The simplest type of family reunion is a barbeque or picnic. But even this type of family reunion takes some planning in order to be successful.
You will probably want to start between 10 and 11am, this gives people time to drive to the location. Expect some people to be late, so let people know what time lunch will be served. Keep the food simple, you can ask people to bring dishes or buy the salads and desserts at a deli. The main course could be bread and sandwich toppings, fried chicken, sloppy joes, or hamburgers and hotdogs. Make sure that you have some snacks for later in the day, when people get hungry again. End before dinnertime unless you plan on providing two meals. Make sure you have tables and chairs set up if you are having it in a backyard.
Besides the food you will want to provide some activities. A good idea is to plan a theme for the reunion. Possible themes include water fun, family history, pioneers, sports, the 50’s, outer space, or any other theme. Then you can build your activities and decorations around your theme. You might even ask people to dress up for the event.
You will definitely want some activities planned for the children. For example if chose pioneers you could have the children listen to stories about pioneers, preferable ancestors. Go on a pioneer scavenger hunt, or pretend to cross the plains in a treasure hunt. You might have them create a pioneer collage or a decorate a picture frame then have each child dress up in pioneer clothes and take their picture in black and white. You might also do this for each family and provide them with a memento of the reunion. One year my family held our reunion in the town where my grandparents grew up. We rode a hay wagon and toured the family sites then had a picnic in Butterfield canyon, named after my ancestors.
A good resource is birthday game ideas centered on the theme you chose. If you don’t want to be initiating the games recruit the help of teenagers and put them in charge of the younger children. Make sure you leave some free time for them to just play and reacquaint themselves.
If you chose a family history theme have each family bring old pictures and stories that they can share in a program.
You might want to include a short talent program. You can ask family members before hand to have one person per family participate in the talent show. This is a great way to get to know people. I have fond memories of some of our family reunion talent shows, and great video footage as well.
Adults usually just want to talk. But if it’s been a while since you’ve been together or there is extended family that you might not know a get to know you activity might be fun. Nametags are also a good idea.
Teenagers often find themselves reluctantly dragged to family reunions. So you might want to plan some games for the teens in the family to play. These can include card games or fun group games.
Another possibility is holding the reunion at a local swimming pool and then having lunch at an adjoining park or pool bowery. This provides instant entertainment. The downside is those with little kids have to be in the water and can’t associate with other adult family members.
If the reunion is at a park, decorations can consist of a sign announcing the reunion and some balloons. You might put some tablecloths over the picnic tables and table decorations centered on your theme. If the reunion is in a backyard you can add a few more decorations like streamers or other theme elements.