As if 2020 wasn’t enough of a headache, now we need to Google “Thanksgiving during Covid ideas.” Fun, right?
Whether you’re attending a small gathering or celebrating at home, pair your meal with Z&M wines. Pick up a bottle at our Lawrence vineyard or winery in Leavenworth, Kansas, or order wines shipped to your home.
Now, on the one hand, there are a lot of disappointed Americans right now. Gathering together with family and friends for Thanksgiving is a time-honored tradition. In many families, it is their primary opportunity to see one another.
On the other hand, there are a lot of folks who are thrilled. They’re not worried about Thanksgiving during Coronavirus, because they’re free! There’s no social pressure to schlep out to a distant relatives’ house; no awkward encounters with high school classmates.
Thanksgiving During Covid—Ideas You Can Use
Wherever you fall on the spectrum, we’ve got you squared away. Don’t stress over Thanksgiving during Covid ideas. We’ve put together a list of the very best recommendations for a Very 2020 Thanksgiving celebration.
Virtual Dinner
You were probably expecting this one, weren’t you? You’ve probably already remotely attended your share of meetings, happy hours—maybe even witnessed significant life events.
However, you can still make this unusual family meal special. Find some games to play, share a toast with a signature cocktail (or wine!), or each attendee can take turns saying what they’re thankful for this year.
Take It Outside!
If there’s one small silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that we’re all spending more time outside. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tells us that being outdoors is less risky when it comes to spreading Covid. Therefore, if you have family or friends you simply must see this Thanksgiving, why not try a picnic?
This is one of our favorite Thanksgiving during Covid ideas. Of course, late November isn’t always ideal weather for spending time outdoors. However, you have lots of options to fight off Jack Frost.
Make sure folks are dressed appropriately, first and foremost. Next, consider some outdoor heating options. You can go low-tech with a fire pit or bonfire, or you can invest in space heaters and outdoor heat lamps.
Keep everyone cozy with coffee, hot chocolate, hot toddys, hot apple cider, or a warm glass of mulled wine.
As for seating, you can get creative! Separate tables to encourage social distancing, or small clusters of deck seats or folding chairs. You could even host a true picnic with blankets and pillows on the ground!
Just because you’re outside, there’s no reason to feel like it. Some picnics can really be quite elegant, so feel free to channel your inner happy glamper!
Individually-Plated Meals
This one sounds like a headache, but it’s definitely a case of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While everyone is worried about getting each other sick, it may be best to avoid the traditional family-style buffet.
Designate servers (or ask for volunteers!) to dish out turkey and stuffing. This way, you cut down on the number of hands touching the food and utensils.
Don’t Forget About Football!
Set up a projector so your guests don’t have to miss the game! Not football fans? Not to worry. A fun holiday-themed movie will get everyone in the spirit and provide a focal point for the celebrations.
Fun & Games
It may be difficult to transport a board game or keep a deck of cards from blowing away during an outdoor celebration. Thankfully, there are plenty of outdoor games you can play with your guests. Even better, if it’s chilly outside, keeping everyone moving will help keep them warm!
The game can be as simple and fun as cornhole, or you could get fancier with croquet or bocce ball. There’s also the old stand-by of a friendly flag football game, but that one may be trickier from a social-distancing standpoint if you’re bringing different households together.
You could also do Thanksgiving or holiday trivia. Get creative with the questions!
Save Time and Keep the Kitchen Spotless
You’ve likely already been doing contactless delivery and takeout. Why not keep it going this Thanksgiving? Plenty of restaurants and grocery stores have always offered Thanksgiving dinners-to-go.
These days, you have even more options!
Make sure you order in advance, since these kinds of meals are likely to be pretty popular.
Alternately, you could spread a little cheer by being your own contactless delivery service! Not all all of the Thanksgiving during Covid ideas need to be for you and your family.
Put together a goodie basket, bake something, or drop off a bottle of wine with a friend or neighbor who is stuck at home. Do it anonymously or leave a little note–either way, It will be greatly appreciated!
Arts & Crafts
Think about family-friendly ways to keep your kids entertained. Whether you’re staying home or keeping it small, handprint turkeys are a fun way to celebrate and keep little hands busy. Or, find seasonal print-out coloring sheets and provide each child with their own crayons to keep things safe and socially-distanced.
Volunteer
As we all know, Thanksgiving is Christmas’s opening act. Kick off the season of giving by sharing your time and resources with others. Either find a way to donate to a worthy cause on Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after
Thanksgiving) or find a way to volunteer in person.
Plenty of non-profits and charities offer responsible and socially-distanced ways to do something nice for your neighbors. Ask around or do
an online search for Thanksgiving during Covid ideas for volunteering, and see what appeals to you!
Happy Thanksgiving from Z&M
We’re all about bringing people together. However you’re spending time with the important people in your life and your community this year, we’re standing by to support you.
Stop by and pick up a bottle of wine for your meal or to take to someone else! We also offer jellies made from our wines to put on your rolls! If you’re already thinking about stocking stuffers, we have Bella Vino soaps, scrubs, candles, and lip care made with real Z&M ingredients on our shelves.