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Traditional 4th of July Sack Race

Materials Needed

  • Burlap sacks and/or pillow cases
  • A very long time ago someone invented the sack. Not long after that someone invented the sack race. Suffice to say this classic party race has been around a long time.

    Directions

    Burlap sacks make an excellent choice for your sack race. They are durable so you can keep them to use for your Fourth of July party next year and they are large enough for most adults. For young kids burlap sacks might be too large so consider using pillow cases.

    The Set Up: Get as many burlap sacks as you can and some pillow cases for young kids. Mark a start and finish line for the race.

    The Rules: The contestants stand at the start line inside of their sacks, holding them with both hands at their waist. When the race begins the participants must hop to the finish line while staying inside of their sacks. The first person to cross the finish line wins. If you have more players than sacks run multiple heats then have the winners of each heat meet in a championship race.

    Age Groups: If your party has guests of a variety of ages it is a good idea to run multiple races, one for each age group. The course can be shorter for younger kids and increase in length as the age of participants increase. Be sure to award a prize to the winner of each group.

    Clear the Field of Play: As is the case with any active outdoor game, make sure the playing area is clear of anything the party guests might twist an ankle on or trip over.