Whether you’re planning your next family get-together or organizing a commemorative event, these family reunion ideas will help prepare you. Spending time with loved ones allows you to reconnect, reminisce, and make new memories. To make your reunion a success, it’s important to plan a wide range of family reunion activities for all ages.
We’ll walk you through our top family reunion ideas that cater to different interests, preferences, and age groups. From classic outdoor games and group activities to creative indoor and virtual options, there are numerous ways to bond. Call up your cousins, grandparents, and beyond, and prepare for the best family reunion yet.
- Themes for Family Reunions
- Family Reunion Food Ideas
- Activities for Family Reunions
- Virtual Family Reunion Ideas
- Tips for a Successful Family Reunion
- Planning the Perfect Family Reunion
Themes for Family Reunions
Choosing a theme for your family reunion can level up your event and help create lasting memories. A theme lets everyone come together with a shared focus, whether you’re competing in family Olympics or setting up a carnival.
Here are some family reunion ideas to help you pick your next theme:
- Family Olympics: A fun and energetic way to get everyone moving through team games and challenges.
- Decades: Take a trip down memory lane by having each family dress up as a different era, from the roaring ‘20s to the groovy ‘70s.
- Tropical getaway: Go for a beachy vibe with a laid-back, island-inspired theme that everyone will love.
- Seasonal: Tailor your reunion to the time of year with activities and decor that match the season—summer, fall, winter, or spring.
- Carnival: Bring the fun of the fair to your family reunion by setting up booths, games, and festive decorations.
- Western: Saddle up for a good old fashioned reunion with cowboy hats, boots, and country line dancing.
- Superheroes: Celebrate the heroes in your family by encouraging everyone to dress up as their favorite superhero.
Family Reunion Food Ideas
Nothing brings people together quite like food. Food is often the centerpiece of any gathering, allowing your loved ones to share delicious meals and bond over family traditions.
Whether you’re planning a BBQ cookout or a buffet-style feast, here are some delicious food ideas for family reunions:
- BBQ cookout: Break out the grill and get ready to feed the family burgers, hot dogs, and ribs. Serve your main course alongside classic sides, such as coleslaw, potato salad, and corn on the cob. Make sure to incorporate BBQ desserts to sweeten the event.
- Potluck style: Invite everyone to bring their favorite dishes, allowing for a mix of main dishes, sides, and desserts that reflect your family’s unique tastes.
- Picnic spread: Meet the family in the park for a picnic party with classic finger foods, like sandwiches, wraps, chips, fresh fruits, and salads. A dessert charcuterie is a great sweet treat for casual outdoor gatherings.
- Family recipe favorites: Take a trip down memory lane by highlighting traditional family recipes. Allow grandma’s famous casserole, homemade pies, or a signature dish to take center stage.
Activities for Family Reunions
While food may draw the crowd in, fun family activities will get them to stay. Engaging activities are essential to making a family reunion enjoyable for everyone involved.
Here are some popular family reunion activities for adults and kids:
- Talent show: Everyone loves a talent show! Invite family members to showcase their unique talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, or comedy. This allows guests to shine and learn something new about each other.
- Outdoor movie night: Bring the cinema to the backyard by setting up a projector and screen to enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars. Provide cozy blankets and movie snacks during your outdoor movie night.
- Scavenger hunt: Split family members into teams to embark on a thrilling scavenger hunt. This encourages teamwork and adds another level of excitement to the reunion.
- Time capsule: If it’s a monumental reunion year, consider creating a time capsule to capture memories and mementos from the family. Add letters and photos and plan to open it at a future reunion.
- Group photo: Plan for a group photo to capture the whole family tougher. This is a great keepsake for everyone and a reminder of the time spent together.
- Picnic games: Set up outdoor games, such as cornhole, croquet, or relay races, to bring out everyone’s competitive spirit. Explore picnic ideas to create a fun-filled schedule for family members of all ages.
Virtual Family Reunion Ideas
Coordinating everyone’s schedule for an in-person reunion can be tricky, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying quality time with the whole family. Thanks to today’s many tech options, you can host a virtual family reunion.
While that might sound odd, here are some virtual family get-together ideas for adults and kids that will keep everyone entertained:
- Virtual cooking class: Host a live cooking class to teach others how to make your favorite dish or dessert. Everyone can follow along from the comfort of their kitchens, making it a fun, interactive cooking experience for the whole family.
- Virtual cookie swap: Organize a virtual cookie exchange where family members bake their favorite cookies and swap recipes. At the end of the event, everyone can enjoy a sweet treat and a collection of new cookie recipes to try.
- Virtual bingo: Create custom bingo cards for each family member to print out at home and play bingo together online. To make the game more exciting, offer enticing prizes.
- Virtual storytelling session: Allow family members to share their favorite memories as a heartfelt way to honor your lineage.
Tips for a Successful Family Reunion
Worried about hosting a family reunion? If you plan carefully, your relatives are sure to have a blast. Here are some tips for hosting an memorable family reunion for adults and kids:
- Create an agenda: Make the agenda early to make sure there’s enough time for all the activities you have planned.
- Send invitations early: Send invitations and reminders well in advance to ensure guests block time on their schedules for the special event.
- Ask for help. You don’t have to tackle hosting all by yourself. Delegate responsibilities to other family members to reduce your workload streamline planning.
- Plan engaging activities: Keep the reunion lively by incorporating engaging activities that involve all family members.
- Pick a convenient location. Choose a location that’s convenient for all family members to ensure most relatives can attend the reunion.
Planning the Perfect Family Reunion
Family reunions allow you to spend time with your loved ones and get to know distant relatives, too. Whether you’re meeting in person or hosting a virtual event, these gatherings hold a special place in our hearts. Families can craft memorable experiences that celebrate their heritage by embracing themes, activities, and food.
Make your family reunion even sweeter by providing delightful treats from Mrs. Fields®. These gourmet cookies and baked goods are perfect for reunions, whether for a classic cookie swap or dessert table during a family BBQ. Mrs. Fields® cookies are available in various flavors, and with customizable options, you can find something for everyone.