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Creative Family Reunion Activities: Fun Games and Activities for Families

By Gathered Again

Some family reunions may be more laid-back. They might be a gathering where everyone is happy to eat, catch up with each other, and discuss fun memories. Maybe spend some quality time talking about grandchildren and what family members are up to.

But more formal reunions require well-planned and coordinated activities. If you have extended family traveling from around the country, you want to create excitement and amazing memories. If people make travel arrangements to attend your event months in advance, you need a solid planning process and activities everyone will remember forever. So, let’s add some creative activities to your family reunion!

Choosing Creative Ideas For Family Reunion Activities

So as you already know, there is a lot that goes into every aspect of planning a family reunion, and planning fun activities is no exception! So as you start thinking of activities for your reunion, here are some things to consider:

Generally, activities should match the family reunion theme if you have one. For example, a Pirates of the Caribbean theme could include pirate-related activities. These would reinforce the theme while providing enjoyment for everyone (even the spectators). Examples might include:

  • treasure hunting
  • sword fights
  • a sea shanty sing off
  • pirate-related trivia questions
  • pirate board games
  • and a best-dressed pirate beauty pageant

Themes Shouldn’t Stifle Your Creativity

A theme is only a general guide and should not restrict you from doing other activities or family traditions that may not necessarily be in line with the theme but guests enjoy. For example, if you have an annual bonfire tradition on the last night of the reunion weekend, don’t hesitate to continue with that tradition even if you decide to try an “Under the Sea” theme this year.

Don’t Accidentally Exclude People

Activities should be age-appropriate and appeal to the broadest range of ages and backgrounds possible. To be on the safe side, always have a variety of activities. A variety of activities is essential, so no one is left behind or feels out of place because they cannot participate.

Challenging activities are acceptable for specific groups but have activities appropriate for guests of all ages, skill levels, and abilities.

Reunion Conversation Starters

We have an article with over 80 family reunion conversation starters you can reference. Leave a card at each table with a conversation starter. This is a fun way to get people chatting.

The best part of this game is that it doesn’t require much prep work! Just print out some cards, cut them, and place them on the table.

7 Team Activities

What do you get when you put a bunch of families into teams and have them face off against each other in funny and quirky games? You probably will discover someone’s hidden talent.

Time to get out those matching family reunion t-shirts you made because it’s time to face off in these creative team activities!

  • Giant Hide and Seek
  • Paintball
  • Obstacle Courses
  • Minute to Win It
  • Trivia Tournaments
  • Family Feud
  • Tug-of-War

10 Cooking and Eating Competitions

The key to a successful family reunion is food! But how do you turn food into activities? Recipes and secret ingredients abound in every family, and a reunion is an excellent way to put the spotlight on your treasured culinary delights.

Reunions around the major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter) would be great opportunities for cooking showdowns; invite attendees who love to cook to a cooking competition where the rest of the guests can taste and decide the best.

Keep the atmosphere light and happy, so no one leaves feeling defeated! If possible, give awards and special recognition to all participants.

  • Pie Eating Contest
  • Chili Cook-Off
  • Iron Chef (Reunion Edition)
  • Hot Wing Challange
  • Children’s Bake Sale
  • Or let the competitors make their family’s favorite food.

Fun Idea: Parent / Child Dessert Bake-off!

Kids like to bake and whip up their favorite desserts, such as pies, cakes, and other sweet stuff. You can schedule an afternoon reunion activity where the adults can pass on their baking skills and knowledge to the next generation.

This is an excellent time for bonding, and you also pass on valuable knowledge to the children (and may learn some of their food preferences). This also takes care of desserts for some of the meals. The kids will enjoy tasting their baked creations and hearing the compliments.

Other Fun Food Activities:

  • Pizza Kitchen – Each contestant gets a chance to make their own pizza.
  • International Confections – Have each group bake a different regional confection, such as Baklava, Briouats, and Kulich.
  • Ice Cream Sundae Social – Have an ice cream social with every topping under the sun.

7 Quality Family Time Ideas: Family History Activities

Many younger generations would benefit from knowing their family history and genealogy. But, unfortunately, many don’t know simply because they have not had the opportunity to learn and discover their roots.

Activities can revolve around ancestors, lineage, and critical milestones that would give the youngsters a deeper appreciation of their heritage. Bring out the old photos and albums, and have adults and seniors share stories behind the photographs and introduce those in the photos who may no longer be around or have played significant roles in society.

If you have a funny story or favorite memory, this is a perfect time to share it. You can talk about the most special times in the history of your lineage. Maybe even have a Q&A session for the younger guests and the elders to give time to the elders for answering questions.

Scrapbook

The whole family can contribute various mementos, photos, documents, and other things that can be kept in a scrapbook. In the future, guests can add more stuff to the scrapbook for every family reunion event.

Ancestral Tour

You can schedule a trip to the family’s ancestral home or property. In addition, seniors can tell stories of their favorite childhood hangouts, hobbies, and hiding places.

Photo Slideshow

Family pictures are one of our most critical glimpses into the past! So take some time to assemble a slideshow you can play towards the end of the reunion. I think the slideshow at the end of the reunion feels like the most appropriate time frame.

Family Tree

Bring a family tree to show, or perhaps assemble one at the reunion! It’s fun to see how many cousins we have, and it’s great to see how far back your ancestry goes.

Time Capsule

As important as the past is, it’s also good to think about your future. Have guests bring one thing they would like to include in a time capsule that you will open in the future. This will make for a very fun activity to look forward to.

Photo Booth

Consider setting up a photo booth with props at the reunion if you have the space. This will give tons of opportunities for funny moments and memories.

Family Photo Album

Have everyone take photos at the reunion and put your favorite photos in a photo album. Then, the kids can look through the book later and reminisce over the memories.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, planning a reunion is hard work. There are many details to manage, from finding a venue to figuring out who’s bringing what food to deciding which activities to include. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. On the contrary, it can be pretty enjoyable.

All you need to plan a successful reunion is a bit of creativity and a willingness to keep things lighthearted. After all, nobody wants to spend their vacation stuck inside a stuffy room playing board games. So, why not make a list of creative family reunion activities that everyone can enjoy? These ideas will provide plenty of laughs, from bake-offs to trivia contests.

5 Fun Theme Parks For Families To E...
5 Fun Theme Parks For Families To Enjoy

Heartwarming Left-Right Game Stories for Your Family Reunion

By Gathered Again

There’s always at least a day in a year when we can celebrate and catch up with our relatives through family reunions. We usually celebrate it with a sumptuous meal, fun activities and games, and maybe even a fun karaoke session. We take this time as an opportunity to bond and strengthen our familial ties with one another. One game you can play for your family reunion is the Left-Right game. Usually, this is played during the Christmas season to exchange gifts. However, we can customize it, so we can play it during family reunions.

Playing the Left-Right Game on Your Family Reunion

There is only one way to play the Left-Right game. However, to make it more apt for a family reunion, we have a few ideas to adjust the game.

One Main Prize And Some Gag Gifts

One way to play this is to have one prize item while the others are dummies or gag gifts. The surprise of who gets the main gift is still a lot of fun, and you’re sure to get some laughs as people unveil the gag gifts they’ve received.

Too Many People? No Worries At All!

If you’re having a particularly large reunion, then having enough gifts might be too expensive. In that case, have one representative for each family play the game. Seeing who gets the prize, and who gets the dummy/gag gift is the fun part of the game.

You can also play this game the traditional way. Have each family bring a gift, and choose a representative to play the game. By the end of the story, everyone has a gift or prize to open. Playing the Left-Right game would surely bring a lot of laughter and excitement to your family reunion.

What makes this Left-Right game more interesting and fun is that you get to hear a story while playing. Your hearing and attention will also be tested, as you have to watch out for the cue words, telling you whether you should pass the prize to the person on your left or right.

How to Play

Gather everyone, and let them sit in a circle while holding their items for the game. The gamemaster tells a story, and the participants should be very attentive to which direction they would pass the gift. When they hear the word “left,” they must pass their gifts to the person on their left. The same goes for when they hear the word “right.” At the end of the story, whatever you’re holding is now yours. 

Left-Right Game Stories for Family Reunion

There are a lot of left-right game stories for different occasions and events that you could tweak and use for your family reunions. You can also opt to write your own left-right story. The goal of this story game is to include many “left” and “right” words in the story, while everyone is having fun and keeping the energy alive and kicking. 

You may also check out these two left-right game stories we’ve written for your upcoming family reunion.

Story #1: Spontaneous Family Reunion Stories by the Cliffords 

Today is a very special day for the Clifford (you may change the name) family. Lauren is very excited to see her relatives as they celebrate their annual family reunion. Since it’s their first time to visit their Aunt Jenny’s place, who is hosting this reunion, Lauren is tasked to give the right directions to her mom. 

She looked left and right, then right again before she signaled her mom to turn right on the next street. After a few left turns, they’re now on the highway. A little while after that, she can see several trees on her right while her baby brother Jack is fast asleep, and leaning on her right shoulder.

Mom suddenly asked, “Did Jack fall asleep already?”

“Yeah, he’s sleeping on my right shoulder, Mom.” Lauren replied.

If the navigation app is right, they are around thirty minutes away from Aunt Jenny’s. The call time is 12 noon, and it’s only 10:30 right now. So, they have enough time left before the actual reunion starts.

As she stared right at her window, Lauren got curious about her mom’s family reunions when she was little. So she asked, “Mom, what’s your fondest childhood memory of your family reunions?”

Mom thought about it for a while before answering. “Actually, almost every single day is a family reunion for me because your grandmother and her sister lived right next to each other. Your grandma Ellie lived two houses away on the left of your grandma Joy’s, while some of my cousins lived across the street back then.

“But, we still have big family reunions during Christmas because we all celebrate the holidays together. What made it more meaningful and special was that we celebrated it with our neighbor and her family.” 

Mom continued sharing her story as Lauren instructed her that the exit is on the next right.

“What do you mean, Mom? Did you invite them every year to celebrate the holidays? Didn’t they have a family to celebrate it with?” Lauren curiously asked.

“We considered them part of our family. Auntie Martha is what we called her. She had been like a mother to us, after all. She’d been with us all our lives. While we have a happier life thanks to Auntie Martha, she was always working to make ends meet.”

“Auntie’s family was not that well-off, you see. They didn’t have all the nice things we enjoyed. Sometimes, there wasn’t much left for her kids to have toys as you might enjoy.”

Oh, it’s the first time Mom shared about her Auntie Martha, and Lauren was touched by what her mom shared. “Yeah, we are very fortunate and lucky to have a comfy life, Mom. We’re not rich, yet we still have something left to share.” 

“That’s right. So, we always need to at least say a few thanksgiving prayers every now and then and share our blessings to those who are less fortunate.”

As they continued talking, Mom took the exit on the right, and, before they knew it, they’d arrived at their destination right on time.

The end.

Story #2: The Bears’ Family Reunion

The sun is out, birds are chirping, and we can’t wait to go outside and have some fun under the sun. Aside from being free from school to enjoy a vacation, this is also the right season for our family reunion. It’s the time of the year to visit Grandpa Bear and Grandma Bear and see all our relatives living in other states!

Papa Bear and Mama Bear left some invites months before for this annual event. Some of our relatives left their homes a bit early because they take the train to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s place—the home of the Bears family.

Our Grandpa Bear and Grandma Bear are the most excited grandparents in the whole wide world. They would wait for us to arrive right at their doorstep to welcome us with warm hugs and kisses.

“Hi, Grandpa Bear! Hello, Grandma Bear! We missed you! How are you guys doing?” I rushed right to where they’re standing after we left the car, parked on the sidewalk.

“Hey, sweetie. We’re doing alright. Come, let’s go inside and prepare for our family reunion!” Grandma Bear excitedly replied.

“Hello, Mama! Hello, Papa! Oh, I can smell the freshly baked apple pie right from the oven already! Yum!” Mama Bear greeted with glee.

I can sense her excitement with Grandma Bear’s apple pie. I swear she makes the best in town! The thickness of the crust is perfect, and its sweetness is just right for all ages.

“Oh, I hear a beep from outside. Maybe it’s your Auntie Janie Bear!” Grandpa Bear told my little brother Roby Bear. Grandpa left him on the couch, and headed to the patio to welcome Auntie Janie Bear and her family. 

We’re finally complete! I’m so happy!

Our Bear cousins came running right at Grandpa Bear, and hugged him tightly.

Auntie Janie Bear just came right on time for our family lunch. We had a sumptuous feast right before our eyes. There are sausages, cheese, grapes, and wine right beside bowl of punch. On the left is the main course. There’s a potluck of roasted chicken, pork kebabs, and steak. We also have scones, apple pie, and various pastries to choose from.

“Before we eat, let’s make a Bear-y Family memory!” Grandma Bear said, holding up her camera. She’s fond of keeping photos of our Bear family right by her bedside table. She looks at them from time to time when we’re not with her.

Grandpa Bear stood in the middle, while Grandma Bear was on his left. Our Mama Bear and Papa Bear stood behind us together with Auntie Janie Bear. Roby Bear and our cousin bears stood in front of the dining table so that we could be seen in the family picture.  

Uncle Jaime Bear set up the tripod and camera together with its timer. Right on cue, he rushed to his position beside Auntie Janie Bear. We squeezed in together to fit in the frame.

“Say Cheesy Bear!” Grandma Bear shouted right when the shutter came blinking fast, signaling it’s about to take a shot.

“CHEESY BEAR!”

We ate while catching up with stories and memories. Oh, what a wonderful day it is to be with my Bear family. I can definitely say with pride and glee that I’m a Bear, and we are right here for every Bear through thick or thin, no matter what.

By this time, I hope you’re holding the right gift for yourself because there’s nothing left in the story. I also hope you had fun, actively listening to the story and looking out for the right cues! Now, you may open the gift you are left with! Enjoy!

Exciting Left Right Family Reunion Game to Play

Surely, the room will be filled with laughter and enjoyment all throughout the Left-Right game, as it brings the family together while actively listening to the story. It adds sparkle and joy to your momentous family reunion.

Whether you end up with the dummy prize or a beautiful item, always remember that what matters most is the excitement and the fun of the game.

Family Reunion Bingo: The Ultimate Game To Bring Out Family Competition

By Gathered Again

Many people think that Bingo is just a game played by old ladies, but it doesn’t have to be that way. BINGO is a game that anyone can play, and it’s always a lot of fun. It is also a fantastic activity for family reunions and gatherings!

Suppose you plan a family reunion or any other event where many relatives will attend. In that case, you should plan at least one game of “Bingo.” This article will tell you more about how to play Bingo at a family reunion and provide a fun variation that makes it really fun.

How to Play Bingo

When it comes to family reunion games, this game is pretty close to ideal. The basic idea behind playing this game is simple:

You have a bingo card with randomized numbers between 1-75 organized in columns titled B, I, N, G, and O (thus spelling Bingo). A person designated as the caller will roll a cage full of numbered balls. The caller will pull a ball out with a number and call that number out.

For example, the caller might call out “B6.” If you have the number “6” in your “B” column, mark it off. Once you have 5 numbers in a straight line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal), you stand up and call out “BINGO.”

Your card will then be checked against the caller’s calls, and if you have Bingo, you’re the game’s winner.

Variation: How To Play Family Reunion Names Bingo

The setup is the same for Family Reunion Names Bingo, except instead of numbers, you randomly place the names of family members attending your reunion on your bingo card.

This feels more put together and adds more cohesion to your Bingo game. It feels more like a family reunion game and not like you’re just throwing anything you can think of into the family reunion activities.

Make sure you only put one name per space, and you only use each name once per bingo card.

Additionally, the caller will fill their “bingo cage” with the names of the attendees on pieces of paper. As the caller draws a slip of paper with the name, you mark the names that happen to be on your game card. The first person to score 5 spots on their card in a row calls out BINGO!

If you’re doing Family Reunion Names Bingo, make sure your bingo cage is solid plastic. If you use a wire one, the names will likely fall through the holes between the wires.

To make things easier and super fun, check out these printable Family Reunion Names Bingo cards from our Printable shop. They are instantly downloadable.

Get the Family Reunion Name Bingo Cards

First: You Need Bingo Cards

You can order bingo cards online quickly, and you might find them in the game areas of some stores, but buying them online is probably the cheapest way to go.

You can use a bingo card generator to mock up some bingo cards, but you still have to print them. Another option is to save them as PDF files and use them as virtual bingo cards.

American Games 1on Blue Bingo Paper (500 Sheets)
American Games 1on Blue Bingo Paper (500 Sheets)
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Give the Deluxe Bingo Experience!

One thing that makes Bingo so much is just the general experience. Being in an open room with a bunch of people sitting at their tables eagerly awaiting to mark their numbers and shout “BINGO” is so much fun.

But here’s the question: how do you capture that same energy and feeling?

Assuming you have tables and chairs, you’ve won half the battle. What you need next are just a few accessories that will add to the overall experience. Of course, the Bingo accessories you buy are dictated by how many people attend your family reunion and your overall budget.

Bingo Cage

You want your game to be as fair as possible. That’s why it’s essential to have a bingo cage roller. Not only does it ensure random draws each time, but this is also the hallmark of a good bingo game. In addition, the sound of the cage rolling alone adds to the right atmosphere.

Regal Games – Deluxe Bingo Set – Includes Bingo Cage, Master Board, 18 Mixed Cards, 75 Calling Balls, Colorful Chips – Ideal for Large Groups, Parties
Regal Games – Deluxe Bingo Set – Includes Bingo Cage, Master Board, 18 Mixed Cards, 75 Calling Balls, Colorful Chips – Ideal for Large Groups, Parties
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Speaker System for the Caller

You’ll need some speakers and a microphone to call out each number. There are a few good sets on Amazon, but you might also have success using a Karaoke machine (just don’t play the music, of course). The size of the speaker can depend on the venue.

A personal speaker, microphone, or a megaphone might be sufficient for smaller events. However, it’s probably better to stick with an actual microphone with an amplified speaker for more significant events.

ION Audio Block Rocker Plus – Portable Bluetooth Speaker 100W W/Battery, Karaoke Microphone, AM FM Radio, Wheels & Telescopic Handle and USB Charging
ION Audio Block Rocker Plus – Portable Bluetooth Speaker 100W W/Battery, Karaoke Microphone, AM FM Radio, Wheels & Telescopic Handle and USB Charging
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Camera and Projector

If you want to be particularly cutting edge, setting a camera up and connecting it to a projector will add a “wow” factor that will surprise almost anyone. Of course, this can be accomplished in many ways. Still, most people use a GoPro camera and connect it directly to a projector using an HDMI cable. Here’s a video of a gentleman showing how hooking up an HDMI cable to a GoPro using a TV works.

This would work the same way, except you would connect the HDMI cable to a projector instead of using a TV.

GoPro HERO10 Black – Waterproof Action Camera with Front LCD and Touch Rear Screens, 5.3K60 Ultra HD Video, 23MP Photos, 1080p Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization
GoPro HERO10 Black – Waterproof Action Camera with Front LCD and Touch Rear Screens, 5.3K60 Ultra HD Video, 23MP Photos, 1080p Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization
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ViewSonic PX701-4K 4K UHD 3200 Lumens 240Hz 4.2ms Home Theater Projector with HDR, Auto Keystone, Dual HDMI, Sports and Netflix Streaming with Dongle on up to 300" Screen
ViewSonic PX701-4K 4K UHD 3200 Lumens 240Hz 4.2ms Home Theater Projector with HDR, Auto Keystone, Dual HDMI, Sports and Netflix Streaming with Dongle on up to 300" Screen
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Markers and Daubers

Don’t forget the bingo card markers or daubers. Daubers are a bit more old-school, but I actually prefer them. There are a few pros to circular plastic markers. Firstly, the markers are infinitely reusable. Another pro for the markers is that you aren’t marking up your bingo cards, which means your Bingo cards can also be reused.

I prefer the daubers because I have little kids who tend to bump tables, making the markers move on your card. Besides that, the plastic markers are pretty great!

JUNWRROW 500 Pieces 3/4 inch Transparent 6 Color Bingo Counting Chips with Bag
JUNWRROW 500 Pieces 3/4 inch Transparent 6 Color Bingo Counting Chips with Bag
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DAB-O-INK 3oz Bingo Daubers – Mixed Colors – 12ct
DAB-O-INK 3oz Bingo Daubers – Mixed Colors – 12ct
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Final Thoughts

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Of course, you may not need all of these items. Still, suppose you’re looking to really wow everyone. In that case, you should definitely consider adding one or two of these items to your list.

At the end of the day, family reunions are about the family having fun catching up with each other. If this article helps make that possible even in the slightest way, then I consider that a huge success. I hope your family reunion is a huge hit, and don’t forget to take plenty of pictures!

How to Host a Virtual Family Reunion

By Gathered Again

With the current crisis looming on our doorsteps, each country has created preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Most of these require social distancing and prohibiting mass gatherings. If you’re planning on meeting with friends and family, it might be best to cancel your plans, and hold it virtually instead.

Hosting a virtual family reunion is a better alternative to a physical gathering. We understand how important it is to bond with family members, and catch up in this difficult time. But we don’t want to risk spreading or catching the virus by pushing with a physical party. Instead, you can gather your family for a virtual reunion. 

Why Virtual Family Reunion? 

A virtual family reunion is a good alternative when connecting with family members, and coming together. You don’t need to be physically together to check up on family, and make them feel loved and cared for. Thanks to new advancements in technology, there are multiple ways to connect with our loved ones, especially with those living abroad.

Before we discuss how to host a virtual family reunion, we listed below the top benefits of holding one. 

Meet without Leaving Your Own Place

This is one of the best perks of a virtual family reunion. You don’t need to physically leave your place, but you can still attend your family gathering. On normal days, some people couldn’t come to family gatherings due to lack of transportation, budget, or time. A virtual family reunion removes these hindrances, and lets you spend time with your family despite not being physically present. 

Have Fun While Following Quarantine Protocols

We all know that our health is a priority. We’ve been given quarantine protocols for our own safety, and to prevent further spread of the virus. Considering that there are people who are asymptomatic, avoiding crowded places and practicing social distancing is a must. With a virtual family reunion, you can follow these protocols and still have fun with your family members. 

Preserve the Experience

One of the benefits of a virtual family reunion is that you can revisit the experience. Since we’re doing it online through a camera, laptop, phone, iPad, or tablet, you can screen record the whole experience. This way, you and your family can rewatch the funny moments. 

In a normal family reunion, you usually don’t get to capture these moments because you’re too excited and pumped to play the game or catch up with family. You may get lucky to capture photos of some moments, but not of the whole event. Having a virtual family reunion helps you immortalize the event, and rewatch it again. 

Catch Up and Throw Fun Virtual Games 

By having a virtual family reunion, you can reconnect with your family, and play the most fun games you could think of. You can share events in your life, and share ideas you’ve learned over the past year. It’s also a great way to get competitive, and show your skills to the family. 

Meet Despite the Different Time Zones 

We can’t help it if we have family members who live in different parts of the world. By having a virtual family reunion, they can attend the party without leaving their place. It’s also a fun way to see the different time zones since it can be morning in one place while evening on the other. 

Platforms to Use for Hosting a Virtual Family Reunion 

platforms for a virtual family reunion

When it comes to hosting a virtual family reunion, you would need a platform to meet and interact with your family members. Below are some of the easy and popular platforms you can use. 

Zoom

Zoom is a virtual conference app, which lets you connect with more than five people in one room. It can support 100 participants in 40 minutes, then you can just hold another call when you hit the 40 minutes mark. To remove this restriction, you can upgrade to a paid plan.

A lot of people are using the app for meetings and online learning. You and your family can use it, too, since it’s very easy to navigate. You simply send the link for the meeting, and the members can access the video conference through their phones or laptops. 

There’s also a screen sharing feature, which is great for showing home movies, AVPs, or games. It also allows a recording of the reunion. So, if you want to play online games or record your reunion, this is a great platform for you. 

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is another fun video conference app that brings life to photos, emoji, and group video calls. Due to the pandemic, it can now support up to 250 participants. It also allows 150 people in a group chat. You just need a google account, and follow the link for the video conference. You can access it through your browser or the app.

One of the key features of Google Hangouts is that it detects the person who is talking. So, it displays that person in the main shot, and puts the other people in smaller shots. You may also record and save the reunion straight through your Google drive. Lastly, there are buttons, which allow you to switch between the front and back camera of your phone. 

Skype

Skype is one of the most popular platforms for video conferences. Your family may have already used this in the past. It can support up to 50 people for an unlimited duration. Unlike the first two platforms where you need a link, on Skype you need to be friends with the other person to make a call. What you can do is create a group chat prior to the virtual reunion, then set a time to start. You may also share files and photos in this application. 

Slack

Slack is an easy and fun tool used by many organizations and companies to share information and news. You can use this to create groups within your family and attend the virtual reunion. This is actually best for the games section or one-on-one catch up between a family member. It’s super easy to use, plus you can add applications to it that can be useful for reunion. For example, you can add the application hey taco to give tacos to family members as a point system. 

CISCO Webex Meetings

CISCO Webex allows you to call up to 100 participants for an unlimited duration in a single call. This is best for a pretty large family with tons of family members. There are no limits on the duration and number of calls you can make. You can even screenshare, record, and share your files with this application. To join the reunion, you’ll just need to provide your phone number, and access it using your phone or laptop. 

How to Handle Technical Difficulties 

We all know that a virtual reunion can’t be perfect. Even with all the preparations for the day, there are situations, which are out of our hands. Most of the time, these are technical difficulties. In this section we’ll be talking about the different issues you may encounter during a virtual family reunion, and how to address them. 

Video Lag

Remember that time when you’re talking to a friend, and the screen froze? Or, how about the time you didn’t understand what the other said since the video and audio started to lag? Well, we all must have encountered this same problem. 

As a remedy for this, the person can turn their camera off, and just turn on the microphone. Another one would be leaving and rejoining the group again. Lastly, you should also check your internet connection beforehand to make sure your end is stable. 

Connection Problems

Having a poor connection can affect your virtual family reunion. Hence, before you start your reunion, check your internet connection first. You can use your phone’s mobile data, too, if your home wifi doesn’t work. You should also find a good spot that has a strong signal in your house. 

Difficulty Joining the Call or Link

Some situations occur when a family member can’t join the group call. What you can do is offer them a manual or guide on how they can join the call or create another call that will work for everyone. It can be a bit hard considering others have already joined the call, so you may also tell them to use another account and device. 

Unsure on How to Proceed

There may be times when an older family member gets confused on how they will proceed in joining the virtual reunion or participating in the online activities. As the host, you can create a manual or guide on how to access the virtual reunion link or call. 

You can create a simulation of the games and activities, and create a guide on how they will go about with the activity. Simply use a snipping tool, and copy-paste the image on a word document, then place instructions underneath. You can also create a video guide on how to operate the app where you will hold your reunion. This way, your family members won’t have any problems or questions. 

Camera or Microphone isn’t Working

Before you start the virtual reunion, check if your camera and microphone are working. It’s best to inform your family members about this weeks before the actual event. If one device doesn’t work, you can ask them to use another device. Having a spare is quite useful. 

How to Host a Successful Virtual Family Reunion

If it’s your first time hosting a virtual family reunion, here are some tips to have a successful virtual event. 

Plan a Program

Like any event, you need to plan the virtual family reunion ahead of time. You wouldn’t want to leave everything to chance or spontaneity when you have everyone gathered online. 

Think of a time and date for the event. Create a survey for possible dates, and ask for everyone’s availability. Once everyone has picked out a perfect date, you can now consider and plan on the platform you’ll be using. Then, you can finally set some rules and constraints. 

Set a Theme

After you’ve planned out the platform and date, it’s time for you to pick a theme, which will set the mood and activities for the event. 

Into the Woods Theme

A fairytale land where magical creatures live would be a fun and exciting theme your kids and relatives would surely love and enjoy. Design your space like a woodland fairytale setting, like in Alice in Wonderland or Snow White. 

Decorate your wall with vines and fairy lights or transform it into a makeshift castle. Add a dramatic centerpiece on the table, too, and fill a large bowl of apples or flowers. You can even dress up in wizard, fairy, or royalty costumes to make it more fun!

Summer Theme

There’s really something about the beach that relaxes us and makes us want to soak in the sun. Having a family beach theme is an exciting and fun theme for everyone. You can have it  outside your backyard where you can pipe up the music, serve cool drinks, and wear swimwear. If not, you can set up your own summer vacation inside your home by placing decorations and umbrellas inside. Don’t forget to prepare watermelons and pineapples as refreshing drinks. 

Pajama Theme

A pajama party is an exciting theme that’s easy to do for your family reunion. Your family doesn’t have to stress on what to wear when they can simply wear their best and cutest bedtime outfits. To be a little extra, you can wear unicorn onesies, and add some night cap on your head. Aside from this, you can decorate your space with cut-out stars and moon. 

Plan Games

The activities are the ones that make the reunion more fun, especially for the younger ones. It wouldn’t be a party without some fun virtual games. 

Virtual Family Trivia

Start your party with a family trivia. As the host, list down 10 to 20 questions about your family, and have the players answer. Have them prepare a paper and pen, which they will raise on the screen once you’re done asking the question. Whoever gets more points wins the game. There can be as many winners for this game. 

Virtual Human Bingo

Another virtual game you can play is the virtual human bingo. Have someone host the game, while others play. To make it fun, customize the bingo into descriptions or facts about your family. Then, the members have to find those who fit the description. Kindly note that names couldn’t be duplicated, which means they can’t be checked under two boxes. Whoever completes the whole bingo card, wins! 

Pictionary

Who says you can only play pictionary when you’re all physically together? There are tons of online platforms nowadays, like skribbl and Drawize, that would let you play the game virtually. All you need to do is create an account and make a private room for all the players. 

Start Early

Better to start early, so you can have more time to bond with your family. It will also give you time to fix any technical problems. Since everything is online, there may come a time when some family members experience technical difficulties, hindering the party from moving forward. So, starting early gives you enough time to fix the problem and still finish the activities you’ve planned. 

Take Photos and Videos

Just like any other reunion, don’t forget to take photos. You can even screen record the party, and rewatch it. You may even set up a good background everyone can use and take photos of. Also, don’t forget to chat with your family, and celebrate the day with some drinks. 

Conclusion 

The pandemic shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a day with your family. Having a virtual family reunion is a safer alternative to gather your family, and have some fun. Hosting and planning it shouldn’t be done alone. You can get ideas from your family members, and work together to create a virtual reunion everyone would enjoy. Whatever your plans may be, the important thing is that you connect and make time for your loved ones.