Planning a Family Reunion for June

**jlxian** · 01-04-2006, 01:58 PM

I am hosting a family reunion in June at my home. This family is scattered all across the country and we rarely see each other. It has been two years since our last reunion and I am hoping some folks that didn't come to the last one will make it to this one.

Since so many people are traveling a long distance, it is not practical for them to come to a reunion for only a few hours on one day. So I'm seriously considering having it over an entire weekend. But I am stumped on what activities, if any, to plan. Here is what I can think of:

Fishing at a local lake
Touring local attractions (Precious Moments headquarters is here)
Visiting and talking

I'm hoping there are some of you who have some experience here. Can you help me? TIA!

**sixfreds** · 01-04-2006, 02:54 PM

How about a pinic at a park.
Pick a place that there is a lake available.
People can bring their own picinic, visit, swim, you might even be able to set up a volleyball net and plan a game. That could be a who day like come whenever and have fun type thing. so it is planned but everyone can feel free to come and go as they please.

**Darlene** · 01-04-2006, 03:05 PM

Here's an old post that might help.

Need help.... family reunion

**Jerseygirl** · 01-04-2006, 08:31 PM

We do ours annually at my mom's, anywhere from 50-80 people, one day. Ours is generally just swimming, food, a band etc. It's always fun. This year my sister and mother photocopied all of the family paperwork (naturalization papers, marriage certificates etc.) that we could get together, along with info from Ellis Island and created little family history books with a binding machine. They were a huge hit. Last year we took all the family photos we could get together and made DVDs with music playing in the background--"Mambo Italiano" for all the photos of the family dressed up in the 40s and 50s, "Thank Heaven for little girls" for pics of my mom and her girl cousins, "That's Amore" for all the wedding photos, everyone loved it and it really only took time-we got 100 dvds for $25 and did it all on the computer at home.
These are a lot of fun to plan, good luck.

**sunshine** · 01-04-2006, 11:35 PM

I used to have an annual Clash of the Holidays party every July or August. I think it would work for a family reunion as well.

We would decorate the house with every holiday decoration we could find. Everyone would bring a small gift, and a dish from their favorite holiday. I'd send out invites asking for RSVP's as to the type of dish, so I could be sure we'd get a good mix.We'd start the party with a New Year's toast, and end with Christmas and the gift exchange. Other holidays were celebrated inbetween. Loads of fun, laughs.

**jlxian** · 01-05-2006, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the suggestions --- I've been thinking about using our scanner for uploading any photos or documents folks bring and saving the images to disks for others to take home. Also I'm considering having a digital photo printer available for copies of digital photos taken on the day.

Since EVERYONE coming to this will be from out of town, I really want to have the event last more than just a few hours (like a backyard picnic would be) so their trip is more worthwhile to them. That way the out of towners will be more likely to mke the trip!