With the holidays upon us and COVID is still an ongoing issue, things feel a little different this year. We have several vaccines on the way, but likely this will not change our holiday season at all, sadly. We have already tackled how we handled Thanksgiving, so this was a great dress rehearsal for the main event. All of us are in different levels of lockdown and concern over the virus and while you or a friend may not feel concerned, someone else you love may be concerned. It seems the best way to celebrate the holidays this year is to remain socially distant. But if there is one thing we have learned to do over this year, it is how to overcome social distance in order to socialize! Here at Bullionite we brainstormed some ways to have fun this holiday season without putting our loved ones at risk. Here are 4 Party Ideas that can be done over video call!
1- Virtual Cookie Party
One of my mom's holiday traditions was hosting a cookie party. Everyone would bake their best batch of cookies and bring them over to the house and we would all sample each other's cookies and blind vote for the best one. A small prize was given to the winner, but in the end we were all winners because the best part of the party was assembling a tin of a variety of cookies to bring home. We all got a menagerie of cookies for only having to cook a single batch of cookies!
To do this party virtually first you need to assemble a group of friends. Local friends makes dropping the cookies off easier, but shipping is possible too! Everyone bakes their batch of cookies and separates them out to drop off at each other's house. If there are concerns for the virus we can be extra cautious by delivering to each other frozen dough of the cookies, with directions on how to cook them. Once everyone has received their cookies the party can begin. Get on the Zoom call and sample each other's cookies in front of each other. You can do voting via text to keep it blind and announce your winner.
2- Virtual Dance Class
Though not specifically holiday themed, there are fewer things more exciting than trying something new with friends. Contact a dance instructor in the preferred dance style and inquire about a private group class. The one benefit of COVID is that literally everyone knows how to conduct a virtual class now so you can even pick a “famous” instructor or non local one. Pick out your preferred class time and laugh your way through a new experience.
3- Wine/Whiskey Tasting Party
There are several at home wine or whiskey tasting kits which everyone can purchase and taste together. Many local bars are also offering virtual tasting events with an expert leading a class on how to taste and drink the wine or whiskey properly. If you choose to do it without a guide, have some fun with it. You can get dark glassware and bags to cover your bottles for blind tastings, write down notes about your opinions on the wine, or even try to guess which alcohols are which once you have them covered.
4- Virtual Secret Santa
Secret Santa parties are a great way for everyone to get a gift without the social awkwardness of over or under spending on the present. Conduct the secret santa just like a normal secret santa, pick numbers at random to be assigned a gift receiver and spend no more than the agreed upon amount. Once the gift has been purchased, ship the gift to the friend. On the day of the event everyone brings the gift they received to open on camera. Though stealing can be complicated in this style, it isn't impossible. If you would like to keep the tradition of being able to steal someone's present that was received before you, simply take notes of the record of theft and ship the gifts to the rightful owners after the game is done.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for virtual parties! Some additional ideas are to go to an online escape room or play an online game together. You can also have a virtual dinner or watch movies together, the possibilities are endless. Though this holiday season will not be the same, it doesn't mean it has to be a bad time either! Think it through and come up with some creative ways to get together this holiday season! Do you have an idea for a fun holiday party? Reach out to us at info@bullionite.com with your comments or questions!