Socially Distanced Holiday Activities for 2020
By Brian Acton
If you’re committed to social distancing, following all of your annual holiday traditions might be challenging this year. Luckily there are plenty of holiday activities that are socially distanced already or can be tweaked during the pandemic.
Here are some of our favorite socially distanced holiday activities for 2020.
- Decorate Your Home
Get into the holiday spirit by decorating your home inside and out. You don’t have to leave the home, but it’s one of the most iconic ways to celebrate. You can bring joy to everyone in your home and, if you decorate outside, to the neighborhood as well. Feel free to do a little extra this year and splurge on some new decorations or create some DIY ones - after all, you may be spending more time at home this year.
You don’t just have to enjoy your own decorations, either. Go for an evening walk around the neighborhood to check out everyone else’s display.
- Outdoor Holiday Parties
Outdoor parties in the winter may already be a thing where you live, depending on your local climate. But no matter the weather, an outdoor holiday party allows you to celebrate with friends or family at a safe distance. You can set up tables at least six feet apart, decorate your backyard, and use heat lamps if you have them to keep your guests warm.
Want to serve food and beverages but keep your distance? You may need to get more creative than the usual family or buffet style meal. Try plating your guests individual meals or having everyone bring their own food.
If you can have a fire in your yard, there’s no better time to take advantage. Spread the chairs out and enjoy a roaring fire with your guests from a distance.
- Virtual Parties
Virtual holiday parties don’t just have to involve watching each other eat in front of their screens. You can add some festivity by encouraging ugly sweaters, customizing your background, and planning virtual game nights.
There are plenty of online options for games, including Jackbox Games, virtual Pictionary or charades, and more. You can even create your own games with a free Kahoot account.
- Drive Through Light Displays
Many areas already have annual drive through holiday light displays, and 2020 is the ideal year to go. Whether they’re on private property or public land, drive through holiday lights offer a way for the family to appreciate a magical, festive setting from the comfort of the car.
- Visit Santa
There are still plenty of ways to see Santa this year. Many locations that typically host Santas, like malls or town centers, are setting up safe Santa visits with masks, distanced photos, and appointments to avoid large crowds.
If you don’t want to see Santa in person, you can book a virtual Santa visit so your kids can chat with Santa online. You can even feed Santa details ahead of time for some personalized conversation.
- Secret Santa
Secret Santa gifts don’t have to be exchanged in person. You can send and receive gifts through the mail this year. Set up your Secret Santa exchange with the usual suspects and do a virtual gift unwrapping. Free gift exchange website Elfster can help your gift group get organized if you need help.
- Cookie Party
Holiday cookie parties allow a group to all cook their own favorite holiday cookies, then exchange them and pick their favorites. These parties can still be done socially distanced, though shipping cookies can get expensive. If you can do contactless drop-offs with local friends and family, that might be your best bet.
- Volunteer
Now more than ever, many of your neighbors and fellow citizens can use some charitable help. You can volunteer for a good cause and still keep a social distance - whether it be donating clothes or cash to charity, playing Santa to a needy family, or giving food to a local food pantry.
