Hippie Games

Tie-Dye Contests

• For older children and adults, have them compete in a tie-dye shirt contest. Give each player a tie-dye making kit (available at most craft stores and online) and a white T-shirt. Tell all contestants they have 20 minutes to create a tie-dye shirt. Award prizes to the best and most creative designs. If you have several players, divide the players into teams to do this contest. For younger children, get a paint-spinning machine. One at a time, let each player create a design on a sheet of white paper using the machine. Award prizes to the most color, best design and most creative tie-dye pictures.

Paper Games

• Make bingo cards using 1960s-themed pictures like peace signs, bell bottoms, funky sunglasses and love beads. Print the same pictures on small slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Give each player a bingo card and bingo markers. Call out the pictures and have the players mark their cards. The first player to get a bingo and yell, "Groovy, baby," wins the game. For another paper game, give each player a sheet of paper. Play a few seconds of 1960s songs. Have the players write down the names of the songs. The player who guesses the most songs correctly wins the game.

Circle Games

• Have everyone sit or stand in a circle. Give one player an inflatable tie-dye beach ball and play music. Inflatable tie-dye beach balls are available online and at some retail stores. While the music plays, pass the ball around the circle. When the music stops, the player holding the ball is out of the game. Keep playing and eliminate one player each round. The last player left in the game wins the tie-dye beach ball. For another game, print pictures of tie-dye patterns on sheets of paper and write a number on each one. Write the same numbers on small slips of paper and place the numbers in a bowl. Play music and have the players walk around the pictures. When the music stops, everyone must stand on a tie-dye picture. Call out a number, and the player standing on that number wins a prize.

Relay Races

• Divide the players into two teams. Mark a starting line and a run-to line. Place a hippie costume for each team at the run-to line. Costume ideas include peace necklaces, bell bottoms, tie-dyed T-shirts and long hair wigs. Have each team line up at the starting line. When you say, "Race," the first player in each team line must race to the opposite line, put on the costume and run back to hand it off to the next player in line. Each player must put on the costume, race to the line and back to the starting line. The first team to finish wins the race. For another relay race, have each team race to the opposite line carrying a rubber smiley face ball on a spoon. Each player must race to the line and back to hand off the ball to the next player in line. The first team to finish wins the game.