Virtual Birthday Party Ideas for Your Big Day in Quarantine
The most special day of the year. Christmas. (Just kidding. Of course, we know it's your birthday (open in new tab). When it comes to celebrating a new year on Mother Earth, it's only natural for loved ones to gather together and loudly celebrate only you, but with the current state of coronavirus quarantine, things are a little different this year, as Zoom (opens in a new tab) and Houseparty (opens in a new tab) Thanks to video service apps like Zoom (opens in new tab) and Houseparty (opens in new tab), having friends celebrate your birthday virtually in a fun and special way is easier than you think.
We've put together some options for giving you (or someone else) the VIP treatment on your special day, divided into two categories: things kids might like and activities for those a little older. And if you don't have time to prepare gifts before the virtual extravaganza, check out our last-minute gift recommendations here. (opens in new tab)
Let's get a little spooky this birthday and have your future read. After all, new times bring new opportunities to (kinda) start over, and LA-based Kira Von Sutra (opens in new tab) offers remote readings for individuals and groups. For 6 guests, $30 for 15 minutes.
Send a nice bottle of sparkling wine with a delivery service like Winc (opens in new tab). You can send as many bottles as you think you need for a proper celebration.
Relieve stress, celebrate yourself (or a friend), and color in a picture of a handsome man in a Zoom group session. Sometimes a relaxing, rather than a wild birthday can be just as memorable.
Loved ones sing "Happy Birthday" to you as you smile awkwardly at the birthday cake. Recreate life's best moments by sending sweet treats; services like Cheryl's Cookies (opens in new tab) offer packages of sweet treats in bulk, ready to eat as soon as they are received at the door.
Practice your editing skills and let all your friends in on a little digital secret. Ask them to send you a 30-second message about why the birthday person is so fabulous, and host a virtual call appreciation party. Bonus points if you include one of these sad songs (opens in a new tab).
If you and your best friend are hundreds or even a thousand miles apart this year, send a festive dinner through the mail; sites like Goldbelly (opens in new tab) allow restaurants to ship their most famous dishes across the country. Now you can send pasta from her favorite restaurant in New York City to her home in Los Angeles.
Have you or your friends ever dreamed of being on "Family Feud" or "Weakest Link?" sites like Game Night In (opens in new tab) allow you to experience game shows from the comfort of your living room. Team up your party for a night of friendly competition.
Course Horse (opens in new tab) offers a large amount of different virtual classes that your group of friends can do together. If you've ever wanted to learn how to make something other than a simple gin and tonic or vodka soda, this mixology course (opens in new tab) is perfect.
Now the Trampoline Party company is offering free 20-minute parties hosted by employees of Sky Zone (opens in new tab).
All you have to do is sign up for the waiting list (which is currently booked through May) and select 10 people you want to invite. Sky Zone then sets up the Zoom link and all is done. Score
It's not as radical as Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but I can promise it's close. The birthday child will have friends nearby for school and after-school activities. Set up a parade route around a special spot and have that person's friends make signs of support so that the special guest can have a big smile on his/her face as he/she drives by.
Choose a few friends, mail each of them a Lego set, and then build together via video call. It's an activity that stimulates creativity without the need to keep looking at a screen. Just make sure to check again when you are done creating to see if there are any spare pieces lying around. Do not step on such items.
In an ideal world, you would go out to a movie theater full of sugar to see your favorite Disney movie. (Open in new tab) Instead, hop on a Zoom call, share your screen from your Disney+ account, and get ready to smile a lot. If you can afford it, make the movie theater experience real by sending a care package of movie theater snacks to all the kids attending.
Staying at a friend's house when you are young can go one of two ways: 1) be patient and spend the night, or 2) panic and call one of your parents in the middle of the night to come and get you. You can avoid the drama altogether and have the guest of honor use the Netflix Party extension (opens in new tab) to watch the movie on the phone with her BFF, chat during the movie screening, and make a homemade face mask (opens in new tab).
Jackbox (opens in new tab) has games for crowds of all ages. Play "Fibbage," a game where your friends guess your lies, or "Quiplash," a trivia game. You're sure to find the perfect game for your party.
Hand out sign-up sheets and let parents be the judges. Ask each friend to show off their super-secret, or not-so-secret, skills, from singing to dancing to poetry. Honor the top scorers by presenting them with a small trophy or cupcake.
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