The time to plan holiday parties has officially arrived, and since 2020, things are different. We know that sharing the holidays with your loved ones is something special that you may not want to change. Keep your party on the books and your guests safe with a few precautions this year.
Space out and mask up
Social distancing and face coverings are a regular part of our lives now, and should be a necessity at any gathering this holiday season. If you want to put an extra safety step in place, start your party with a temperature check at the door. Forehead thermometers are actually fairly inexpensive, and worth the cost for a little more peace of mind.
Think about social distancing needs when setting up seating and the refreshment zone. Try using fewer chairs at each table, or putting festive markings on the floor near the buffet to encourage people to allow space while grabbing their treats and drinks.
If that much space isn’t possible at your party, masks are your next defense. Communicate ahead of time that masks will be necessary except when eating or drinking. Offer holiday-themed masks at the door to bring a bit of fun to it! For groups that are into arts and crafts, set up a table to let them decorate their own face shield or mask before heading into the party.
Keep the party area clean by tossing out abandoned cups, plates, and utensils. If you’ve hired servers, ensure they’re wearing gloves and changing them frequently in between tasks. You could even enlist them to wipe down surfaces like doorknobs, faucet handles, light switches, and other surfaces a couple of times during the event.
Safely serve refreshments
When planning your perfect party menu, we recommend pre-packaged or pre-portioned food vs. a buffet-style meal. For example, put out cups of dip with sides of crackers or vegetables that can quickly be picked up by guests.
Get the recipe for Single-Serve Spinach Artichoke Dips from Domestic Superhero.
Putting food on skewers makes it easy to pack a variety of flavors in an easy-to-grab package. Rather than having to double dip spoons into shared containers, guests can stick to “one touch” and keep their food, plates, and utensils to themselves.
Get the recipe for Caprese Skewers from LSL Cooking.
Single-serve dessert portions or small boxes of assorted desserts are adorable and safe! Grab some shot glasses and whip up some sweet treats for your dessert table. Mini mousses and trifles work great in small proportions.
Get the recipe for White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse from An Edible Mosaic.
Teeny desserts aren’t only cute, but they make it easy for guests to easily grab some treats without touching the rest of the food. Plus, if they want to go back for seconds, no need to touch utensils or the serving dishes!
Get the recipe for Mini Cranberry Cheesecakes at Southern Living.
You can also control the refreshment area by offering premixed drinks or single-serve bottles of wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages. If you prefer someone else to handle it, a bartender can help serve your guests (and will be happy to wear a mask and gloves). For catered or sit-down meals, make sure the food is pre-plated and that any waitstaff is also wearing masks and gloves. Let your attendees know to get new plates or cups if they want a refill.
Get festive from afar
When booking your holiday entertainment, it’s important to keep your space in mind. If you have room (and favorable weather) to host your party outside, you can safely book an acoustic band, a singing pianist, or Christmas carolers! The fresh air and space mean the singers and audience can enjoy the performance without much worry.
Book the Sunset Singers on GigSalad!
Prefer to nix the singing? Keep things instrumental with a harpist, string trio, jazz band, or classical pianist to play traditional holiday songs as a backdrop to the party.
Book Bedlam Swing on GigSalad!
If you’d like a performer that’s a little less conventional, hire a belly dancer, caricaturist, or magician. Give them the space they need by cordoning off an area with festive tape on the floor. You can even use Christmas lights or a line of brightly wrapped gifts.
Book magician Brian Cassady on GigSalad!
Don’t forget about the big man himself! With a few safety precautions, you can still book Santa Claus for a special visit. He can drop gifts on the porch, lead a song from the front yard, or listen to Christmas wishes from at least 6-feet away. For office parties, assign an “office elf” to pass out gifts, while Santa shares a corporate Christmas story or reads the “Naughty and Nice” list to the team!
Post-party cleanup
Once everyone has gone, do a thorough cleaning to get rid of anything lingering behind. Use a disinfectant that kills viruses like Lysol or Microban on hard surfaces like countertops, refrigerator doors, cabinet knobs, etc. While you can also use Lysol on most soft surfaces, you might feel more comfortable using steam cleaners on your furniture and carpets. Be sure to check the labels and properly follow the instructions on any type of cleaning product.
With a bit of modification, hosting a safe holiday party is absolutely doable. Even though the festivities may be a bit different from years past, you can still close out 2021 with a safe and cheerful celebration!
Note: When you’re making your plans for a holiday party, please ensure that you’re sticking to local ordinances and recommendations from the CDC regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. Stay a safe distance away (generally 6 feet) and wear masks if necessary. As much fun as parties can be, they’re not worth risking your or your loved ones’ health.
Ready to book some festive holiday entertainment? Find the best at GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.