Family Reunion Activity Suggestions

BrnSuga · #1 03-16-2006, 05:55 PM

I am in the process of helping plan my family's reunion for the summer. The location is set for Tampa, FL but, we are looking for things to do or ideas for activites. Any suggestions?

KAPPAtivating · #2 03-16-2006, 06:13 PM

Play the game I like to play...it's called "let's see who can pack up and go home the fastes!"...

j/k

OhioCentaur · #3 03-16-2006, 06:39 PM

Have 3 or 4 randomly selected. Then ask general questions that are only specific to one of the contestants but make everyone else pick the number of the family member they believe it fits...

I.e. if you had dad mom brother and cousin in front of the crowd... dad being 1 mom 2 brother 3 and cousin 4 and you ask the question who standing here can eat 15 hotdogs without stopping... the crowd then holds up a sign with 1 2 3 or 4 on it...

BrnSuga · #4 03-16-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OhioCentaur
Have 3 or 4 randomly selected. Then ask general questions that are only specific to one of the contestants but make everyone else pick the number of the family member they believe it fits...

I.e. if you had dad mom brother and cousin in front of the crowd... dad being 1 mom 2 brother 3 and cousin 4 and you ask the question who standing here can eat 15 hotdogs without stopping... the crowd then holds up a sign with 1 2 3 or 4 on it...

That sounds like a good idea. Maybe I can come up with some little prizes to give out for the person that gets the most right. Thanks a lot!

Eclipse · #5 03-16-2006, 07:10 PM

We always play family history trivia at my family reunions, but the last one I attended I thought a fight was going to break out because folks were fussing about the right answer...lol (ok not really, but folks were serious about it!)

We make the little kids do a fashion/talent show at the banquet.

One "game" we used to play was "see how drunk Uncle Grover (RIP) gets and who he cusses out first". That was fun!

BrnSuga · #6 03-16-2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eclipse
We always play family history trivia at my family reunions, but the last one I attended I thought a fight was going to break out because folks were fussing about the right answer...lol (ok not really, but folks were serious about it!)

We make the little kids do a fashion/talent show at the banquet.

One "game" we used to play was "see how drunk Uncle Grover (RIP) gets and who he cusses out first". That was fun!

All of those are great ideas. Now you know you all were wrong for betting on Uncle Grover! LOL. Everyone has an Uncle Grover in there family, at least I know I do.

UpPinkies · #7 03-16-2006, 09:41 PM

My family always gave a gift to the first family to arrive first, nothing fancy just a welcome gift.

We have had fashion shows, dancea, softball games, water fights, races, etc.

I think the best family reunions have activities for everyone. I remember being at several reunions, bored out of my mind because no one planned activites for teens or had idea of places we could go kick it. The best reunion I attened had kids go to a roller skating rink at a teen club. Another time the family was able to get a small ball room and hire a DJ for the kids right there at the hotel and we had a blast. Some of the relatives did not want us to go clubbing, so they found this neat alternative and all ages of the kids were able to attend.

You can have a game night. Board games, card games, any game you can think of. Just ask members to bring something. But watch out...several of my relatives got into a screaming match over a game of spades.

Hope this helps

AKA2D '91 · #8 03-16-2006, 09:47 PM

A new trend with Af Am Family Reunions have been incorporating a health fair/screening . If you all have nurses, doctors, or dentists in your family, you can offer health screenings. If you don't, you may be able to find students in the area or organizations which can come out and offer free health screenings for your loved ones.

KAPPAtivating · #9 03-16-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UpPinkies
My family always gave a gift to the first family to arrive first, nothing fancy just a welcome gift.

We have had fashion shows, dancea, softball games, water fights, races, etc.

I think the best family reunions have activities for everyone. I remember being at several reunions, bored out of my mind because no one planned activites for teens or had idea of places we could go kick it. The best reunion I attened had kids go to a roller skating rink at a teen club. Another time the family was able to get a small ball room and hire a DJ for the kids right there at the hotel and we had a blast. Some of the relatives did not want us to go clubbing, so they found this neat alternative and all ages of the kids were able to attend.

You can have a game night. Board games, card games, any game you can think of. Just ask members to bring something. But watch out...several of my relatives got into a screaming match over a game of spades.

Hope this helps

Spades gets 'em every time. Also, we did talent shows (singing, dancing, etc.). We also did a movie night, bowling tournament, a block party, etc.

aopirose · #10 03-17-2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
A new trend with Af Am Family Reunions have been incorporating a health fair/screening . If you all have nurses, doctors, or dentists in your family, you can offer health screenings. If you don't, you may be able to find students in the area or organizations which can come out and offer free health screenings for your loved ones.

That is a great idea. One thing that we do is celebrate Mass. We have a cousin who is a Bishop and he is usually the celebrant. Various family members perform other roles like readers and gift bearers.

My FIL's family had a reunion a few years ago and they did something that I thought was unique. Each member of the family was assigned a number. Spouses had their corresponding numbers plus an "s". For eample, FIL was number 4 so MIL was 4s. Everyone was given a shirt with their number and a book that had everyone's info in it. So, if you forgot someone's name, all you had to do was pull out the book.

BrnSuga · #11 03-17-2006, 09:03 PM

Thanks to all of you for your ideas. I'm sure we will have a blast.

Eclipse · #12 03-17-2006, 09:13 PM

Some other posts made me think....

We do gifts for things like, traveled farthest (did I spell that right??? I don't think so!), most grandchildren, etc.

We do a "praise and prayers" part at our banquet where people stand up and say things they are praising about (even for people who are not there) like so and so got married, had a baby, graduated, etc. then prayers for people who are sick, etc.

We had a kinda investment seminar at one reunion that really went over well.

We typically do a group church thing as well. For our family reunion this year we will be attending the church that one of my cousin's is an associate Minister at.

One thing that I think is important is not to have things so over planned that if people want to do some sight seeing in the town they will have a chance. One year my family runion was in New Jersey and I wanted to go to NYC so bad, but because we were scheduled to death, I did not get a chance to go. I know several people that wanted go across the river to hit some shops or see the Empire State building, but we did not want to seem that we were ditching the family.

KAPPAtivating · #13 03-18-2006, 01:46 AM

I think the more options you have the better! It gives people a choice.