Nothing beats getting together with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season, but gathering together in person isn’t always possible due to work schedules, distance, or any number of factors.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, virtual gatherings allow people on entirely different continents to spend time together.
Here are a few tips for hosting a virtual holiday gathering that won’t have you saying “bah humbug.”
Set a Date
Like any get-together, the success of a virtual holiday gathering is dependent, first and foremost, on an agreed time and date. The host of the party should pick a party date and send out a Zoom link to all invited, preferably a few days in advance.
Okay, now that the mandatory stuff is out of the way, it’s time to focus on the fun part of the party planning!
Make it Fun
A Zoom meet-up over the holidays should never be boring. From bingo to ugly sweaters and cookie decorating, creating some virtual Christmas magic just requires a little creativity.
Ugly Sweater Party – People like to dress up during the holidays, even if that means putting on a sweater they wouldn’t normally be caught dead in. This classic holiday party works fantastic on a virtual level, as there’s a level of anticipation that builds with each new person who logs in.
Take things up a notch and challenge your guests to contend for the ugliest holiday sweater, with a secret prize going to the winner.
Keep Things Crafty – Put together a holiday craft kit ahead of time that you can send out to each invited party guest. (If you have a large number of guests or a tight budget, then you may want to send out a list of supplies your guests can purchase themselves ahead of time.)
You’ll want to keep the craft ideas relatively simple for those guests who haven’t used a bottle of glue since elementary school. This idea not only allows guests to get a little creative, but gives them a keepsake to cherish as well.
Holiday Games – Games and holiday parties go together like Santa and cookies. A classic game is Christmas bingo. You’ll want to distribute a bingo card to each guest with their invite. Players then check off the various boxes as the virtual holiday party progresses.
If your crew is more of a trivia bunch, then games like “Name That Christmas Tune” could be a hit. Have one party guest act as the DJ playing a holiday song, with party guests chiming in to see who can name the song the quickest.
Cook Something Up – Food is a must for any party, especially around the holidays. A cookie decorating party is great fun, as everyone loves the smell of freshly baked cookies. If you know your guests are regular bakers, then supply everyone with a recipe ahead of time they can bake together.
If not everyone is a baking champion in training, then going the slice-and-bake route with a few cans of frosting and sprinkles is still a winning recipe for a delicious time.
Whether hosting a party in-person or virtually, sharing a home you love with others is always a blessing. If you’d like to learn more about the available inventory of homes in the Crosswinds community, contact us today.