition. These additional games included billiards, darts, and bowling.
What card game did Cowboys play? ›A game of faro was often called a "faro bank". It was played with an entire deck of playing cards. One person was designated the "banker" and an indeterminate number of players, known as "punters", could be admitted.
What is a cowboy wife called? ›A cowgirl is the female equivalent of a cowboy.
What do you call a cheater in cowboy slang? ›Rook – To cheat, to dupe, such as a cardsharper or conman might do in a poker game. Rookus Juice – Liquor. Roostered – Drunk. “Looks like those cowboys are in there gettin' all roostered up.”
How do you say thank you in cowboy? ›Howdy!! is the cowboy way of saying Thank You and Hello!!
What is cowboy slang for bed? ›Latty or Letty – A bed.
How do you say let's go in cowboy? ›Cowboy vocabulary: howdy = hi howdy partner = hi there friend ya'll = all of you ya = you giddy up = let's go (often said while riding to a horse) Head 'em up, move 'em out.
What did cowboys call jail? ›
Crowbar Hotel – Jail.
What do cowboys call whiskey? ›Old Orchard – Whiskey. Old Pie – An expression of admiration or approval. Old Pod – Old man. Old Rackatee – A gun.
What do cowboys call water? ›Adam's Ale – Water. Addle-headed – Empty-headed, not smart.
What are the cowboy rules? ›- Cowboy Code #1: Never touch another person's horse or tack. ...
- Cowboy Code #2: Be ready and on time to work. ...
- Cowboy Code #3: Don't bring your dogs unless you ask permission. ...
- Cowboy Code #4: Never ride ahead of the cow boss. ...
- Cowboy Code #5: Don't turn your horse's tail to a cow.
The fashion of Urban Cowboy is of course characterized by cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and big ol' belt buckles. Plus blue Wranglers for the guys, teeny tanks and tied-up shirts for the ladies.
What do you actually do at a party? ›- Watching a movie, TV show, sports, or online clips.
- Playing a board game, probably a more party-oriented one.
- Playing video games, again, probably something more party-oriented.
- Playing a game like darts, table tennis, Foosball, or pool, if the host has the stuff for it.
- Munching on snacks.
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code of Honor
The cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. 2. He must never go back on his word or a trust confided in him.
1) Skirts and Dresses
Most women wore ankle to floor-length skirts and dresses made in gingham and calico even when they were riding, roping, or branding cattle. Riding skirts, skirts designed to help women ride astride, were split up the middle and similar to pants or skorts.
- Wear well-fitting clothing. ...
- Make sure to put on cowboy boots. ...
- Choose neutral colors for your clothes. ...
- Wear original denim jackets. ...
- Don't forget your flannel shirts. ...
- Try on stylish waistcoats. ...
- Wear classic, quality denim jeans. ...
- Play with accessories for a Western look.
- 01 of 20. Have a Themed Dance-Off. ...
- 02 of 20. Plan an At-Home Trivia Night. ...
- 03 of 20. Opt for Board Games. ...
- 04 of 20. Turn Your Place Into a Casino. ...
- 05 of 20. On a Budget? ...
- 06 of 20. Put on a Scavenger Hunt. ...
- 07 of 20. Throw a Pizza- or Cheeseboard-Making Party. ...
- 08 of 20.
How do you make people have fun at a party? ›
- Create a Fake Persona. If you don't know many people at the party, you can choose to become a completely different person. ...
- Learn Some Popular Dances. ...
- Be the Bartender. ...
- Crack Some Jokes. ...
- Play Casino Games. ...
- Drink Champagne and Play Drinking Games. ...
- Eat.
- Be intensely curious. Show that you're genuinely fascinated by what someone's telling you and ask smart follow-up questions.
- Be a good listener. ...
- Ask interesting questions.
Never Mess With a Cowboy's Hat
You might think stealing a baseball cap off someone's head is a hilarious prank, but one of the most significant cowboy hat rules is don't touch or steal a cowboy's hat.