25 Class Reunion Ideas That Get Classmates Talking

Most reunions have the same problem. People arrive, find the two friends they already keep in touch with, and stay in that corner all night. The ideas below give everyone a reason to move, talk and laugh with people they have not seen in years. Pick five or six that fit your group. You do not need all 25.

Icebreakers for the first hour

The first hour sets the mood. People feel shy, and many have forgotten names. Start with activities that do the remembering for them.

1. Yearbook photo name tags. Print each guest's old yearbook photo on their name tag. It answers "wait, who is that?" without anyone having to ask.
2. Classmate bingo. Make bingo cards with squares like "moved more than 1,000 miles away," "still has their letter jacket," or "married someone from our class." Guests find a classmate for each square.
3. The "then and now" wall. Ask guests to send an old photo and a recent one before the event. Pin them side by side by the entrance. It is the first place people gather.
4. Two truths and a lie, reunion edition. Each person shares two true things that happened since graduation and one that did not. The table guesses.
5. A welcome table with a job. Put two friendly classmates at the door. Their job is to greet people by name and walk them to someone they will know.

Activities that bring back memories

Nostalgia is the reason people come. Give it a place in the room.

6. A memory slideshow on a loop. Collect photos from classmates ahead of time and play them on a screen all night. Ask for a mix of school photos and recent life photos.
7. A playlist from your senior year. Build the playlist from the top songs of your graduation year. Ask classmates to vote on songs in advance.
8. A memory jar. Leave cards and pens at each table. Guests write a favorite school memory and drop it in a jar. Read the best ones aloud later in the evening.
9. A campus or hometown tour. If the school allows it, plan a short walk through the old halls before the main event. Many schools welcome alumni visits when you ask early.
10. A "superlatives revisited" moment. Read out the old class superlatives and ask the winners for a short update. "Most likely to succeed" usually has a good story.
11. A time capsule. Start one at this reunion and open it at the next. Guests add notes, predictions and small items.

Activities that get people mixing

These ideas break up the corner groups and help classmates meet people they barely knew in school.

12. Assigned mixer tables for dinner. Seat people by homeroom, sports team, club or neighborhood instead of letting friend groups form. Switch seats for dessert.
13. Trivia about your class. Write questions about your school years: the mascot, the principal's name, the big game, the famous cafeteria food. Play in mixed teams.
14. A photo booth with props. A simple backdrop, a phone on a tripod and a box of props creates a line of laughing people. Share the photos with the group after.
15. Lawn games. For an outdoor reunion, set out cornhole, giant Jenga or a ring toss. Games give people something to do with their hands while they talk.
16. A "find your old locker partner" challenge. Give each guest a card with a classmate's name. They have to find that person and learn one new thing about them.
17. Group dance to a class anthem. Pick one song everyone knows from your year and get the whole room on the floor for it. Announce it ahead of time so people expect it.

Ideas for families and longer weekends

Many reunions now include partners and kids, or stretch over a weekend.

18. A family picnic the next day. A relaxed afternoon in a park lets classmates bring kids and partners who skipped the main event.
19. A Friday night casual meetup. A low-key meetup at a local restaurant the night before gives early arrivals a soft start and takes pressure off the main event.
20. A Sunday breakfast or brunch. Close the weekend with a simple goodbye meal. People are often more relaxed on the last morning.
21. A local game or homecoming event. Time the reunion with a home football game or school event. It gives the weekend a built-in activity.

Ideas that give back and remember

These ideas add meaning and give the class something to be proud of.

22. A memorial table. Set a quiet table with photos and names of classmates who have passed away. A short moment of silence at dinner honors them.
23. A class gift or scholarship. Pool money for a scholarship, a library donation or new equipment for your old school. Many classes do this at milestone reunions like the 20th or 25th.
24. A teacher tribute. Invite a favorite teacher or coach, or record short video messages from them. Few things get a bigger reaction.
25. A shared memory page after the event. Collect photos and stories in one place so people can relive the night, and so classmates who could not attend can still feel part of it.

How to pick the right ideas for your class

• Match the milestone. A 10-year reunion often wants a party. A 40-year reunion often wants long conversations, good seating and a quiet corner.
• Ask your class. A short survey before you plan gets better attendance than a guess.
• Plan the money early. Photo booths, slideshows and class gifts all cost something. Decide who collects the money and how before you promise anything. Our guide on how to collect money for a class reunion walks through the options.
• Know your headcount. Table games and assigned seating only work when you know who is coming. See how to get an accurate reunion RSVP count.
• Start on time. Many of these ideas need photos, votes or permissions from classmates weeks in advance. Our class reunion planning timeline shows when to start each task.

Make the planning part easier

The activities are the fun part. The planning is the work: tracking RSVPs, collecting money, sharing updates and keeping the committee on the same page. Plan Our Reunion keeps all of that in one place, so your committee can spend less time on spreadsheets and more time on the ideas above.

Have a reunion activity that worked for your class? Share your own story on the Stories page. Other organizers are looking for ideas too.