Pandemic-Safe New Year’s Eve

This New Year’s Eve presents us with yet another unique challenge—how do we celebrate the arrival of a much-needed new year while continuing to be vigilant about Covid-19 safety practices? That’s why we thought it would be most appropriate to share our ideas for a pandemic-safe New Year’s Eve!

The CDC has announced its guidelines for celebrating the holidays safely. In summary, the best way to lower the risk of spreading Covid-19 is to limit gatherings to include direct households only. Translation: Stay put. Looks like we’re going to have to get creative—again! (Oh, 2020. We can’t wait to wave goodbye to you.)

Here are five fun and pandemic-safe ways to mark the end of 2020 at home. 

Dress Up

We all know by now that we’re quite happy to rock sweats day-in and day-out, but a good way to distinguish this event from the rest of 2020 is to slip into your fanciest duds, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. Dressing up the rest of your house can help you and your family feel like the night is a truly special one, too. Set up your phone on a tripod with any backdrop you like for a homemade photobooth, or simply string up leftover Christmas lights on every available surface!

Music

No party is complete without the right music, of course! Have your family members submit their favorite songs and put together a bespoke playlist. If you need a little inspiration, here’s a playlist of 35 upbeat hip-hop, pop and disco tracks sure to set the right vibe. You can also create a virtual playlist with your friends on Spotify using the multiple user editing feature. 

Compete

Once the music gets going, clear a space, because it’s time for a dance party! (Moving furniture around always excites kids, big and small.) If your crew enjoys a little competition, have everyone in your family choose a song ahead of time to practice for an epic lip sync battle. The winner can get anything from bragging rights to their choice of movie later in the evening.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

New Year’s Eve, after all, is all about good apps and drinks. If you’re looking to do something a little different than the go-to charcuterie board and cocktails, try Brunch at Midnight! This emoji pancake griddle will add a little extra cheer. But if you are serious about your meat and cheese, you have to try Board at Home, a community that “brings together the finest small-batch cheese makers and artisans in Northern California to create the ultimate stay-at-home cheese board survival kit, delivered next-day to your front door.” If you love making cocktails, you can’t go wrong with a list curated by Martha Stewart.

Watch a Movie (or Four!)

The reality is, the fact that you can climb onto the couch and under a fuzzy blanket with the ones you love means that everything is okay. Queue up some feel-good flicks and family favorites that will lift your spirits or make you laugh. 

We hope you get to try and enjoy these ideas for a Pandemic-Safe New Year’s Eve! We hope you have a very Happy New Year!