No matter what type of family reunion you plan you will want some great activities. The best type of activity is one that requires a large number of people and discourages the forming of small groups.
Get to know you activities are a great way to start, especially if it’s been a while since you have seen your relatives. Family Reunion.com lists some great ideas.
Games are always a lot of fun. They can range from organized sports to board games. Check out some of the group games listed in Family Fun like Mother Elephant, The Sign Game, Robbers and Soldiers, Trial by Jury, Tip Tap Toe, Heads Up, Detective, Lame Goose, Last Couple Out, and more.
Stories are a great way to get reacquainted. Have kids, parents, and grandparents share some of their favorite memories. Give a prize for the most funny or embarrassing stories, you might have to remind some family members to keep their stories clean.
Have activities for the kids. This can include games centered on the theme, coloring books, sidewalk chalk, a craft table (make sure it is well stocked with craft supplies like paper, scissors, glue, markers, crayons, and other fun supplies), and water activities if it is warm enough.
Hold a family talent show. You can ask family members before hand to have one person per family participate in the talent show. This is a great way to get to know people. I have fond memories of some of our family reunion talent shows, and great video footage as well.
Make up family skits. Give each family a topic such as fishing, school, jungle, or let them come up with their own. You might put together a bunch of props (a purse, fishing pole, bucket, can of soup, hat, etc.) and then require that each prop be used during the skit. Or give a sentence that has to be used in the skit like “The sky is falling” or “It’s a jungle out there.” Give each group time to write and practice their skit. Then prepare to be entertained as each group performs.
Perform a service. Nothing pulls a group together like working for a common goal. You might volunteer at a local shelter, make quilts or school kits, work in someone’s yard, or other service projects.
One year we made a family reunion quilt. Each family mailed a quilt square that they had embroidered, colored, or painted (make sure you use fabric crayons and paint) and that person sewed the quilt. Then we tied it at the reunion and gave it my grandparents.
Family reunion activity ideas are endless, often the more unique the family reunion the more memorable and fun. So break away from the traditional and do something new.