How To Stay Connected From A Distance-Holiday Edition

The holiday season is coming, and I want to share some fun and creative ways to stay connected even from a distance. It can be challenging to stay connected while apart. Chronic illness can limit our ability to travel or visit, and risk due to the pandemic adds another layer of restrictions.

Thankfully, technology provides a lot of ways to keep in touch so we’re not isolated. I’m going to share ideas for virtual Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas parties.

I’ve been thankful to be able to meet up with a few friends outdoors in the last month or so for socially distanced get-togethers. Now the weather is getting colder (too cold for this asthmatic to be outdoors here in Washington). So I’m thinking about ways to make virtual get-together’s into holiday parties.

I hope these ideas inspire many fun celebrations!

This post contains affiliate links.

See my original How to Stay Connected From A Distance post here.

How to Stay Connected for Halloween

How I love any chance to wear a costume. Here are some not-too-spooky ways to have a frightfully good Halloween party virtually.

– Costume Contest and Costume Bingo

You can throw a costume contest or just make the party an opportunity to show off your outfit. Have guests guess who each person is dressed up as before they reveal who they are.

Play costume bingo! Use a premade bingo board to play Halloween costume bingo (like this Disney version)!

Or have guests fill in their own bingo board (use this blank version) before everyone turns their cameras on.

– Plan an escape room

I threw an Egyptology themed escape room for my birthday—mummies and mysteries are perfect for Halloween!

– Play Mafia

This game is a family favorite (see the instructions here). It’s like a version of Clue, but you don’t need a board game, or a simplified version of a murder mystery party. This game is fun because you can modify it—instead of “mafia” you can be looking out for werewolves and vampires for Halloween.

– Costume Show and Tell

Have guests get photos out beforehand so they can show and tell their favorite costumes they wore as a kid. Or, invite guests to share photos of their pets and kiddos in their costumes.

Check out my fun Halloween printables here—they’re perfect for decorating canning jars and Teal Pumpkin allergy-friendly treats.

How to Stay Connected for Thanksgiving

Invite everyone to warm up some cider and get on a video call. We may not all be able to share a meal together, but that doesn’t have to stop us from practicing thankfulness together.

– Thanksgiving Sharing

Ask everyone to share things they’re thankful for, with a twist. Have guests prepare beforehand some recommendations of things they’re thankful for because they’re helpful or encouraging. For instance, have them share a Bible verse, book, life hack, daily practice, etc. that they’re thankful for recently. I’d recommend sharing a list of prompts with each guest before the party so they have time to brainstorm.

PS Here’s my post about practicing gratitude when you don’t feel it.

– Have a Phone Scavenger Hunt

This is a fun game I’ve been wanting to try, and everyone only needs their phones on hand. You’ll be able to share things you’re thankful for, and some of your favorite photos on your phone.

Get the instructions here.

– Host a Recipe Swap

Get together to share favorite recipes. Swap stories along with the recipe: Why are they family favorites? What’s the story behind where you got the recipe?

Ask everyone to have the links or scanned copies of recipes ready before the call. Everyone can share them to the chat on the video, or ask everyone to send them to the host beforehand so they can be shared via email to the group (or whichever way is easiest for the group).

Allergy-friendly options would be especially appreciated by any guests with allergies.

The recipe I get asked for most often? My vegan Chocolate Caramelita Bars!

How to Stay Connected for Christmas

Invite everyone to make their own hot cocoa to make the event even more cozy.

– Guess the Christmas Song

Play a game similar to Beat Shazam. Create a playlist of Christmas songs beforehand, and then divide guests up into teams. See which team can guess the Christmas song’s title first (bonus points for knowing the artist!) or play against the Shazam app.

– Throw an Ugly Sweater Contest

Gather everyone virtually to show off their craziest sweaters. Or mix it up and have a crazy Christmas hat contest or some other twist on this holiday favorite. Play some of the virtual games I recommend in my first Stay Connected post and be sure to capture some screenshots for keepsakes.

– Host an Ornament Swap

Draw names before the party so everyone knows who their ornament will go to; that way, they can pick their ornament especially for the recipient. Encourage guests to DIY ornaments if they like.

Everyone can open their ornaments on camera if they’re mailed before the party. Or, have the giver reveal the name of their recipient and show off the ornament on screen, then have everyone mail them after the party (this might work better depending on shipping times).

Other fun swap ideas: book swaps or craft swaps!

I hope these suggestions help you plan wonderful celebrations! I hope they serve as a jumping off point for additional ideas for virtual parties.

Some of these ideas could be adapted for New Year’s Eve celebrations, too!

Which of these virtual party ideas do you like best?
How are you planning to adapt your holiday celebrations this year?

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