How to Plan Western Party Games

Greet guests by presenting them with felt cowboy hats. The hat serves two purposes: It sets the Western theme and the hat will be used for a party game called Ten-Gallon Hat Toss. Have guests line up single file behind a throw line. The goal is to toss a hat onto one of the arms of an inflatable cactus 4 to 5 feet in front of the line. Players who accomplish this remove their hat from the cactus and move to the back of the line. Players who miss collect their hat and leave the game. If more than one player accomplishes the task, the cactus is moved farther away until one player wins. Make variations of this game by substituting a cowboy boot, a western theme pinata or a stick pony for the cactus.

Play Musical Cowboy Hat. One hat is used for this game. It's a variation of musical chairs. Turn on a cowboy song, such as Home on the Range. The guest wearing the hat when the music stops is out of the game. The last player in the game wins.

Wrangle up brown frisbees for a cow patty toss. Divide your guests into two teams. They could be separated as cowboys and cowgirls, children and adults or divide the group in half. Each team member gets three throws. The goal is to toss frisbees into hula hoops placed several feet away. Each target has a different point value. Add the total points from each team to determine the winner.

Challenge your guests to a Western duel. Arm players with water guns or cans of aerosol string. Each guest selects one rival. The two players walk 20 paces in the opposite direction, turns and fire the toy weapons. A designated sheriff declares the winner.

Stage a line dancing contest. Select three judges. Divide the remaining guests into two teams. Play upbeat country-western music and instruct the teams to dance their best boot-scooting cowboy boogie. Judges announce the winner after each team dances.