What to buy for a camping games day

A camping games day needs more than food and a few outdoor games. You’ll need practical gear for serving, cooling drinks, running competition stations, lighting the site and keeping power available outdoors. This shopping list covers the equipment and supplies for a day with teams, a barbecue, shared tables and several activity areas. Check your participant count before buying food, drinks, disposable extras or prizes, then shop early enough to chill drinks and prepare fresh ingredients on the day.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 48
Buffet tablesqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving jugsqty 4

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8
Name stickersqty 60
Prizesqty 12

Equipment

Barbecueqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Portable speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Rechargeable power banksqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Barbecue tongsqty 4
Aluminum traysqty 6
Ice cube traysqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Lanternsqty 6
Spare batteriesqty 24

Sports equipment

Kubb setqty 2
Frisbeesqty 6
Softballsqty 6
Tennis ballsqty 12
Conesqty 24
Tug of war rope
Skipping ropesqty 6
Water balloonsqty 200
Measuring tapesqty 3
Stopwatchesqty 4
Scoreboardsqty 4
Chalkqty 6

Cleaning

Washing-up basinsqty 4
Dish brushesqty 4
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburgers - 50 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Vegan burgers - 6 pieces
- Hot dog sausages - 30 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 60 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 36 pieces
- Vegetarian sandwich spread - 2 packages
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Corn on the cob - 30 pieces
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Garlic butter - 4 tubs
- Hamburger sauce - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 tin
- Pepper - 1 can
- Paprika powder - 1 can
- Garlic powder - 1 canister
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Plain potato chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Apples - 4 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Watermelons - 2 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 12 kilograms
- Charcoal - 4 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand gel - 4 bottles
- Wet wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Plan drinks by time of day: allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour, plus water throughout. Buy ice or freeze ice trays at least 24 hours ahead so coolers are ready before guests arrive.
For a barbecue, separate meat and vegetarian products in labelled containers and take enough aluminium trays for raw food, cooked food and vegetables. Keep the cutting boards and barbecue tongs separate to avoid mixing raw and cooked ingredients.
Count reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery against the confirmed guest list, then add at least 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means having 44 of each frequently used item available, especially cups and plates.
Prepare one clearly marked supply point for the Kubb set, frisbees, competition forms, name stickers and prizes. Pack spare batteries and rechargeable power banks before leaving; outdoor power problems are difficult to solve once the games have started.
Check the site and forecast before buying or packing lighting and shelter. Party tents, string lights, lanterns, extension cords and spare batteries should be ready before setup, not collected after the first teams arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink do I need for a camping games day?: Base the quantities on the confirmed number of participants and the length of the day. Allow 2–3 drinks per person in the first hour, then about 1 per person per hour, and include extra water for active games and warm weather.
How many plates, cups and cutlery sets should I buy?: Start with one set per guest and add at least 10% spare capacity. For 40 people, prepare at least 44 plates, cups and cutlery sets so breakage, dropped items or seconds do not interrupt the day.
When should I buy and chill drinks for a camping games day?: Buy drinks at least 1 day before the event when possible, and chill them several hours before guests arrive. Freeze or prepare ice at least 24 hours ahead because a cooler filled at the last minute will not cool everything evenly.
What equipment do I need to run outdoor games and a barbecue?: Plan for the named game sets, competition materials, a barbecue, tongs, cutting boards, knives, aluminium trays, serving platters and coolers. Check this equipment at least 1 day before the event and pack power banks, extension cords and spare batteries with it.

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