How to Celebrate National Grandparents Day
Aug 27, 2026 / Ann Griffith
Fun Family Activities and Ideas
National Grandparents Day is a chance to celebrate grandparents, strengthen connections between generations, and preserve family memories. From sharing old photographs and family stories to playing games and learning traditional skills, there are plenty of ways to make the day meaningful for the whole family.
National Grandparents Day is observed annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day in the United States. President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation establishing the holiday in 1978, following years of advocacy by West Virginia resident Marian McQuade.
Key Facts About National Grandparents Day
- When is National Grandparents Day? The holiday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year.
- When was it established? President Jimmy Carter officially proclaimed National Grandparents Day in 1978.
- Who helped establish the holiday? Marian McQuade of West Virginia advocated for a day recognizing grandparents and encouraging stronger connections between generations.
- What is the purpose? The holiday encourages families to honor grandparents, learn about family history, and build connections across generations.
- Who can participate? Families can celebrate together in person or connect through phone calls, letters, video chats, and other activities when grandparents live far away.
National Grandparents Day Activities
You don’t need an elaborate celebration to make National Grandparents Day special. Choose activities that encourage grandparents, children, and grandchildren to spend time together and share family history.
| Activity | Why It’s Meaningful | What You Can Do |
| Share family photos | Preserves memories and stories | Identify people and places in old photographs and create an album |
| Play games | Encourages interaction across generations | Choose board games, cards, puzzles, or other family favorites |
| Tell family stories | Captures memories that might otherwise be forgotten | Set aside time for grandparents to share stories from their childhood |
| Learn a skill | Traditions passed between generations | Learn cooking, gardening, woodworking, sewing, or another family skill |
| Listen to old music | Connects generations through memories | Create a playlist featuring a grandparent’s favorite songs |
| Create a family tree | Helps younger family members understand their heritage | Work together to document parents, grandparents, and other relatives |
| Host a reunion | Brings multiple generations together | Plan a meal or gathering with activities for different age groups |
| Write or call | Helps families stay connected from a distance | Send a handwritten card, make a phone call, or schedule a video chat |
8 Ways to Celebrate National Grandparents Day
1. Organize a Family Reunion
Bring multiple generations together for a meal, picnic, game day, or other family gathering. Plan activities that give grandparents and younger family members opportunities to interact.
2. Play Multigenerational Games
Choose board games, card games, puzzles, or outdoor activities that family members of different ages can enjoy together. Consider including a few of the grandparents’ favorite games.
3. Share Family Stories
Set aside time for grandparents to talk about their childhood, family traditions, careers, travels, or other experiences. Younger family members can record important details or write them down for future generations.
4. Create a Family Photo Album
Gather old photographs and ask grandparents to identify relatives, locations, and important events. Turn the photos and stories into a physical or digital family album.
5. Learn a Family Skill
Ask a grandparent to teach a skill or tradition, such as cooking a family recipe, gardening, preserving food, sewing, woodworking, or another hobby.
6. Make a Family Playlist
Play songs that were meaningful during a grandparent’s childhood or young adulthood. Ask them to explain why particular songs or artists are important to them.
7. Build a Family Tree
Work together to document family relationships and preserve names, dates, photographs, and stories. Younger family members can help research and organize the information.
8. Connect With Grandparents Who Live Far Away
If you can’t celebrate in person, schedule a phone or video call, send a handwritten letter, share photographs, or arrange a virtual game or storytelling session.
How to Preserve Family Memories
National Grandparents Day can also be an opportunity to organize family keepsakes. If you have boxes of photographs, letters, heirlooms, or other sentimental belongings, use the day to sort, label, digitize, or safely store them.
Consider creating a simple family archive that includes:
- Family photographs
- Letters and cards
- Important documents
- Recipes and handwritten notes
- Family trees
- Children’s artwork
- Small heirlooms and keepsakes
- Written or recorded family stories
For belongings that aren’t needed every day, a self-storage unit can provide additional space while you organize your home. Choose storage based on the type of items you’re storing and consider climate-controlled storage for belongings that may be sensitive to temperature or humidity changes.
FAQs
When is National Grandparents Day?
National Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day in the United States.
Why do we celebrate National Grandparents Day?
The holiday encourages people to honor grandparents and strengthen relationships between generations. It also provides an opportunity to preserve family history and recognize the contributions of older generations.
Who founded National Grandparents Day?
Marian McQuade, a West Virginia resident, was a leading advocate for establishing National Grandparents Day. Her efforts eventually helped lead to the federal proclamation establishing the holiday in 1978.
What are some easy National Grandparents Day activities?
Simple ideas include playing board games, sharing photographs, cooking a family recipe, listening to music, telling family stories, creating a family tree, or making a phone or video call.
How can I celebrate National Grandparents Day if my grandparents live far away?
Call or video chat with them, send a handwritten letter, mail photographs, create a digital family album, or arrange a virtual game or storytelling session.
How can I preserve my grandparents’ memories?
Collect and organize photographs, letters, recipes, documents, recordings, and stories. Label important items with names, dates, and context so future generations can understand their significance.
What can children do for National Grandparents Day?
Children can make cards, interview grandparents about their childhood, help create a family tree, learn a family recipe, play a game, or help organize old photographs.
Celebrate the People, Not Just the Keepsakes
Family heirlooms can help preserve memories, but National Grandparents Day is ultimately about spending time together, sharing stories, and passing family traditions from one generation to the next. Whether you gather for a family reunion or simply make a phone call, a thoughtful connection can make the day meaningful.
