Planning activities for your reunion is essential. That does not mean something for every minute because visiting and catching up are always as important as structured activities. But as you plan, keep in mind ages, abilities and interests of your members. Be sure to include some activities just for kids and some things that force all ages to mingle and get to know everyone.

When descendants of Rose & Frank Darga meet, games are organized and run by the Benny Darga Game Committee. The children and adults have fun playing games and whistling with soda crackers, Carol Idalski, Charlotte, Michigan, reports.

Some ideas for clowning around at reunions include tossing ping-pong balls into goldfish bowls, and a knock ’em down competition with stuffed toys as targets. Takes a little planning up front, but these kinds of activities will get everyone laughing.

Marianne Mersereau, Seattle, Washington, reported that during their Portland reunion, members of the Van Valkenburg Family Reunion got to know each other better through an adaptation of Bingo, called Vango. Everyone received a Vango card with the letters V-A-N-G-O at the top and a clue in each square. The object was to collect signatures of persons who matched the clues. For example, one clue was “Purple Heart Veteran,” so you had to find the family member who fit this description and get his signature on the card. Everyone completing a card received a Dutch-themed treat. The family was surprised and frequently amused by many revelations that resulted from the game!

Or establish your own family Olympics. Create contests — sack races, 50-yard dashes, checkers games, card tournaments, a family trivia game — for all ages and abilities. Award medals in a ceremony.

Sarah Okuno, Saratoga, California, shared these ideas from the Awaya Family Reunion.

Awaya family members represent a broad spectrum of talents, hobbies and disciplines, which were called upon to arrange activities and events. The week kicked off with a t-shirt tie-dye party, including a silk-screen station to apply the family coat-of-arms as a reunion memento. With colorful shirts drying in the background, the space adopted a week-long festive, party atmosphere, as family members also made colorful paper lanterns (to festoon the anniversary dinner later in the week), beadwork, model airplanes and a papier mache piñata, among other projects. One of the week's highlights was the “unbirthday party,” during which the whole gathering participated in uproarious games and broke the piñata they'd made.

The Rabb-Herron Biennial Family Reunion Picnic includes a big track meet. The picnic was held at the Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, Louisiana, known for its mountain bike trails.  Laura Morgan, Chicago, Illinois, writes, “We just pick a section of the park that’s isolated and have family members from two to whatever age run against each other. Everyone gathers around to cheer on their family members. The competition can get fierce, especially among the older ones trying to regain their form and finding out that you can’t go back. This year we gave the winners medallions with pictures of our maternal and paternal grandparents.”

J. Lynne Wilson Jenkins, Simpsonville, South Carolina, reports that the Douglass-Blount Family Reunion has a talent show, tours, kid & adult games and family history games. Everyone introduces themselves and explains how they’re related to the family. They also play icebreaker games that "force" people to mix and mingle. It is traditional to recognize the oldest and youngest family members, the member who traveled farthest, and the family with most immediate members present.

And from Gannett News Service, Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, New York.

• Bake-off. Have relatives bring their best cakes, pies and cobblers from all over the country. A panel of judges selects the best and awards bragging rights to the winner for the next year.

The Seideman Family Reunion always holds a tasty bake-off called a Kuchen Contest.

• Speech contest. Improve younger family members' public speaking skills with an oratorical contest and give a savings bond as a prize.
• Showers. What better time than when everyone is together to set aside time for baby and wedding showers?
• Talent show. Showcase family members who sing, dance or play an instrument well.
• Family tree. Plant a tree in a spot significant to your family to honor your ancestors. As it grows older, commission a plaque explaining its importance.

This is a list of games reunions play. Many are childhood games that generate just as much excitement and laughs as they always have. Use these to get everyone involved and smiling.

Send us your game ideas!

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