The Ultimate Family Reunion Fun Guide

Family Reunion Planning doesn't have to be difficult. After all Family Reunions are all about fun. For the nature-loving family, Elk Lake Resort offers the ultimate family reunion place. Get the event planning done with some help from our Western Montana Lodge. Fun for Everyone!

Historically, the traditional Black family reunion has excelled at keeping the roots and branches of the family tree grounded and connected - and now more reunion planners are turning this annual celebration into an all-out family festival.

Almost gone are the days of wearing matching T-Shirts and meeting at the local park at a last minute's notice. Today's family reunion organizations plan the annual event up to two years in advance.

Almost gone are the days of asking Uncle Joe to lend you a few bucks; today, many family reunion organizations have scholarships and emergency funds set aside for family members.

Almost gone are the days of listening to the rumors of war vets and even celebrities you could possibly related to. Today's family reunion organizations have designated various genealogy committees to research your family's roots.

And, almost gone are the days of allowing the children to run wild, while the adults impatiently wait for the traditional 'entertainment' - aka their turn to dance down the impromptu 'Soul Train' line, or to play their hand at the card table. Today's family reunion organizations have activity itineraries for the young and the young at heart. Some have upped the ante quite a bit as families all across the country accentuate the annual reunion's tangy barbeque, rhythmic beats and down-home banter with professional catering, live bands, troupe performances, and even family reunion themes.

Noted genealogist Donna Beasley says many families are really going above and beyond to plan this year's activities because, for many, the family reunion is considered the annual vacation.

"Many people aren't traveling abroad as much anymore, so being connected to the family has become more important to them," Beasley explains. "There are more people putting on family reunions, there are just hundreds of thousands of them every year, and for many, it's a cheaper vacation. Everybody can come, you can pile your kids up in the car, and you can go."

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan a 'fun-tastic' family reunion that is sure to put your event into a league all by itself.

Take Your Reunion On The Road

Many Black families are moving the celebration out of their city limits and are hitting the open road - or open seas as many have reunion cruises - resulting in a booming tourism industry focused primarily on servicing African-American reunions, according to experts. . .

Be All-Inclusive

You should plan activities that are age-appropriate for adults and for the children as well. A supervised nursery or play area with toys, snacks, scooters, board games, story time and even clowns would be ideal for toddlers. Teens may enjoy writing and performing family skits or throwing talent shows where they can win scholarships and other valuable prizes.

Choose A Theme

The matching T-Shirts are cute, but a salute to the 1970's (or the 1960's or the 1940's) could be more fun. You can instruct your kinfolk to come dressed in wigs and bell-bottoms. Tell the DJ that the oldies but goodies - back when rhythm and blues still had its rhythm as some would argue - would be the order of the day. The 70's reunion would be a great opportunity for the old-schoolers to relive the good ole days and the new-schoolers to get acquainted with the past. If you're not into disco, there are many, many themes to choose from such as: the fiesta reunion complete with pinatas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, and colorful sombreros. . .

Other popular reunion themes include the birthday theme (a favorite among children), the Wild West theme . . .

Form Committees

Plan your reunion as if it is your business. Have reliable family members form pertinent committees that can make your event run as smoothly as possible. Key committees are the Budget committee (to watch expenses), hospitality committee (to welcome the family), travel committee (to find the best location or host the event), entertainment committee (to produce fun and games for kids and adults), and perhaps the most important of all, the media committee. These are the guys with the video cameras, digital cameras, and those popular throw-away cameras.

You will be working the event, documenting Aunt Sue doing the Electric Slide with the young ones, and documenting Grandpa telling the young ones stories about walking to school barefoot in a blizzard. Your job is to document everything, the good and the bad, the jokes and the lively debates, the talent shows and the talent-less displays put on just for the fun of it.

A good, fun-filled reunion requires committee members to take their time and make plans ahead that will appeal to all who will attend. But the most important thing is to get together - young and old - and have a good time.