I'm looking for ideas- what to do to make a family reunion really "something"?

[bramblina]

There will be people from Oz, the borders, the outer hebrides, 4 generations, and for some it will be the first and last time we have all been together.

So far, an afternoon and evening of barbecues, music and drink is organised, we're in the process of doing up the garden-well, just new fence and ground but I'm looking for ideas on decoration too.

My first idea was to make up a quiz trying to grab on to bits of info on every member of the family (27 are coming), wedding dates, ages, degrees, achievements etc, could do with more ideas there too...

The kids are 2,3,6&8 so too young for treasure hunt.

What do you suggest?

Hire a bucking bronco?

Fireworks!!!!!
(I ove fireworks)

LOVE even

really simple but we got loads of really old family photos and stuck them all over the walls - people spent ages looking at them and remembering this house or that holiday or even that dress and that hat...

group photo
family tree on display

How about getting as many old photos as you can and running them through a scanner to make big collage-type posters to decorate with? You could ask for contributions (especially if other family members can email you pics). Use scanner,s photocopiers etc so as not to lose or damage precious originals, obviously.
Another similar trick is, if any of the older generation have old cine-film, you can now get that put onto DVD.

What a lovely idea for the quiz - i guess it depends how well you know everyeone but you could do it where you have to find e.g. a family member who's left handed)
Maybe you can get everyone to fill in a questionnaire before they come? mr and Mrs style!

You could also do the thing I saw on another thread for the kids (on your lovely new fence) and pin a roll of Lining paper up and get the kids to colour on it.

You could also take photos (polaroids work well here as people can write on them) as everyone arrives wearing a silly hat or something so that you've got a memory of them doing that.

Have a great time

WOW! You lot are fantastic!! Keep them coming!

Fireworks, great, we had them after our wedding (how did I forget), party is 1st Sept, will it be dark enough?

Bucking bronco- now there's a thought. Great Grandpa (87) would be first in the queue...

The fence is a fab idea, they are welcome to paint/decorate it. Ooooooh we could varnish it after and keep it!

Photo ideas are great. Wonder if I could email everyone in secret and gather a load like that without anyone knowing...

The washing line is a lovely idea.

Now to search for a hog roast....

Any more party lovers out there?!

Oh, and depending on the audience...once hired a karaoke machine for a weekend away. It was the best fun ever and I was indistinguishable from Shirley Bassey.

oh and this being the uk can you borrow a gazebo or something in case of shit weather?
Have fun

Auntie from borders is bringing neigbour's gazebo. But stupid MIL can't be arsed to ask what size it is, so I'm not even so sure it will fir in the area we have prepared. Oh it will just be a standard one I htink, she says. She doesn't even know what size a standard one is!

And Auntie from OZ has bought a karaoke machine on ebay and had it delivered to said Auntie in borders! Forgot to mention that.

Divide everyone into teams, either by age, "nationality", gender, or family units and play tug a wars.

Definately make sure that you take a group photo.

But also make sure that everybody gets a chance to just sit down and talk.

Brilliant!

Bumping for Wed night posse!