What brings the most joy in summer? Family reunion activities. A staggering two-thirds of people in a recent survey agree: a reunion is a lot of fun.
However, it can also be stressful if you’re hosting the event.
What games should you play? What activities should you include? Will everyone be included in the events you plan? Below is a list of activities for all ages that everyone is sure to love.
15 Fun Activities for Your Next In-Person Family Reunion
1. Outdoor Movie Night
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If the weather cooperates, holding a movie night is a perfect choice for family reunion activities for all ages. Buy an outdoor projector or ask a reliable attendee to bring their own and be ready with a long list of movies.
Of course, if you want a way to distract the younger kids, you can always keep the movies going while the adults enjoy other activities. A few great movies for kids are:
- Frozen
- Toy Story
- Encanto
- Moana
- Wall-E
- 101 Dalmatians
2. Bake-off
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Are you and your family competitive? If so, a bake-off is a great way to get everyone together and have an amazing time. You can choose to have a bakeoff with anything:
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Cakes
- Cinnamon rolls
- And more!
The winning team can receive the top prize for this year’s family reunion bake-off. Next year, the winner will have to defend their title!
3. Sack Races
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Races are one of the classic family reunion activities shared worldwide. Sack races add an extra element of fun, and you’ll find plenty of party stores selling sack race bags. You can also find these online.
You can have a race for everyone, just kids, just adults or adults vs kids. It’s up to you.
4. Piñata for the Kids
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Kids love piñatas. Fill the piñata with candy, blindfold the person trying to hit it and wait for the laughs to ensue. You can fill your piñata with anything you like:
- Candy
- Snack pouches
- Stickers
If adults are going to join in on the fun, bottle openers, a hidden gift card, lottery tickets and even more can be added.
5. Hot Dog Eating Contest
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Who will be this year’s hot dog contest winner? If you’re a family that loves to eat and is competitive, a hot dog (or any food of your choice) eating contest is sure to be a major hit. You can split up adults and kids if you like, and the winner of each age group can win a prize.
6. Dance Party
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Do you have a family that loves to dance? A dance party is sure to bring a lot of laughs. Allow everyone to show off their own dance moves and have the family vote to choose the winner.
7. Greatest Prank Wins!
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Pranks work for some families and not for others. If you have a family that loves to pull pranks on each other, you can make this event into an all-night affair. The person or team who pulls off the best prank wins.
8. Guess the Gift-Giver
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Everyone loves gifts. Ask everyone to bring one gift and put all of them into a pillowcase. When the time comes, have family members pick a gift at random from the pillowcase and then guess who it is from.
9. Family Reunion Picture
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Remembering and even meeting some family members for the first time is the main reason for going to a family reunion. You want the day to be memorable, and everyone should gather around for a family picture at the end.
Be sure to share these photos with everyone after the reunion.
Over the years, these photos will be a part of your family history, which members can look back on and reflect on the fun that they had.
10. Theme Reunion
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Theme reunions are a lot of fun. You can have everyone who attends dress for the occasion, which can be anything you like, such as:
- Family circus
- Superheroes
- Certain decades (I.e. 50s)
- Rock band
- Etc.
You can also vote on the best costume of the night, too. Themed reunions are often some of the most memorable, and you’re sure to have a lot of good laughs, too.
11. Storytime Around the Bonfire
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Storytelling is a great way to spend quality time together, teach important lessons, and share laughs. Set aside time towards the end of the reunion to share stories around the fire. Making s’mores and sharing some laughs is a great way to end the day.
12. Guess the Baby Picture
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“Guess the Baby Picture” is a fun game for your family reunion. Have everyone send in their baby photos before the big day, and have everyone take turns guessing who the baby is. Turn it into a friendly competition and give a prize to the person who gets the most correct guesses.
13. Family Olympic Games
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Want to stir up some friendly competition? Plan an afternoon of family Olympic games. Use common yard games like Twister, Ladder Ball, Bocce Ball or Corn Hole. You can use whatever games you want for this event. Hand out awards, medals, or prizes to the winners.
Family Reunion Activities for Guests Who Can’t Attend
Some of your loved ones may not be able to attend your next family reunion in person, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be there virtually.
Here are a few ideas to help these family members participate.
1. FaceTime or Zoom Non-Attending Guests
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The simplest way to allow non-attending guests to participate in your family reunion is to get on FaceTime or Zoom.
Video chat platforms allow you to stream the event’s activities and even allow non-attending guests to chat with others, comment on what’s going on, and share stories in real time.
2. Virtual Karaoke
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FaceTime and Zoom allow everyone to get involved in the reunion, even if they can’t be there in person. But these tools only allow them to participate to a certain degree. If you want them to feel like they’re truly involved and a part of the reunion, plan an activity they can participate in – like virtual karaoke.
YouTube has a great selection of karaoke tracks that you can use for this fun event, and you can use Zoom to stream it.
Let the Games Begin!
These family reunion activities are sure to make your next gathering a blast for kids and adults alike. Be sure to plan ahead, and if you’re still unsure of which activities to plan, ask family members for input.
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