Looking for some fun, frugal and almost free game ideas for your Labor Day Party? These ideas are just a few of the many entertaining games for Labor Day or any holiday or special occasion. No need to spend a lot of money to have fun.


Who is He/She?

Cut some cards in a zigzag pattern and place in envelopes (one color for guys and another color for gals). It’s best to use cards with large patterns on the back like flowers. Then cut some slivers of paper and write, “In the envelope there is half of the card. The missing part belongs to someone who is present here. Try to find him or her. The first 3 pairs get prizes. Good luck!” Fold them and place them in the envelope with each ½ card. You can also save time by posting the rules of the game on a poster on a wall.

Pass the Parcel

Pass the parcel is a lot like musical chairs or hot potato in that you’re playing a game to music. But this game has with a twist. A prize or gift is wrapped in multiple layers of wrapping paper, the more the better. Each layer should be a different design so that the participants can distinguish between the layers. Smaller prizes or mottos may be placed between some or all other layers of wrapping.

The players sit in a circle (or at least close enough to pass it to each other). The music starts and the parcel is passed around. Whoever is holding the parcel when the music stops removes one layer of the wrapping and claims any prize found under that layer. The music restarts and the game continues until every layer is removed and the prize is claimed.

Wink, Wink Murder

You need at least 4 players for this one, but more is definitely better on this one (large groups 35+ okay). For each round one player is secretly assigned to play the “murderer.” To decide you could use some playing cards with one particular card being designated the “killer card.” Whoever receives that card is the killer for that round.

The murderer “kills” by making eye contact and winking at the victim. When a player is winked at, they must count to five silently before faking their death, by either lying on the floor or leaving the playing area.

If a player thinks they know the identity of the killer, they can raise their hand and announce “I accuse,” but not name the suspect. The game pauses and the accuser asks someone to second their motion. When the seconder volunteers; neither name their suspect. Both players point at the same time to their suspect. If they are correct, the game ends. If they point to different players or to an innocent player both accusers are eliminated as if they’d been murdered.

Players aren’t allowed to communicate who they think the murderer might be, and the players who are not the murderer are not allowed to wink. The murderer’s objective is to try to kill as many people as he can without getting caught.

Labor Day Mystery Hunt

Adults and kids alike can work together on this one or they can have separate hunts of their own. This can be done in teams or individually. Gather up all your clues and items for the hunt in advance, make up your Labor Day mystery story and write out the clues. It’s good to set this one up before everyone arrives.

At the start of the game give each team or individual their starting clue. Each clue reveals the next place to look and a little piece of the mystery to solve until all the clues are gone. The team or person who figures out the final question wins the prize.

For an easier version you could hide holiday decorations and other related items for people to find. The person or team who finds the most wins the prize. You can also opt out and not use clues for this one and just make it a scavenger hunt.


No matter which games you choose all of these games can be played by adults and children. You can make them as easy or as complex as you like, it’s all up to you. Decide before hand what the prize or prizes will be and if it’s for the adults or children or both and if the games will be played in teams or individually.