Nothing beats an old-fashion campfire when you are doing a Western theme party.  Try to find someone who knows a few tunes and can play the guitar for a fun sing-along. Here are some suggestions:

• Home on the Range
• My Darling Clementine
• Get Along Little Doggies
• She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain
• Happy Trails
• Pony Boy
• Streets of Laredo
• Turkey in the Straw
• Deep in the Heart of Texas

You could also have the guests list as many songs as they can and give a prize to the one with the longest list!

Create a favorite photo opportunity by making a western facade. You might create a Saloon scene, Gold Panning scene, Claim Office, Hotel, Jail, General Store, Blacksmith Shop, Bank, O.K. . Corral, Train Depot, Boot Hill Cemetery,  or old-fashion campfire.

For some fun crowd interaction, have your guests take turn staging a small Western film.  Pull out your video camera and play back the short films. Have your guests vote for their favorites in different categories – i.e. funniest, most realistic, John Wayne stand ins, etc.

Try your luck at a "lassoing" contest.

Sack Races

Start this round up off with some old fashioned sack races. Divide your guests into two equal teams. Give each team a burlap bag that they step into and have them race to a specified distance and back. Continue until one team has completely finished. The one team who finishes first wins. 

How about a little Rattlesnake Ruckus?

Place some dried beans into a small plastic bottle (such as a film canister). Place the bottle inside a sock. Stuff the sock with newspapers and tie off the end. Seat your guests in a circle and toss the rattlesnake around the circle to music (like hot potato game). When music stops, the one bitten by the rattlesnake (has the rattlesnake) is out of the game. Continue until one person is left. 

Pass the Cowboy Hat

Have the children sit in a circle. Start the music, as the music plays a Cowboy Hat (or other item related to your theme)  is passed around the circle. When the music stops the person holding the Hat is Out. Continue until only one child remains.

Sheriff Relay

You will need the following items:
Western Vests
Cowboy Hats
Bandanas
Sheriff Badges
Assorted Western Items

Divide your guest into two teams. Choose a person from each team to be the "Sheriff."

Have each team form a line with the "Sheriff" (the chosen team member) at the end. Place one of each of the items in a pile at the beginning of each line. To begin, the first person in line puts on all the items in the pile. The second person in line can help by handing items to the person getting dressed. After all items are somewhere on the first person's body, they undress and place items with help of the next person in line. Continue until all members of the team have dressed and undressed and the "Sheriff" wears all the items. The winning team is the team that's Sheriff finishes dressing first.

Wheel Barrow Races

Divide your party guests into two equal teams in two single file lines. Have the leader of each line get on their hands and knees. At the start of go the player behind them will grab his/her ankles and hold up their legs so they can only walk on their hands. Race to a designated area and have them reverse on the way back. Continue until one team finishes first.

Hay Fights / Horseshoes – some things you just never outgrow!