Spring is upon us, and summertime is coming fast. For a lot of families, that means it’s time to start planning the next family reunion.
You’ve all agreed on a time and a place, so half the battle is won. But now that you know when and where… What exactly are you planning to do?
Family reunions are more than just a gathering. They’re an opportunity to spend time and bond with family members you haven’t seen in ages. Making the most of your time with family members should be the top priority.
That’s why we put together this list of some of the most fun family reunion activities we could find! Keep on reading to get ideas for your next family reunion.
13 Family Reunion Ideas that would be fun
1. Ice Breakers
There’s no shame in admitting that it’s a little challenging to connect with people you haven’t seen in a while (even if they are your relatives). That’s why it’s a great idea to start your reunion off with an ice breaker activity.
Our favorite ice breaker for adults is the classic Never Have I Ever game. Over the years it’s become one of the most popular drinking games, but you can play it booze-free as well. Go around the group and have each person say something they’ve never done. Those who have will have to sip a drink. Non-alcoholic drinks are welcome!
A famous ice breaker for kids is Truth or Dare. Set the rules to be family-friendly and watch the kids get to know one another on another level.
2. Tug-of-War
There’s nothing better than a little healthy competition. Tug-of-war is the perfect family reunion game because you can configure it to work for everybody. It’s not a one-and-done activity either. Structure your tug-of-war tournament style to make the game last.
Some of our favorite tug-of-war lineups are parents versus children or boys versus girls. If your family doesn’t mind a mess, then you can make things more challenging by having each team pull the other toward a pit of mud (or anything you wouldn’t like on your clothes at the end of the day!).
Most of us played tug-of-war on the playground as kids. But just in case you haven’t, here’s the gist: You need a long rope and two teams of people. Have each team grab the rope from opposite ends and pull until one team forces the other over a line drawn in the middle. Then sit back and let the test of strength commence!
3. Potluck Lunch
Schedule a potluck where each family can bring a dish to show off their culinary skills. Everyone can cook one dish that knocks it out of the park every time. This is your chance to sample those dishes from all branches of the family.
If you’ve all eaten others’ cooking over the years, spice things up by choosing a theme. You can also ask each family to prepare a dish from a cuisine of their choice.
Put a label on each dish so you know who made what. You can take things a step further and include recipe cards for everyone’s dish. Recipe cards will allow everyone to take home a memory of the family reunion that they can remake whenever the mood strikes.
4. Dance-Off
You don’t have to be from a family of professional dancers to have an epic dance-off. All you need is a few willing participants and some killer music.
Clear a space in the middle of the room and have two family members battle it out using their best dance moves. The winner will be decided by all of the onlookers. Don’t be afraid to get wild – your family won’t judge your dance moves.
The best part about a dance-off is that it gets everyone in the mood for a party. After a champion has been declared, you’ll have a room full of people ready to dance the night away.
5. Create a Playlist Together
Thanks to music streaming services, it’s never been easier to curate a playlist. Honor the occasion of your family reunion by having everyone contribute to a custom playlist.
There are two ways to go about making the perfect playlist for your family: You can ask each person to write down their favorite song and add it manually. Or, you can create a playlist on Spotify that allows everyone to contribute. Close out the family reunion by playing your playlist for everyone on the last night.
6. Go Retro With Tie-Dye
Everyone loves a good memento to take home. Making tie-dye shirts is a fun activity that is appropriate for any age.
You’ll need a few buckets with different colored dyes and white shirts of varying sizes. Use rubber bands to section off each shirt and dip them in the dyes. The shirts will dry quickly, and everyone can wear their new duds together. You can even host a 60s-themed night where each family member can wear their creations.
7. Host a Talent Show
The best thing about families is that everyone brings their unique talents. A talent show at your family reunion is the best way to let everyone shine.
You don’t all have to be singers or dancers to have a good talent show. Encourage your family members to recite a poem, hula hoop, or even show off their martial arts skills. A talent show is a perfect way to let each member of the family have a moment in the spotlight.
Since a stage will already be set up for the talent show, it can be a quick transition into a group activity like karaoke once everyone has shared their talents.
8. Play People Bingo
People Bingo is a fun personalized twist on a game everyone knows. To make this fun game work, you’ll need a short description for each family member. Create bingo cards with everyone’s name.
A caller will read the descriptions and family members will mark off the names they think fit the description. People Bingo is a fun way for family members to learn new things about one another and enjoy a fun game at the same time.
9. Make a Family Tree
Make a meaningful monument to your family by creating an artistic rendering of your family tree.
Ask each member of your family to bring a photo of themselves. Connect the photos on a large poster board that everyone can see. You can save the family tree and add to it every year as your family grows. It’s a powerful experience to see all of your family members connected in front of your eyes. It’s also a great way to remember family members who have passed on.
10. Guess Who Game
Guess Who is perfect for including family members of all ages. In this game, you’ll need to create a slideshow full of baby photos. Each of your family members will display their baby photos in the slideshow. Everyone watching will try and guess who they’re seeing on the screen.
This game sets the stage for family members to share stories about their childhood after the game is done. It can be a great ice breaker for the first day of the reunion as well.
11. Outdoor Movie Time
Thanks to portable projectors, it’s easy to set up an impromptu theater in your backyard. Consider showing a family-friendly movie outside at your family reunion. Set up comfy seating and pop some popcorn. Enjoy the company of your whole family while you relax and enjoy a film.
You can theme the night as a drive-in experience and show a double feature. If you have a hard time deciding which movies to show, send out a poll before your reunion and get your family’s input.
Make this idea extra unique by showing family videos on the projector. Ask your family members to send video clips and splice them together to show everyone. You can even send the personalized family film to everyone.
12. Escape Room
Nothing screams teamwork and bonding more than trying to escape a room with your family. Escape rooms are a great way to spend some quality time with family that you don’t get nearly enough time with. It can be so much fun trying to figure out the puzzles and riddles that will lead to a successful escape.
Not sure that there is a new escape room in your area? You can try to use Morty to help find a location and reserve a spot for your family reunion.
13. Hold an Awards Ceremony
What better way to end an event than hosting an awards ceremony? You can make your awards ceremony as formal or casual as you like. Create fun awards like “Best Laugh” or “Life of the Party.”
Make your awards ceremony even more memorable by handing out physical awards. You can use candy or any small personalized gift. You can even have real trophies made ahead of your family reunion.
Conclusion
Planning a family reunion might become stressful fast. You want everyone to have a good time, and you don’t want anyone to feel left out.
You need activities that work well for all ages. And you don’t want to repeat the same things every year. Our list will keep your family reunion fresh and fun for years to come. We made sure to choose activities that are suitable for all ages.
Using a few of the activities we listed above is sure to make your family reunion an event to remember! Just remember: don’t try to cram too many activities into your family time. Select the ideas that best fit your family and remember to relax and have a good time.
