In-person parties may have been put on hold, but we can still celebrate birthdays with the ones we love. From virtual visits, to delightful drive-bys, here are some creative ways to celebrate birthdays while social distancing!
Show your love with birthday signs to celebrate while social distancing
Send an email to the friends and family of the birthday person and ask them to each make their own creative “Happy Birthday” sign, including a special message and indicating who the sign is from. Ask each person to drop off their finished creations in front of your house. Then, on the night before the birthday, attach each sign to stakes, and spread them out around your front yard. On the morning of the special day, have the birthday person step outside to a surprising sea of colourful signs and messages from loved ones.
Create a birthday collage
Ask friends and family to send their favourite photo of them with the birthday person, or to share three words that they would use to describe the birthday person, and then create a framed collage to gift on the special day.
Do a drive-by drop-in (or drop-off)
Have the birthday person sit in front of their house, or near a window, and then schedule times for friends and family members to drop by and visit from afar. Spread the visits throughout the day and the birthday person is sure to love the porch-side pop-ins from their favourite people.
Or, organize a list of the birthday person’s favourite items, and then have each friend and family member drop off an item at different times throughout the day. The guest can knock on the door and then drive away, and when the birthday guest opens the door, a surprise will be waiting for them with a special birthday note.
Party with a car parade for a social distance birthday celebration
Arrange for all of the birthday person’s favourite people to drive by at the same time, creating a parade of people in cars, decorated with signs and balloons, and honking and waving at the birthday person as they drive by.
Show some birthday love with a neighbourhood scavenger hunt
If most of the birthday person’s friends and family live within walking distance, consider setting up a neighbourhood scavenger hunt, where they can walk from one house to another, receiving a balloon, gift, or special birthday note from the doorstep of each pass-by party guest along the way. Guests can wave from their windows and shout “Happy Birthday!” as the birthday person passes by.
Take the birthday celebration online with a virtual group visit
Throw a virtual birthday party by scheduling a video chat with party guests! Use Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or House Party and enjoy a face-to-face celebration while still staying at home. Spice it up with a party theme (encourage party guests to dress up!), and it’ll be just as fun as the real thing.
You can celebrate birthdays while social distancing! For more virtual party ideas, check out this great list by Good Housekeeping.
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