When Was Your Last Family Reunion? What Activities Took Place?

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

SF VIP
Location
New Jersey
Our reunions take place every two years (except for during COVID). We have a meet and greet on check in day, usually on Fridays, where our T shirts and name tags are handed out. It was slightly different last year because for many of us, no hotel stay was required, tags were given at the banquet (Saturday) and no T shirts were made up.

Many of us are living in N.J. where the event was held and some out of state relatives stayed with family. We also had relatives from South Carolina, Texas, Connecticut, New York and Puerto Rico. We usually have a picnic at a park on Sundays after church, but in 2017 it was an indoor/outdoor event at a cousin's house in Long Island. Saturday evening, we had our banquet at the Long Island Marriott where we stayed. In 2019 we had a family reunion cruise to Bermuda but unfortunately 99% of our family members couldn't come because the planning took place too late. I was able to cruise and loved it.

We always attend church services on Sundays. Last year, it was at the church where one of our cousins is the pastor. We had the cookout afterward in the church courtyard. Here is a picture from the banquet hall where we gathered on Saturday evening. There were 10 tables and all were full. We always have a deejay and dancing after we eat and at this 2023 reunion, the dance floor was in the middle of the table set up. My son and I arrived early to help set up. I think that blue thing on the floor belonged to a worker who was helping us.

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Last one my family had was about 20 years ago. The old people died off and the young ones didn't keep up the tradition. Five or six of us had what we call a Cousins Lunch every year, but there hasn't been one in about 3 years. (or, if there was, I wasn't invited :oops: )

Our old family reunions were a pig-fest. Literally. We buried a whole pig or two on some coals and wood, threw some pineapples on it, and let it cook underground for several hours while we all partied and played baseball and horseshoes, and the kids played various games, and we danced while Gramps played his accordion and the uncles played their fiddles and spoons.

Excellent times, excellent food!
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Our reunions take place every two years (except for during COVID). We have a meet and greet on check in day, usually on Fridays, where our T shirts and name tags are handed out. It was slightly different last year because for many of us, no hotel stay was required, tags were given at the banquet (Saturday) and no T shirts were made up.

Many of us are living in N.J. where the event was held and some out of state relatives stayed with family. We had relatives from South Carolina, Texas, Connecticut and Puerto Rico. We usually have a picnic at a park on Sundays after church, but in 2017 it was an indoor/outdoor event at a cousin's house in Long Island. Saturday evening, we had our banquet at the Long Island Marriott where we stayed. In 2019 we had a family reunion cruise to Bermuda but unfortunately 99% of our family members couldn't come because the planning took place too late. I was able to cruise and loved it.

We always attend church services on Sundays. Last year, it was at the church where one of our cousins is the pastor. We had the cookout afterward in the church courtyard. Here is a picture from the banquet hall where we gathered on Saturday evening. There were 10 tables and all were full. We always have a deejay and dancing after we eat and at this 2023 reunion, the dance floor was in the middle of the table set up. My son and I arrived early to help set up. I think that blue thing on the floor belonged to a worker who was helping us.

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It's beautiful, blue thing and all. :)
 

We always had a country casual potluck picnic at noon on the Sunday following the 4th of July.

The new location was announced at the current reunion and people just showed up the following year.

The best ones were always hosted on the lawn or in the barn of a family member others were held in local county or state parks.

When I was a kid it always drew over 100 family members but it fizzled out after my grandparents died.

There have been a few unsuccessful attempts to revive it.

We always had a love/hate relationship with the annual reunion and always went out of respect for our elders.

Reunions and the annual Christmas letters have been replaced by Facebook or similar social media platforms.
 
I have only been to one family reunion. It was about 20 years ago and held by my husband's paternal family descendants. It was at the NRA site in New Mexico and the only activity I can recall was bow and arrow shooting. I do remember the food though. It was excellent.
 
The last time I saw my father was in 1978. The last time I saw my mother was around 1990. And the last time I saw my sister was around 2000.

I think we're due for a family reunion! :ROFLMAO: NOT!

Does anyone still say "not" in that context? I don't keep up with the latest trends.

My parents are now gone, which I found out by Googling their names. I have a general idea where my sister is, but I have no desire whatsoever to see her.
 
We always have family gatherings at one of my older sister's home. Usually, in the summer, and for early Xmas this year, Dec. 21st. She hosts the get-together's at her house, as we are in a condo. We used to host get-togethers when we had a house.

Our last get together was this past summer, when my brother & sis-in-law were visiting from Vancouver.
 
Ours was 2022. My husband brought a lot of pictures and memorabilia to share (his side of family). Some had never seen these pictures of cousins and other relatives and were very happy to have copies.
As far as activities, we had a picnic in September. It was nice weather with a sweater.
 
HermitHogan said:
The last time I saw my father was in 1978. The last time I saw my mother was around 1990. And the last time I saw my sister was around 2000.

I think we're due for a family reunion! :ROFLMAO: NOT!

Does anyone still say "not" in that context? I don't keep up with the latest trends.

My parents are now gone, which I found out by Googling their names. I have a general idea where my sister is, but I have no desire whatsoever to see her.
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My parents passed away years ago, and I heard my sisters passed away. I really wasn't paying attention.
 
I was invited to a family reunion about 25 years ago. I wasn't interested and turned it down. I hardly ever stay in touch with relatives.
 
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We used to have huge family reunions yearly. My parents both came from large families. When they and their siblings died, the cousins scattered all over the country and the reunions stopped.
I haven’t seen or even talked with my 2 sisters for 7 years…… that’a another story!☹️
 
MaidMarian said:
We used to have huge family reunions yearly. My parents both came from large families. When they and their siblings died, the cousins scattered all over the country and the reunions stopped.
I haven’t seen or even talked with my 2 sisters for 7 years…… that’a another story!☹️
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Same here, seems like we had them every summer growing up. As the older relatives passed everyone scattered we just lost contact.
 
Estranged from my sister and nephews, most of us were together after sister's death July 2023. Won't ever see any of them again, I'm sure. After my mother died, we fell apart. She kept us together. (((Ma)))

Living in the apartment I grew up in, am surrounded by ghosts of family.
 
MaidMarian said:
We used to have huge family reunions yearly. My parents both came from large families. When they and their siblings died, the cousins scattered all over the country and the reunions stopped.
I haven’t seen or even talked with my 2 sisters for 7 years…… that’a another story!☹️
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I remember being at a reunion in South Carolina and we counted 200 people but were still saying "Oh so and so and his family are not here and so and so" etc.. Many of our elders died but the one who started reunion planning with her late sister (who was younger) is still very active. We keep it going because we have committees in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, North Carolina and South Carolina. I'm on the N.J. committee. Getting the reunion together for last year had it's trials and tribulations, but wound up being so worth it.

@CaptLightening My son used to try to avoid going to reunions too. I did get him to go to one a couple of decades ago. Then I browbeat him into taking me to the one in Long Island in 2017. He really just didn't want to drive to L.I., because he drives there often for work and traffic can be mad. Anyway, he enjoyed it so much that he couldn't stop talking about it on the way home.

He met a (female) cousin that if you saw their photo together, you'd think they were twins! We have a family group on Facebook they're in and now call each other "sibling-twin". He also found out that a guy he'd been seeing at the club that (my son) used to deejay at is his cousin. At the cookout he bonded with another cousin he'd just met and got along famously with others too. At the one last year, he connected with cousins he's always liked but hadn't seen in years and again had a great time. Now I do not have to browbeat him to go to reunions. :D
 
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Last reunion was at a funeral in 2012. My parents generation have all passed on. They were the ones who made reunions happen. Plus my generation has had a lot fewer children. Add to that geographic separation and politics, so I don’t think we will ever have another. It’s a loss, for sure.
 

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