FAMILY REUNION IDEAS
HELPFUL TIPS ON PLANNING:
• Pick a date that works with most people’s schedules and stick with it – send out invitations so that you do not have to make dozens of phone calls. Send out the invitation as early as possible so that people can plan ahead.
• Delegate as much tasks as possible so that the brunt of the planning doesn’t fall on one person.
• Decide on a budget and how everything will be paid for. You can ask relatives to donate money or supplies – or simply have a registration fee for each guest to go towards the reunion expenses.
• Write down all of your planning ideas and pricing – so that you do not forget anything when it comes closer to reunion.
FAMILY REUNION GAMES/ACTIVITIES:
• Set up different sporting activities like Frisbee, golf or baseball
• Have a cook-out at a local pool, beach or park – rent a pavilion that is clearly marked – make it easy and have everyone bring a side
• Have your fun at a local amusement park
• If someone in your family has an appropriate backyard, take advantage of it - have everyone meet there!
• Rent a room at a local restaurant that can serve large parties
• Have everyone chip in their time and meet together to fix up an older relative’s home
• Stretch out in luxury and comfort at a local resort or fun hotel
• Have some relaxation at a lake or houseboat
INCLUDE ON INVITATION:
• When and where the reunion will be held – enclose a map
• How to dress
• Local airport and travel info
• Hotel options – with address, phone #’s and pricing
• Schedule and information on reunion events and any local attractions for free time
• What to bring (food, family photos, sports equipment, swimsuits, etc.)
• Registration fee, if any
• RSVP card, phone # and/or email address to include name and # of adults and children Family Reunion Game Ideas:
• Have a central place that everyone can get to easily – have out a “family tree” that has a base of names as much as you know and let all the rest of the family fill in the blanks – it will spark memories! (could use index cards attached to string, a laptop with a tree displayed, or posterboard)
• Make sure you keep the kids busy! Provide a craft table with colors, markers with books and paper, fun outdoor toys like t-balls and bats, bubbles, wagons, bikes, Frisbees, and other fun toys
• Rent a karaoke machine or borrow from a friend and see everyone’s talents shine!
• Miscellaneous adult outside games like horseshoe, croquet, putting golf, beanbag toss, etc.
• Post a large map noting where everyone lives now in what state by tacking people’s names in the appropriate area. Also, before the reunion is over, distribute the guests addresses and contact information to everyone there so that everyone can keep in contact with each other
• Have a question and answer game to see which family member knows the most family trivia – do some homework before the reunion coming up with great questions and answers to pass out at the reunion
• Ask everyone to bring a few photo albums per family and everyone can pass around throughout the reunion
• Have everyone bring their baby picture and lay it out on a table at the beginning of the reunion and have everyone try to guess “who’s who”
• Play a game of “white elephant”
• For the kids, have a drawing contest for the kids for them to draw a family member for the group and display them around the room or by a cute clothesline and clothes pins
SOMETHING COOL:
• Have everyone email you pictures as they RSVP for the reunion so that you can prepare a slide show to show everyone during an appropriate time
• Hire or designate a photographer so that you can set up a web page or scrapbook of the whole family together
• Set up a Sign-In Table with markers and name tags, schedule of events and any kind of local information that the guests may be interested in
• Set out quilt fabric squares and a fabric pen and let everyone sign their name and a well-wish – have a family member sew all squares together and present to the oldest family member
• Everyone can bring a family heirloom that has a family story together and have a “show and tell” at the reunion (remember to include that on the invitations)
• Use place cards with family “trivia” on each one as conversation starters
