Rainy Day Party Backup Plans: Indoor Games and Activities That Won’t Wreck the House

You spent weeks planning the perfect outdoor party — games in the yard, bubbles, water balloons, maybe even a bouncy castle. And then… the weather forecast calls for rain.

Cue the panic.

But don’t worry — you don’t have to cancel the fun. With a little creativity and a solid backup plan, you can turn a rainy day party into a cosy, memory-making adventure without turning your house into total chaos. Here’s how:

1. Set Up Party Zones

Before guests arrive, create simple “zones” around your home to keep things organised and avoid having kids running wild in every room.

Ideas:

Game Corner: with board games, puzzles, or card games.
Craft Table: for colouring, bracelet making, or sticker art.
Snack Station: with kid-friendly treats and drinks.
Quiet Zone: a cosy spot with books, pillows, or a movie for those who need a little downtime.

This helps manage the energy and keeps the mess contained.

2. Indoor Games That Don’t Make a Mess

Skip the glitter and water balloons — these fun indoor games are easy to set up and clean up:

Freeze Dance: Play music, pause it, and have everyone freeze in place.
Scavenger Hunt: Hide small objects around the house and give the kids a list or pictures of what to find.
Hot Potato: Pass a soft ball or stuffed animal while music plays — whoever’s holding it when the music stops is out.
Charades: Act out animals, characters, or silly actions.
Balloon Volleyball: Use a balloon instead of a ball to play a no-breakage game of volleyball across a line of string or couch cushions.

3. Easy Indoor Crafts & Activities

Crafts keep little hands busy and can double as party favours too. Keep it simple and low-mess:

DIY Party Crowns: Provide paper strips, stickers, and crayons for kids to decorate their own.
Colouring Contest: Print free colouring pages and let them colour while you judge for fun prizes like “Most Colourful” or “Best Rainbow.”
Friendship Bracelets: Use elastic, string, or beads for older kids.
Make-Your-Own Snack Mix: Set up a table with bowls of pretzels, cereal, mini marshmallows, and lollies. Let kids create their own snack mix in paper bags.

4. Movie Party Mini-Theater

When in doubt — movie time saves the day.

How to make it special:

Dim the lights and close the curtains.
Pass out cosy blankets and pillows.
Serve popcorn in paper cups or small bags.
Pick a movie everyone loves (or two shorter ones if attention spans are limited).

You could even print little “movie tickets” for fun.

5. DIY Photo Booth

Turn a corner of your living room into a photo booth.

You’ll need:

A blank wall, curtain, or festive tablecloth as a backdrop.
Props like sunglasses, hats, paper mustaches, or cheap costume pieces - think Kmart, $2 shops etc.
A phone or camera on selfie mode.

It’s a great way to get cute party pics and burn off some energy with silly poses.

6. Low-Key Party Favors

Before sending little guests home, give them something small and easy to carry:

Their DIY crown, bracelet, or colouring page
A small goodie bag with stickers and a snack
A printed photo from the DIY booth if you have a portable printer (or promise to text it later)

Final Thoughts

A little rain doesn’t have to ruin your party. With a few backup ideas, you can keep the fun going indoors — and still have a house standing at the end of it! The key is choosing games and activities that are easy to set up, don’t require a ton of clean-up, and keep the kids entertained.

Because when it comes down to it, the best parties are about laughter, connection, and memories — rain or shine.

Bonus:

Don’t let a little rain ruin your party plans! We’ve put together a super handy Rainy Day Party Checklist you can print out and keep with your party supplies. Click the button below:

Click here for mamma's Rainy Day Party checklist

Or for more tips on Birthday Parties from Mamma see below!