Detailed group date plans with bonus pointers for the ultimate group date experience
Experiences connect us as humans. So make some striking memories with your spouse/date and your friends on some creative group dates that STAND OUT from dinner and a movie or boring ol’ bowling.
The following ideas are perfect for couples wanting to mix up the dating scene (and actually get a babysitter to go on a date with friends) or for high school students looking for a unique group date to do before the big dance. Plus, these dates could even become a unique date-in-a-box gift for Christmas or an anniversary for an adventurous couple you know! Here are some ideas to get you started for planning an unforgettable date.
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1. SMOOTHIES ON AN “ISLAND”
This one is for us poor landlocked folks. Track down a roundabout ahead of time (ask me how I know this), then pick up some fruity goodness with your group and sip your drinks on your very own island! Have fun waving at all of the colorful “fish” driving by, or find an island with a little more foliage if you prefer some privacy.
*BONUS POINTS* Have everyone bring tropical attire, and make at least one guy wear a coconut bra for hilarious photos.
Extra mile: Not done with your island-themed group date? Go indoor surfing, have dinner somewhere with grilled pineapple or top off the evening with Lilo & Stitch or Moana.
2. SCHOOL RECESS SHENANIGANS
For a lighthearted group date scout out some good climbing trees, then have each couple pick a tree and go as high as they dare. Bring chalk for each couple to draw their own hopscotch game or draw lines for some classic four-square.
Then head inside for some paper airplane competition. Fold your own plane or use our go-to paper airplane design and take turns launching them at a hand drawn target to aim for the bullseye! Be prepared that it might turn into a paper airplane war. 🙂
*BONUS POINTS* Up your hopscotch game by drawing spaces that require leaps, spins, handstands, model poses, or whatever crazy ideas you can come up with, then attempt each couple’s map.
Extra Mile: Cut a hole through some cardboard or a cereal box, hang it from a ceiling fan, turn the fan on for 3-5 seconds to get the target in motion, then try aiming at a moving target!
3. BONFIRE WITH SPECIALTY S’MORES
Whether in your backyard fire pit or up in the mountains, firelight makes everyone look good!
So bonfires always mean s’mores, right? But cold Hershey’s chocolate just doesn’t do it for me. Take your s’mores to the next level with key lime pie s’mores—seriously our FAVORITE camping treat—or use Nutella instead of chocolate or drizzle your mallows with some salted caramel and use coconut cookies instead of graham crackers. Treat those taste buds!
*BONUS POINTS* Make tinfoil dinners or roast applewood chicken sausages (hard pass on the hot dogs) to make a tasty meal for the night.
Extra Mile: Rent/borrow a couple four wheelers or mountain bikes to take turns riding while others hangout by the fire.
4. SWEET GROUPON FINDS
Sharing new experiences, especially when you have a common goal as a team, is unifying for couples and promotes trust. And according to some classic research, there’s a fun little psychology trick that can help our brains connect an adrenaline rush with increased attraction!
After seeing what our town and surrounding big cities had to offer, we found a fencing class on Groupon—how cool is that?! True, we could only schedule to go during a Thursday night, but that meant it was actually affordable. Like under $10 affordable. Plus, there are often deals for groups, so take advantage of strength in numbers… for saving money!
Other activities I’ve found include laser tag, which is a blast, and one of these days axe-throwing and indoor skydiving are going to happen. Get out there and get that adrenaline pumping and attraction sizzling!
*BONUS POINTS* Surprise your spouse or date with the activity by only giving the attire and date/time information. Then keep your lips sealed until you show up at the location for the big reveal.
5. ART + CHOCOLATE TASTING
For a classy group date check out a local art museum and find the most interesting pieces. Then have each couple contribute one or two of their favorite chocolate treats and let everyone sample the chocolatey goodness. Props to anyone who brings something still melty warm—chocolate lava cake anyone? To top of the cultured evening have everyone sketch their date’s portrait and either be impressed or amused by the artistic ability.
*BONUS POINTS* Buy some cheap ornate frames from a thrift store, spray paint gold if needed, and snap a group picture with your newly framed masterpieces.
Extra Mile: If you’re serious about the art portion of this date idea, ask an artistic friend or a helpful YouTube instructor to teach everyone a thing or two. I recommend trying a simple watercolor if you want to do more than sketches.
6. MARSHMALLOW BLOWGUN WARS
Enjoy pelting each other with friendly mini marshmallows sent flying through the air thanks to handmade blowguns. Ideally, select an outdoor location with trees or obstacles to dart between. Usually we give everyone three lives and periodically switch up the teams for variety.
Blowgun construction is easy: simply head over to your local hardware store and pick up some ½ inch diameter PVC pipe and a handsaw to create a blowgun. I know Amazon sells marshmallow blowgun, but I’m not going to link something so overpriced! This is something you can totally make on your own.
*BONUS POINTS* Have colored bandannas or strips of fabric to clearly identify teams. Also, a snack and water station will be much appreciated after all that sneaking and dodging.
Extra Mile: Spend the first part of the date constructing a fancy blowgun such as one with handles or other convenient features. Then personalize with paint, markers or washi tape.
7. WATER BALLOON VOLLEYBALL
An excellent date for larger groups (4-10 couples), although this can be played as a game of toss for small groups too. First, set up a “>volleyball net in the backyard or park, then get some easy-fill water balloons and transport them in a cooler with water to prevent premature popping. Then make sure every couple has a beach towel.
How to play: Couples will hold the corners of their towel and fling upwards while pulling the towel taut to launch balloons. The opposite team will then catch the balloon in one of their towels. The point goes to the team that doesn’t let it pop on their side.
*BONUS POINTS* Bring a blanket and serve a finger food potluck picnic. Kettle chips encouraged. And don’t worry about plates, you’ll only need baby wipes for clean up.
Extra Mile: Bring other yard games like bocce ball (a house favorite), spike ball, giant Jenga or croquet for activity rotation, especially if it’s an extra-large group date.
8. FREAKY FRIDAY
Okay, so you’re not actually switching roles per say, but YOUR DATE will be the one who picks out your outfit and does your hair and makeup. Agree beforehand if a normal or drastic appearance is the goal, then go out to dinner. The catch? Absolutely no complaining allowed.
*BONUS POINTS* Adopt a different persona for the evening and stick to it all night, even if you run into someone you know.
Extra Mile: Head to the thrift store and pick out some snazzy clothing for each other to match your persona, or let it be the inspiration for it!
9. BE A KID AGAIN
When was the last time you played lava monster on the playground? Find the coolest park in your area and play sardines, tag or any other nostalgic playground game. Then head to the library and read children’s books to each other. Top off the group date with a picnic of everyone’s most beloved childhood snacks. Cheers to munching on goldfish and fruit snacks with friends!
*BONUS POINTS* Select a book from the children’s section you cherished as a child to share for a sweet moment with your date.
Extra Mile: Have everyone bring a picture on their phones of what they looked like as a kid. Then go around the circle during the picnic and share a favorite childhood activity and memory from way back when.
10. GIGANTIC SLIP ‘N SLIDE
For a truly epic group date make a huge DIY slip ‘n slide using a sheet of 100×10 ft clear visqueen on a backyard hill or a park with a hill and water connection for some serious water fun. With a big group, splitting up the cost will make this even more affordable!
Before getting the slip ‘n slide wet, have everyone walk over the visqueen with bare feet to detect sticks or small rocks. Avoid injuries related to using landscape pins, as well as avoid having to use oil or baby soap to make things slick by providing constant water using PVC pipe. Do so by drilling small holes into a simple arch or U-shaped PVC pipe creation, and attaching it to a hose with a conversion kit for garden hose to PVC pipe. Then anchor the top of the visqueen with large rocks or even a heavy cooler of drinks. Finally, if you like running starts, put down an outdoor mat to prevent falls on the inevitably wet grass. Then have a blast! Don’t forget to hand out awards for the fastest slide time and most stylized run.
*BONUS POINTS* Bust out some cool whip containers a few minutes before people arrive to allow them to thaw and have a cool whip fight before getting wet. (Can you tell we like playful fights around here?) Also, yay for not having to hunt for water balloon pieces afterwards.
11. HAPPY UN-BIRTHDAY PARTY
Choose a month in which no one in the group has a birthday. Pass out Happy Un-Birthday invitations with the following instructions:
1. Bring a potluck item WITHOUT coordinating with any of the other attendees
2. Bring a present under $__ that you would actually want to receive
3. Prepare a non-talent for the non-talent show; real talents will be boo-ed
A local amphitheater is ideal for the un-talent show, and make sure someone brings a speaker for audio needs. We had acts ranging from dad jokes to invisible extreme juggling with techno music, and inflexibility to the amazing un-talent of not being able to solve a rubix cube blindfolded. Truly, this makes for a HILARIOUS evening to go down in the books.
*BONUS POINTS* Use this site to easily make invitations for free!
Extra Mile: Hand deliver the invitations and clarify any questions on the unique instructions.
12. HUMAN ICE CREAM SUNDAES
There’s nothing quite like helping your date cool down by making an ice cream masterpiece on his head. Set some chairs up in the backyard and have the guys and girls take turns making ice cream sundaes on each other using cheap ice cream and cans of whip cream. Fair warning, a whip cream fight is probably inevitable.
*BONUS POINTS* Make clean up a blast by having water fight supplies handy. We love these trusty water guns, but a bucket of water with large cups works well too!
Extra Mile: Pull out the good stuff and let people eat actual ice cream sundaes afterwards.
13. GLOW IN THE DARK GOLFING
Also known as “glowfing,” this date uses biodegradable golf balls, large glow sticks, a few golf tees and those old golf clubs one of your friends found at a thrift store. I got this idea from my college town, so it might be a small-town thing, but it’s a great after dark activity!
Place the golf balls in a plastic bag, put on some gloves (added this step after seeing how messy it can be), slice open the large glow sticks with an utility knife, carefully pour the liquid into the bag, tie shut, and shake to distribute the glow.
We hit these into a giant pit, but some sort of cliff or even flat open land would work well (as long as there is no risk of hitting unsuspecting people).
*BONUS POINTS* Show your date how to golf in a romantic fashion. Even if she already knows how show her anyway as an excuse to cuddle! (Only attempt this blatant flirting if you’re in a serious relationship. Not recommended for blind dates. Ha!)
Extra Mile: Make your own mini golf course in your home or at a park! If you’re worried about using glow sticks you could cover the golf balls in glow in the dark paint or tape.
14. WINTER IN JULY
Go “sledding” with ice blocks (available at most gas stations), have a “snowball fight” with clean rolled up white socks soaked in water, and finish with frozen hot cocoa. My husband still talks about this date.
In case you haven’t heard of ice blocking, it’s the summer version of sledding using an ice block and a towel. Some ice blocks are fairly flat, some more rectangular; the flat ones are more stable. Also, apparently it’s prohibited in some cities due to being hard on the grass, so double check local regulations.
*BONUS POINTS* Play zombie tag for the “snowball fight.” One person starts as a lone zombie. When she tags someone, that person now joins the zombie team and they work together until everyone has been tagged. The only way to recover from the zombie infection is for a human to catch your snowball sock. If the original zombie’s snowball sock is caught, humans win.
Extra Mile: Make mini snowmen out of DIY snow play-dough with buttons, sticks, little fabric strips, etc. Then start any snow themed movie like Eight Below or Frozen.
15. ARCHERY TAG
Someday we will own archery tag equipment ourselves… *wistful sigh* Yep, it’s THAT awesome. This date is fabulous for large groups, and while a little pricey, it’s a blast!
In case you haven’t heard of it, archery tag is a beautiful cross between archery and dodgeball. Don’t worry, the arrows have a huge foam marshmallows on the ends.
*BONUS POINTS* Invite the staff member to join the game if he or she is available to add an experienced opponent to the mix. Before you get all sweaty have a staff member snap a photo of everyone appearing to aim at the camera.
Extra Mile: Have everyone over for a BBQ afterwards.
16. HOST THE OLYMPICS
Compete in three to five custom selected Olympic events, then award the gold, silver and bronze medals to the overall winners! Here are some event ideas:
Swimming—lay on a long board and perform different strokes as you “swim” down the sidewalk.
Long jump—mark a starting line and have a tape measure handy for accurate distance measurement.
Cross country skiing—tape ski-shaped cardboard to your feet or consider taping one pair of skis to each couple (one person in front, the other in back) for some amusing teamwork.
Shot put—use a bocce ball (unless you happen to have an iron shot hanging around) and toss as far as possible.
Archery—shoot darts at a dart board, or use a real bow and target if you have the equipment handy.
Gymnastics—do some acrobatics from flips to handsprings to handstands, or make a simple balance beam out of a 2×2 or use a slack line to try out your balancing skills.
Ice hockey—play broom hockey on a gym floor using brooms and a lacrosse ball or hockey puck.
*BONUS POINTS* While your date is competing do your best to be an obnoxiously enthusiastic #1 fan. Then, after medals have been awarded, have some healthy refreshments for all of you Olympic athletes to enjoy.
Extra Mile: Find some random action figures or plastic toys from a thrift store or dollar store, hot glue them to a simple wooden base, and spray paint them gold, silver, and bronze to give out as hilarious trophies.
There you have it, 16 super creative ways to mix things up and make a summer highlight or an awesome way to reconnect with friends.
What have been some of your all time favorite group dates you’ve been on? We’d love to add them to our group date idea rotation!
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