How to Host a fun Virtual Holiday Party

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. With the surge and spike of COVID numbers lately, most people are either going through a second lockdown period or are being encouraged to stay home during the holidays.

This doesn’t mean you can’t see them at all. It just means that you need to get creative.

Virtual services and programs let you get together without actually being in the same space. When it comes to having a virtual holiday party (whether it’s with your family and friends or with coworkers), here are a few things you can do to keep it running smoothly.

Make sure everyone observes proper etiquette
When you send out the invitation, note that virtual meetings can be tricky. Some guidelines might be:

• Stay on camera if you are going to be involved with the meeting/party
• Try not to talk over other people or interrupt others
• If there is background noise, mute your mic
• Try not to have too much going on in the background of your video
• Keep side conversations to strictly chat so you don’t alienate anyone at the meeting
• Dress appropriately for the meeting

Have a flexible schedule of events
Like any party, there are games and topics you can have prepared to keep the party fun and to avoid awkward silences.

Just in case certain games are a dud or if the topics get too heated, try to have a set of back-up topics. If you’re at a loss as to what games you can play online, a quick Google search for “games for virtual game night” will bring up articles with hundreds of ideas.

If you have a tradition of normally watching a movie with your family during the holidays, consider streaming the video with them. Most programs allow you to share your screen while still being able to see everyone at the meeting.

By: Jocelyn DeVore