10 Classical Fun Family Activities Around The Campfire

Looking for ideas for fun family activities to do around the campfire? Family camping can be challenging, especially if you’ve got unwilling participants in your digital addict kids. Check out this list of classical campfire activities that we’ve tweaked a bit for the whole family to enjoy!

Family Activities Around The Campfire You Can Count On

Let’s admit it. Getting kids to get their faces off gadget screens, off the couch, and into the great outdoors is quite challenging nowadays. But as homesteading parents, we have to for our kids’ own good.  Pretty soon, they will be going off in all sorts of directions away from our home and I can only do so much. While they’re still with me, all I can do is give them happy memories. My kids may feel forced to go camping, but I’m sure these will become their fondest memories when they’re all grown up. These fun family activities around the campfire sure have been mine!

1. Campfire Songs

Enliven the campfire group with good ol’ campfire songs and singing games. Everybody loves karaoke so everyone will definitely join in this vocal chord-exercise activity. Don’t forget about singing games like name that tune or try this singing game where you start a song from the last word of the previous song. Don’t forget to bring your trusty guitar along!

2. Shadow Puppet’s Play

Forget about a bringing a projector to a campfire. Where’s the fun in that? Why not make your own shadow puppet show using your hands and put your and your kid’s imagination to good work.

3. Playing Dress Up

Who doesn’t want to play dress up? Whether your kids are up for magical fairies or a wild-wild west theme, it’s going to be extra fun in the campfire. You can put up a play around the campfire too!

4. Toasting Marshmallows

What’s a campfire without roasted, toasted, and even burnt marshmallows? It sure ain’t fun for your little ones. Before you pack up for the big day, be sure you’ve got the big bag of marshmallows all secured. Get that campfire list entry on marshmallows checked!

5. Roasting S’mores

What’s also a campfire without our favorite S’mores? It’s a favorite traditional campfire treat that we can proudly call our own. Your kids will definitely dig this treat they can make themselves.

6. Lighting Sparklers

It doesn’t have to be the 4th of July for you and your kids to light up sparklers around the campfire. In fact, the setup and timing couldn’t be any perfect with sparklers you can easily lit in the campfire. Make sure to get a good shot with your camera of the sparks and lines created by the sparklers.

7. Scary Story Time

Remember ‘The Midnight Society’ from Are You Afraid of the Dark? They tell scary stories all around the campfire which surely sets the mood. It’s funny that I can be a scaredy cat but this was my most awaited part of the campfire as a kid. Don’t forget about Bigfoot or the scarecrow, they are classics that just never grow old. You can also check out the best scary story to tell in the dark here!

8. Grilling Barbecue

Whether it’s chicken, pork, steak, sausages, or hot dog barbecue, lay ’em all out in the fire to grill. With the activities and the fresh outdoor air, you’ll soon have a bunch of hungry campers. Make sure to throw in some healthy fruits and vegetables to balance everything out. You may also want to check these campfire recipes for a delicious variety.

9. Stargazing

When was the last time you gazed up at a night sky and appreciated the stars, constellations, and all? Sadly, it’s not possible in a well-lit night in the city or even in the suburbs. Stargazing may seem like a boring activity for your kids, but wait till they try it. They might spot a wishing star or two, and wish for a campfire each year. Make sure you’ve got your constellation expertise covered and be ready for a barrage of questions.

10. Campfire Games

Playing in the dark, even with the campfire blazing can be difficult. Luckily, we have campfire games to pass the time around the campfire where you don’t have to move around and potentially hurting yourselves in the dark. You can enjoy games like ‘pass the message’ where you simply whisper a message around. You’ll find it funny how a message changes as it goes around.

Want to try a cool trick? Add color to your bonfire by checking out this video from Rick’s Tips:

What are your favorite family activities around the campfire? Let us know in the comments below!

How about family activities on a lazy rainy day? Care to check these rainy day activities for the family to enjoy? 

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This post was originally published in January 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.