Remember, remember, the 5th of November…
Gathered around a bonfire, teams can melt stress away like a marshmallow dangling over a firepit.
So gather your teams and your lighters, and create a bonfire night to remember. Let’s get stuck in!
Why are bonfire parties great for teams?
The 5th of November is the perfect chance for a work night out under the stars, rewarding your teams with something special. Huddled around the fire’s orange glow, your teams can solidify their bonds and create lasting memories.
These gatherings are designed with adults in mind, offering a mix of engaging activities and relaxed fun to suit every team. You’ll be stepping away from screens and daily routines, so this is the perfect chance to switch off, unwind, and grow closer as a group.
20 of the best activities for a bonfire party
Ready to ignite your next team event? Here’s our list of 20 team-building activities to light up the night!
1. Guy Fawkes effigy burning
Kickstarting our list of activities keeps the spirit of bonfire night alive. If your teams want to get closer to the roots of the tradition, have them create an effigy to symbolize the master of the infamous ‘gunpowder plot.’ This is a symbolic way to celebrate the night outdoors while paying homage to the centuries-old custom.
How to set up:
- Before you head out for the night, gather materials like old clothes, newspapers, string and eyes to create the effigy.
- Stuff your lifesize effigy with hay or crumpled paper to form the body.
- On your night, throw your effigy atop the bonfire and watch it light up.
- Read a few stories of Guy Fawkes’ history and enjoy the start of your event. Simple team bonding, done right!
2. Bonfire photo shoots
Capture magical moments with a bonfire photo shoot. Take a moment to explore camera settings. You’ll create lasting keepsakes while teaching everyone a little about night photography.
How to set up:
- Ask each attendee to prepare a camera with long-exposure settings. Failing that, most smartphones can do the job.
- Find a safe, open space with a clear view of the bonfire (and fireworks, if you have them). Tripods work well for sturdier long-exposure shots.
- Explain some of the technicals: Set ISO to 200, aperture to f/11, disable autofocus, and set lenses to infinity to maintain sharpness.
- Capture the magic of your bonfire under the stars from different angles for unforgettable memories. Happy snapping!
3. Recreate the gunpowder plot
This activity is perfect if you have a few team members who enjoy performance arts. The story of bonfire night stretches back to 1605. Wouldn’t a bonfire party be the perfect chance to create a short reenactment?
How to set up:
- Share the gunpowder plot story with your teams and assign roles like Guy Fawkes and King James I.
- Prepare props like hats, scrolls, and paper barrels for a laugh.
- Look up the key locations and design them simply, like the cellar beneath Parliament.
- Let your teams act out the plot, encouraging your audience to get involved where possible. Finish off with a quick reflection on bonfire night’s history, and you’re in for a night to remember!
4. Guy Fawkes quiz
Gathered around a night-time fire pit is the perfect setting for a bit of trivia or a quiz on Guy Fawkes. Most of us know a few facts about the gunpowder plot, but we’d all love to learn a bit more. Create a list of 10-15 questions for your teams.
Here are a few fun head-scratchers to throw into the mix:
Bonfire night questions:
- What year did the gunpowder plot take place? (1605)
- Which building did the infamous plotters try to blow up? (The Houses of Parliament)
- Which country is said to have invented fireworks? (China)
Add a few of your own questions and make it a touch more competitive by splitting into teams for the quiz. Enjoy!
5. Cheers, Governor!
This fast-paced counting game is perfect for small groups of four to six. Simple to learn and hilariously challenging, it’s a great way to keep the fun rolling by the fire.
How to play:
- Gather in a circle and start counting sequentially from 1.
- When the group reaches 21, everyone shouts, “Cheers, Governor!” and takes a sip of their drink.
- The person who says 21 creates a new rule, like swapping a number with a word or action (e.g., clap instead of 5).
- Continue counting with the new rule in play, adding rules every time you hit 21.
- Keep going until laughter takes over!
6. Campfire grillin’ and chillin’
Have you got all your snacks and indulgences ready for your bonfire celebration? Combine good food and great company with a laid-back campfire cooking activity. Food has always been the best way to bring people together and start bonding, so make the most of the opportunity!
How to set up:
- Bring a portable grill and skewers on your outdoor excursion, plus some easy-to-cook items like sausages, veggies, and of course marshmallows.
- Stabilize your fire and use a safe cooking area with proper utensils. Encourage group cooking to help bonds form.
- Swap recipes, try each other’s creations, and soak in the atmosphere. Here’s to a great night!
7. Concentration
Memory games are fantastic to play while gathered around a campfire. Being detached from screens and other distractions lets everyone focus more and formulate clever answers, so try this game on your bonfire night celebration. "Concentration" challenges players to think quickly and recall details, all while having a good laugh.
How to play:
- The first player picks a category, like animals, grocery items, or boys’ names. They begin with something starting with “A”.
- The next player repeats the previous word, and adds a new word starting with “B”. They need to stay within the chosen category, of course.
- A fun fun twist by setting a rhythm. “Pat, pat, clap” with your knees and hands. This makes it more chaotic and fun.
- Keep the word chain going until someone forgets a previously stated word. Award points to word wizards who outperform the others.
8. The ‘telephone’ game
Transform simple messages into hilarious miscommunications with this classic game. Telephone is a great way to build connections while gathered around the campfire.
How to play:
- Start with the first message. A person whispers a short sentence to the person next to them (e.g. “This bonfire is really pretty tonight.”)
- Each player continues the whispered message across the circle.
- The last player says aloud what they heard when the message reached them. Hopefully, the original message remains intact, but you can easily end up with a completely different message from what you started with!
9. The winking assassin
The game of the ‘winking assassin’ involves stealth, observation, and a touch of drama. Faces lit by firelight give a touch of mystery to this fabulous game of deduction.
How to play:
- Sit everyone in a circle and randomly assign one player as the "assassin" by secretly drawing names or cards.
- The assassin discreetly ‘kills’ other players by winking at them (without being caught!).
- If anyone notices the winking player, they shout out their guess. If correct, the game ends and they’re awarded a point. If not, they’re out.
- If winked at, a player waits a few seconds before dramatically "dying" to keep the suspense.
10. The ‘one-upping’ game
Encourage your teams to let their imaginations run wild as you celebrate bonfire night with the one-upping game. Each player tries to "one-up" the previous word, creating a chain of increasingly outrageous ideas. Words and ideas are all you need in this low-cost teambuilding game.
How to play:
- Start with one player saying a simple word, like "castle."
- The next player must say a word that "defeats" or beats the previous one (e.g., "dragon" defeats "castle").
- Continue around the circle, with each player building on the chain (e.g., "wizard" defeats "dragon," and "spellbook" defeats "wizard").
- Players must respond quickly. Hesitation or an unrelated word eliminates them from the round.
- Play until only one player remains, or start a new round with fresh creativity.
11. Apple bobbing
“Apple bobbing” has a long history in the UK and is loved by children and adults alike. It’s a chaotic yet simple game that guarantees laughter and competition (as well as a few inevitable spillages).
It’s super easy to set up. Just fill a large tub or basin with water and add apples that float easily. Get the tub onto a sturdy surface where everyone can gather around. Players take turns trying to grab an apple using only their mouths, no hands allowed! Set a time limit for each attempt (e.g., 30 seconds) and keep track of who collects the most apples.
Loved by kids, yet there’s no reason adults can’t indulge in apple bobbing on bonfire night!
12. Puppet master charades
Stick a fun and spooky twist on charades by designating a ‘Puppet master” who commands their puppet by firelight. It’s very similar to the original style of charades, but having a puppet master creates a theatrical air for more fun.
How to play:
- Divide the group into two teams (e.g. men vs women, or even teams of work departments).
- One player from the active team becomes the "puppet master" and thinks of a secret word.
- The puppet master selects a teammate to be their "puppet" and silently manipulates their arms, legs, or body to act out the word.
- The rest of the team guesses the word within a set time (e.g., 1 minute). Dish out points each round and play for best of 3!
13. Glow stick ring toss
Here’s another fab game that works perfectly under the pale moonlight. Light up the night by creating rings from glowsticks, adding beautiful glowing colors to an unforgettable event. This one’s super simple to carry out:
How to play:
- Use standard glowsticks, but tie each end together to form rings for throwing.
- Secure a stick, bottle, or pole in the ground (that’s the target).
- Mark a throwing line at a comfortable distance from the target. No favoritism or rule-breaking allowed!
- Take turns tossing the rings, aiming to land them on the target, and tally points to declare a winner.
14. Fortunately & unfortunately
This lighthearted storytelling game challenges creativity and teamwork as players weave a tale filled with trials and tribulations.
How to play:
- Gather everyone in a circle and choose one person to start the story with a sentence beginning with "Fortunately" (like "Fortunately, a wizard gave us a map to the hidden demon’s lair").
- The next person continues the story with a sentence starting with "Unfortunately" (e.g., "Unfortunately, the map was guarded by fire-breathing serpents").
- Continue alternating between "Fortunately" and "Unfortunately" sentences, adding twists like, "Fortunately, the serpents fell asleep when we played a magic flute," and "Unfortunately, the flute summoned a raging storm."
- Continue until you reach a heroic or tragic outcome (RIP fallen office wizards).
15. Mafia/Werewolf
Mafia and Werewolf are hugely popular team-building games, filled with mystery, deception, and teamwork - perfect in a bonfire setting! Players assume secret roles, battling between 'innocents' and 'villains' to outwit one another.
How to play:
- Assign secret roles: a moderator, “villains” (Mafia/Werewolves), and “innocents” (villagers).
- During “night,” the villains secretly choose someone to eliminate while everyone else “sleeps.”
- During “day,” players discuss and vote to eliminate someone they suspect is a villain.
- Repeat until either all villains are eliminated or they outnumber the innocents.
16. Campfire detective
Turn your bonfire into a thrilling investigation with Campfire Detective! This mystery game blends strategy and teamwork for fun under the moonlight. The mysterious outdoor setting is perfect for setting the right atmosphere.
How to play:
- Choose a small item as the "loot" (a pack of Skittles will do) and randomly select one or more Detectives while the rest form the Gang.
- The Detective closes their eyes and counts to 60 while the Gang hides the loot and scatters.
- The Detective rounds up Gang members by spotting them, who must then answer up to 20 yes/no questions about the loot’s location.
- If the Detective finds the loot, they win; if not, the Gang claims victory.
17. Glow in the dark frisbee
If you’ve got the space ready, a couple of games of glow-in-the-dark frisbee can set your event apart from everyone else’s. A bit of sport under the stars is actually an epic way to spend the night. Competitive frisbee has also soared in popularity recently, so try this out with your teams.
- Use glow-in-the-dark or LED frisbees, available online or at your nearest sports store.
- Mark the playing field boundaries with glow sticks or portable lights.
- Divide into two teams and set simple rules, like aiming for specific targets or scoring zones.
- Toss, catch, and enjoy the glowing spectacle as the frisbee lights up the night.
Again, make sure your play area is completely clear. You don’t want to feel a bump in the night!
18. Charity fundraiser
Bonfire night comes as the year starts to wind down. This is actually a great time to organize a charity event that helps those in need, especially through the cold winter. Gather your group for a cozy evening under the stars while supporting a cause close to your hearts.
Carry out a group consensus beforehand to find your charity of choice. Select a cause as local or as global as you’d like. Incorporate some donation-based activities on the night and encourage everyone to bring their family. S’more stations with donations are great, or a raffle to please the crowd. Give back this bonfire season.
19. 20 questions
A timeless classic, 20 Questions is perfect for getting the conversational ball rolling around the bonfire. It’s simple, engaging, and great for breaking the ice between new members. Here’s how you carry it out:
How to play:
- One player secretly thinks of a person, place, or thing.
- The rest of the group takes turns asking up to 20 yes/no questions to guess what it is.
- The player who guesses correctly becomes the next person to think of something.
- If no one guesses within 20 questions, the original player reveals the answer.
20. The numbers game
Test the memory of your teams while you’re celebrating fireworks and bonfires. It’s a tricky little puzzler that’s great for instigating laughter and playfulness on a cold night.
How to play:
- Form one large group circle. One person opens by simply saying the number “1”
- Naturally, the next person needs to say the number “2”. The problem is, a random person needs to say it, and no two people can say the number at the same time (or they’re out!)
- Work the whole way around the circle, with as many numbers as there are attendees. Once you’ve played as one big circle, try it out in 2 teams, with times, in a race to completion.
May your fire burn brighter on an unforgettable team retreat!
Bonfires sure do set a beautiful stage that brings your teams closer together. Why not take it to the next level with a team-building retreat?
At Surf Office, we’ve helped dozens of teams forge unforgettable memories. One of the most incredible experiences we shared was with Token.com, who had a fabulous bonfire party as part of their Italian retreat!
Here’s a run-down of what we offer:
Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
- Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
- Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
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- Onsite support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅
Not only this but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
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We take care of all the tricky logistics. Spaces are very limited, so get in touch now!
