Home > Multicultural Ohio > Family Reunion

Our community feels like one big family: an extended network of well-wishers who delight in each other's successes, rally around each other's struggles and celebrate our shared customs.

However, as tight-knit as we are as a people, we carry an even closer bond with our actual relatives. Little can keep us from a reunion with loved ones — especially if those in attendance include our adorable (but rambunctious) little cousins; the grandmother whose lemon cake tastes heaven-sent; and that rowdy aunt who always knows how to get the party started right.

Our state plays host to families of all types who are long overdue for a reunion. Just send out the invitations and order the matching t-shirts emblazoned with your family's last name. Ohio will do the rest.

Gather in the Great Outdoors

Any group who's game for an adventurous gathering will jump at the idea of heading to Hocking Hills State Park. Ohio features dozens of picturesque parks that allow for recreation and family fun, including Alum Creek State Park in Delaware, where travelers can bask on the shores of the state's largest inland beach; and Little Miami State Park, where a lengthy, paved biking and hiking trail invites visitors to explore the southwestern part of the state.

However, few places can match the unspoiled beauty of southeast Ohio. From hiking and kayaking to rock climbing and rappelling, the Hocking Hills offer a number of opportunities to interact as a team with relatives.

Of course, many of us opt for more traditional gatherings — one where setting up the grill and competing in outdoor games is all the strenuous activity required. But for a unique twist on the usual reunion, blend Mother Nature with your spirited family members for what's sure to be a memorable trip.

Big City Bash

For an entertaining event back in the city, Pay a trip to Toledo's Annual African-American Festival in July: The weekend of family and fellowship begins with a prayer breakfast and ends with Gospel Fest Day. Meanwhile, Cleveland's Annual Black Culture International on Parade in August utilizes tasty food and colorful activities to set the scene for a vibrant reunion.

That same month, the Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion Celebration lures some 100,000 people to Cincinnati. Its mission is to "uplift and uphold the Black family," and the event accomplishes that goal with activities like inspirational gospel and R&B concerts, and even features a wedding chapel on its grounds. While in the area, make sure your group stops at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Younger members of the family may think that their history classes taught them everything there is to know about our state's role in aiding abolitionism. The Freedom Center utilizes high-tech exhibits and interactive displays to chronicle the sacrifices and acts of heroism surrounding slavery. A visit to the "Slave Pen" alone — the Freedom Center's largest artifact, an authentic structure once used to hold those in bondage — is bound to leave a long-lasting impression and inspire discussion about your family's roots.