Everyone has likely been through at least one COVID birthday so far, but this year, things are finally looking a little better. Depending on your comfort level and vaccination status, there are options for fun things to do to celebrate a birthday safely. I will start with ideas that are safe for everyone, then those for vaccinated people.
Virtual Party
If it is not yet safe to celebrate in person, a virtual gathering could be for you! With services like Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime, it is possible to make a virtual party fun. For my last birthday, I had a virtual tea party with some friends online. I also had my mom prepare a scavenger hunt list of miscellaneous household items where whoever found the most in a time limit won. We had a great time and it was the best plan for that stage of the pandemic.
Drive-by/Parade
Another safe celebration would be having a car parade. This is a way to see friends in person from a distance. The drive-by only lasts a little while, but I love that this idea brings people together.
Small Gathering Outside
The CDC supports small outdoor gatherings. I would recommend a campfire or outdoor barbeque. It is always appropriate to keep a six-foot social distance, see more information about masking requirements here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html
See Vaccinated Friends
If you are two weeks out from your final shot of the COVID vaccine, the CDC says it is okay to start seeing other fully vaccinated friends. For my next birthday, my wish is to be able to see more of my immediate family. For more information look here (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/small-gatherings.html) under the “Safer Small Gatherings” heading.
We have been very cautious throughout this time in order to protect ourselves and others. Now that the United States is rolling out vaccines, we can expect to be returning to something more normal, but until then, we will continue to see each other safely, even for special occasions like birthdays.