yes, we have done that because of a family get together means almost 6 families are together. We did a scavenger hunt including finding your partner and #1 thing you did. To start the hunt yoiu first found your partner. You both went to next item NO ONE went alone to get anything. It took about an hour to play and you got to know each other well by that time.

I'm not sure if this would work, but when we had our yearly Christmas party before my husband retired...we did a game called "Finish the sentence."

Everyone had to draw slips of paper from a hat that said "Your favorite color", "The car you drive" etc etc.

I would start out the "story" by saying...."Once upon a time, in a small town in (insert your town here)...lived a very happy couple who..."

The next person had to carry on with the story by working in the info from their slip of paper. Make sense? It actually got pretty funny.

Hope this helps....

Thanks so much for your responses! These are great ideas.

I had a scavenger hunt one time. Everyone at the party had a list of Halloween type things to get, such as a ghosts nose, the hair of a zombie etc.

Of course there was no such items, they had to use their imagination.

The rules only were to stay within a certain area around the house and find them.

It is amazing how everyone there was so creative and yes, they all did find everything on the list.

While they were out, it gave me time to set up for the rest of the party. Then all of the "finds" were held up for everyone to see.

Oh, I forgot to say that I had premade ghost pins.

I made them with a cotton ball and a white tissue, tied their necks half with orange curly ribbon and the other half with back curly ribon. Attached to the ribbons were numbers. Hope I am explaining this correctly. Let's say for a party of fifty people, there would be 25 orange, numbered 1 thru 25 and 25 black numbered 1 thru 25.

As the couples arrived, each would get a different random numbered ghost. That way before the scavenger hunt began, each number had to find their matching number and that person would be their partner.

Citytransplant, that sounds like such a fun game! I'll have to remember it.
BTW, I don't think I remember "meeting" you here before, but welcome!
Lynn

Another great idea... Love the idea that there were no such items and they had to use their imaginations. Sounds like a riot for our motley crew. Hmmm... a witch's ear, a frog's toe, a ghost's fragrance... Thanks so much.

I am in charge of the Christmas party at my office, so every year it is a challenge to find new and fun games. Here are a coulple to get people talking. Select a famous person or character for each guest to be, then make a sign with that name and tape to their back. Everyone must figure out who they are by asking the other guest questions. Ones that I have used : Tinkerbell, Hugh Hefner, George Washington and so on. Another thing I've done is make Bingo Question sheets with questions like, Someone who has been to France, someone who has gone streaking, someone who lived in more than 5 states and so on. Just put the questions on a bingo like grid and give everyone one, first bingo wins. People have to ask a lot of questions, it can be very interesting depending what you know about guest. One more. Think up some unique animals and make a pair of slips of paper with each animal on it. (Two peacocks, two elephants...) Toss in box and let each guest draw an animal and not tell what it is. When you give the signal everyone proceeds to act out thier animal using only motions and no sounds all at the same time while everyone tries to figure out thier mate. It is so funny. Physical games like this are always a big hit at our parties.
Syble

Soinspired,

Here is MT we have snow so we go out sledding and have a ball. Everyone is so cold when they come in they are all wanting hot drinks to warm up and can't quit talking about who flew the highest or rolled the most times. While outside everyone talks to stay warm and riders are constantly changing. It's like riding tubes at the lake.

This is going to end up being a great post. I haven't posted because I don't have any wonderful games like all of you have shared so far. We play card games, dice games and the gals do crafts sometimes. Who ever is playing games just encourages all to be involved.

I've got to remember to come back here when I need an idea. Thanks for bringing this up and sorry I'm so slow to respond. I will be back.

Punk

I don't know if you'd consider them getting acquainted games, but our annual Christmas Day dinner can sometimes number up to 30-some guests, many we don't know personally but are brought along by "the regulars". After dinner we love to play "Catch Phrase" and "Apples to Apples". Within ten minutes into either game, everyone is laughing and talking like old friends. Both are wonderful games and we all love them here.
Lynn

Great ideas and thanks so much for continuing to add your ideas.

Bring a 'white elephant' gift~not a game, but it seems to get people to open up. I usually ask guests to spend $15 and get something that's gender friendly. One year I bought a fondue set, another year a box of Godiva Chocolate, and another year a Starbuck's giftcard. This is mainly for Christmas, but maybe you could do it for Thanksgiving, having everyone bring something turkey related, or having to do with the pilgrims~just a thought. ;o)