New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and now is the perfect time to plan your New Year’s Eve gathering. Of course, with Coronavirus, planning your New Year’s gathering is a little bit different this year. However, we have some great ideas on how to turn lemons into lemonade. Let’s get ready to ring in 2021 with a socially distanced/virtual New Year’s Eve gathering.
The easiest way to social distance
The easiest way to social distance and have a great New Year’s Eve is to rent an Ocean Isle Beach house or condo. With Covid guidelines recommending we only stay around immediate family, nothing is better than a beach house. From smaller condos to oceanfront homes – we have a great selection of rentals that are perfect for your New Year’s Eve bash.
Check out one of our featured homes:Bayberry Drive 007-Clark for a great example of a vacation home.
Technology is your friend
Before we get started, let’s talk about technology. With the prevalence of iPhones, Androids and iPads, tablets and social media we are connected in so many unique and interesting ways. The questions is how to take advantage of all this technology to actually bring us all together this holiday season. Have no fear– we have several easy and fun ways to use technology during your New Year’s Eve celebration. Here are a few popular platforms you can use to connect with friends and family.
Send out invitations
While a small gathering of family is appropriate (check local ordinances and state guidelines) the reality is that a virtual party is the best way to have a socially distanced party.
Send invitations out to your friends and explain that this is going to be a virtual party. Make sure to outline the platform you are going to use. Zoom is super easy and almost everyone is using it these days in one form or another. Include the theme and outline what you are planning.
Pick a theme
You can’t have a party without a theme. Ok, you can, but that isn’t much fun. Have fun with this. Hey we’ve had a heck of a year. Whether you want to pick a music theme, a place or of course, the best idea, a beach theme or even better an Ocean Isle Beach theme!
One easy way to help people connect is to create a dress code. From black tie to beach casual, having a dress code will help create a connection with your participants.
Need some help choosing a theme? Here are few popular ideas:
Wine Tasting- Have everyone buy a selection of wines. Then on New Year’s Eve you can all virtually gather and share in the wine tasting. This is perfect for a virtual party, because there is the added benefit of staying home, and therefore not having to worry about drinking and driving.
Pizza Tasting- This is a twist of the wine tasting and perfect for the little ones. Have different pizzas delivered to the house. Not just different types, but from different places. Then let the kids discuss and choose the “Kid’s Choice” award.
Decades Theme-You don’t have to ring in the new year wearing clothes from this decade! Throw a party where everyone dresses up from their favorite decade, and you might find yourself not only celebrating 2020, but 1920, 1950, and 1980, too.
Virtual Karaoke Party- You might not be Garth Brooks, but you can try to sound like him on New Year’s Eve. Make it fun and choose a different person by drawing a name out of a hat. What could be more fun than seeing your old college roommate try and sing from two thousand miles away?
Make a timeline
Think of this party a bit like planning a meeting. Since people can (theoretically) come from all over the world, it is important to share the timeline of events. Whether you are having a party early in the evening or looking to do stay up until the ball drops, everyone needs to be on the same page.
Do a dry run
Another major way virtual parties differ from in-person ones? A simple technological snafu can shut it all down in an instant. That’s why it is recommended that you have a dress rehearsal before the main event. The week of the party, set aside 30 minutes to an hour with the host, producer, and maybe one more volunteer to make sure you’ve got a handle on the details. These might include setting up your Zoom with a waiting room, using break-out groups, and other technical aspects of the party (if there’s anything you’re uncertain about, don’t shy away from a good YouTube tutorial).
Create a DIY Ball Drop
This is a bonus for the kids and fans of DIY!
You can bring the ball drop to your own living room this New Year’s Eve thanks to this glittery tutorial from Giggles Galore. (Use a permanent marker to mark each hour of your party through midnight and drop the ball to the next line as each hour passes.)
This is a great way to get the kids together. Then get on your favorite video messaging app (don’t worry, the kids will know which one to use) and lower the ball each hour. Have the kids talk about what they are looking forward to in 2021 and what they are thankful for in 2020.
There has never been a better time to plan your 2021 Ocean Isle Beach New Year’s Eve party. We have a lot of great homes to choose from and of course, that world-class customer service you’ve come to expect from Williamson Realty Vacations. Give one of our friendly reservationists a call at 800-727-9222 to book your vacation today.
