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Reunited! (And it feels so good.)

Some of my favorite childhood memories were the Saturday nights that the whole family would gather at Grandma’s house. We ordered pizza and played in the yard until sundown. Then the “grownups” played cards while my cousins and I made blanket tents in the den or wrote plays to perform for the rest of the family later (one time, we even did “Hamlet”).

As I get older, it seems like family members and old friends move farther and farther away. People find new jobs, get married, or have an inkling to live on the opposite coast, and suddenly the kids with whom I built forts out of military blankets and desk chairs are raising kids of their own. Sometimes it’s a whole year (or more) between reunions. So when I am able to get back together with old loved ones, I want to make sure that everyone’s having a great time. At the same time, with new significant others, kids, and even grandkids in the mix, sometimes getting everybody acquainted can be quite a task. I usually like having activities planned in advance, even for smaller family or friend get-togethers. It can take the pressure off a bit so everyone can relax and have a good time. Reunions Magazine can be a great resource for game ideas, tips and meal-planning advice. If you’re planning a reunion get-together sometime soon, here are some activity ideas that have worked well for me and mine in the past:

• White Elephant Gift Giveaway: Why wait for the holidays? Buy a giant gift basket, give everyone a number, and make sure no one “steals” more than twice. You could even have people bring in themed gifts, like items that remind us of Grandma’s house or swag from the year you all graduated high school.
• Bake-off: What better way to bond than over brownie batter and melted butter? You might need a giant kitchen (or two), but it’ll be worth it when everyone’s devouring the food, fresh out of the oven. You could even break people into teams to compete for the most scrumptious dessert.
• Picnic in the Park: If the weather cooperates, definitely consider having your reunion outside. You can plan Frisbee tournaments, take family walks, host a cookout, and even invite family pets!

What are some activities you’ve used to bring everyone together at reunions? Share with other readers in the comments, in support of a good time for all!

-Lisa