How to make a family reunion fun!

July 12, 2008 8:11 PM

Any suggestions for games/activities for an all adult family reunion?

There will be 30 ish people from my husband's family at a weekend family reunion in Manistee, Michigan at the end of July. We're looking for games/activities for three generations, ages 20-82, to prevent us all from sitting around and around talking to our own nuclear families. In the past when we've got together for a 1/2 day reunion for a quick lunch every couple years, it's been rather awkward. The oldest generation are close. The second were close as kids, but not since. The third generation are pretty much strangers. Help!

posted by ReneeOg to Society & Culture (5 answers total)

Try a round or two of Mafia, but you may have to split up into two groups. It's hit or miss, but one game doesn't take super long. When it hits, it really hits. (One of my favorite family reunions involves staying up till 4AM to play mafia, even postponing an early morning flight!)
posted by theiconoclast31 at 8:26 PM on July 12, 2008

Not quite the same, but every year at our office holiday party we come up with a variation on a game show but the questions are based on our company. You could use family questions as the basis. For instance, you could play Jeopardy! and the questions could be about family members or places they live--put people on teams and take turns answering questions. We did "deal or no deal" and "Family Feud" with different teams playing against each other. We don't really have big prizes, but it is an ice-breaker and gets fun and loud. Good luck!
posted by Miastar at 9:03 PM on July 12, 2008

Seconding Mafia. With the right group, it's addictive and incredibly fun!
posted by scody at 10:34 PM on July 12, 2008

Apples to Apples is a fantastic party game, and it helps you get to know people just a little bit better too. It scales well to large groups -- well, I've played games with up to 10 or 12 people, anyway.
posted by liet at 10:45 PM on July 12, 2008

You could check out games on this list. Or possibly this one (but typically "family" means "kids") Or if you're desperate this one (though "party" games are often actively disliked by at least a couple of people in any large group.)
posted by krisjohn at 5:47 AM on July 13, 2008