Family Reunion Themes With A Twist of Planning
Family Reunion Themes With A Twist
Planning a Family Reunion
Like every good reality show, there has to be a twist. What could be more dramatic than a Family reunion with specialized themes? Not much would be more entertaining! Read below to see tips on hosting more than your Average Family Reunion.
Christmas in July (or August)
What better time to re-familiarize yourself with the warm spirits of Christmas time than during a family reunion!
What they can wear: Santa Claus apparel is completely welcome. White beards are optional. Or better yet, everyone is required to wear Elf caps on antler ears! Having trouble finding the appropriate garb? Dollar stores usually stock up Christmas attire a couple days after Halloween.
What they can do: Christmas Carolling at the park! Divide the family into groups of carollers and host a singing competition. Have the groups go around to other picnickers and belt out their favourite song. Strangers are the best judges!
What they can eat: A traditional Christmas dinner potluck style could be the order of the day. Perhaps Aunt Fran makes one mean stuffing, or Grandma’s roasted ham has everyone going back for seconds.
Luau
Taking the most enjoyed aspects of a traditional Hawaiian Luau will give this cultural specific tradition a universal appeal.
What they can wear: Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts are completely welcome. Surfer shorts, floral prints, the current market’s craving of all things Hawaiian will make dressing for your function a snap.
What they can do: Host a Hula dancing competition. Recruit a family member with some coordination to learn to basic steps of hula dancing before the reunion. This person will they be prepared to give a tutorial to family members followed by a warm-up. Once the warm-up finishes the competition is on! Allow older members who may not want to participate to be judges. The most ridiculous someone looks, the better. Prizes can be awarded for best hula dancer, and most creative interpretation of the hula.
What they can eat:
The menu of the day can be surf and turf. A traditional Hawaiian pig roast could be the main attraction followed by seafood salads and vegetarian fare. For desert, fruit kabobs could be an option. Speciality grocery stores may even sell poi.
X-Games Reunion
Traditional family reunion gets thrown out the window! Take your family reunion to the next level…X Games style!
What they can wear: Invitations should read “Be prepared to get physical” Sporty wear is the theme complete with running shoes, bathing suits and of course sunscreen!
What they can do: Create your family’s first (and hopefully annual) X Games Olympics! Divide family members into teams and have games occur throughout the day. Examples could include extreme relay races, elimination horseshoes, bocce…you name it. Water play could also work too. Just be sure whatever you decide that it’s fun and safe. Make sure there are activities that appeal to all ages.
What they can eat: To take a page from the X-games mentality, anything goes! In terms of food, tradition BBQ fare is appropriate…but don’t forget to bring the Gatorade. Participants will work up a sweat in the day’s festivities, so ensuring everyone is hydrated is important.
Be a kid again family reunion
With this theme, the young and young at heart will surely shine.
What they can wear: Ask invitees to wear something youthful. Perhaps a t-shirt with their favourite cartoon hero, or even something they interpret as younger looking.
What they can do: As party planner, ask everyone what their favourite childhood games were. Hide and go seek, Simon Says, Mother May are all classics.
What they can eat: What could me more fun than a Sundae Bar with all the fixings? Or better yet, combine traditional picnic fare with a sugar-filled buffet. Candy shops and bulk stores may be the way to go/ the best thing about sugary sweets? The sugar acts as preserve and if stored properly can be used for the next few family functions.
Final Notes: Theme parties are always successful because they take your average Family Reunion and add some spice. The boredom of an annual function can be livened up by couple major changes. As party planner, be sure to communicate effectively with all invitees. Don’t forget to take pictures! The hilarity that ensues at your theme specific family reunion will have all invitees laughing for years to come.
-Lidia Siino 
