As the holiday season approaches, gathering with friends and family becomes the most crucial way to celebrate. Unfortunately, not everyone can travel home to join the festivities and assemble together. In today’s digitally connected world, technology can offer the perfect solution: virtual holiday parties.
You don’t have to be a professional to host an online holiday gathering, but you need some familiarity with technology, planning, and troubleshooting. Whether you’re organizing a casual get-together or a more formal celebration, here are some tips and tech tools to help you host a fun and memorable virtual holiday party.
1. Choose the Right Virtual Platform
The foundation of any virtual party is the platform you choose for connecting with your guests. If you are unfamiliar with these applications, don’t worry. Several excellent options are available, so you can pick the best one that fits your gathering.
Video Conferencing Tools
Zoom and Google Meet are two of the most popular choices for virtual gatherings. They offer a range of features, including breakout rooms for smaller group conversations, virtual backgrounds for fun holiday vibes, and screen-sharing capabilities to play videos or show slides. Zoom, in particular, has a wide selection of holiday-themed backgrounds so you can enhance the seasonal atmosphere.
Microsoft Teams and Skype also offer similar functionality, although they are generally more tailored to business meetings. Teams might be more suitable, though, if you and your family have Microsoft computers or software.
Streaming Platforms
For larger groups, Twitch or YouTube Live may be more viable options. These platforms allow you to broadcast events, such as live music performances, cooking demos, or even a holiday movie marathon.
The downside is that streaming platforms can be less interactive or trickier to use for family members unfamiliar with this tech. If you’re hosting a gaming or movie night for the holidays, these applications may work better than video-chatting software.
2. Send Invites and Create a Festive Atmosphere
Once you’ve chosen the right platform, it’s time to send out invites. To build excitement and make the experience feel more personal, you can easily create a custom e-invite. Tools like Partiful or Evite can help you design fun, holiday-themed invitations with all the details, including the date, time, and platform link, all through the power of the internet.
Include a Holiday Dress Code
Encourage guests to get into the holiday spirit by suggesting a dress code. Dressing up according to the holiday you celebrate or coordinating a color scheme can create a fun and festive atmosphere. I include the dress code in your e-vite so you can make sure everybody’s in on the attire.
Set the Mood
Even though you’re gathering online, setting the right tone is essential. Consider sharing a holiday playlist or curating a festive mix on Spotify or Apple Music that plays throughout the event. Many platforms like Zoom also allow you to upload your own music.
On the decor front, you can use virtual backgrounds to bring a festive touch or decorate the room you’ll be streaming in. Zoom, for example, offers built-in holiday themes, or you can upload your own personalized background, such as a snowy winter scene, a roaring fireplace, or a cozy holiday room.
3. Plan Engaging Activities
Now that the invitations are ready, you may want to come up with some activities for you and your guests. Incorporating interactive games or discussions can keep the energy high and ensure everyone has a great time. If you’re having trouble thinking of some festive activities, here are some ideas to make your party memorable.
Virtual Holiday Games
You can test your guests’ knowledge of holiday traditions, movies, music, and history through a wholesome game of trivia. You can use apps like Kahoot! to create a custom trivia game. Kahoot! allows you to create questions that are easy to share with everyone, and participants can answer in real-time.
If you’re celebrating Christmas, you can still do a Secret Santa exchange virtually! Use an online platform like Elfster or DrawNames to assign gift recipients without anyone knowing who they are purchasing for. Set a price limit and allow friends and family to choose gifts online, which can be mailed directly to the recipient. You can even open gifts together during the party!
Classic games like Pictionary or Charades can work exceptionally well in a virtual setting. Online tools like Jackbox Games offer easy ways to play interactive drawing games. For Charades, you can simply use your webcam and act out holiday-themed prompts, such as “decorating the tree” or “wrapping presents.” Make sure to assign someone as the host so you can guide the game efficiently.
Virtual Happy Hour
Hosting a virtual holiday happy hour is a popular way to create a festive atmosphere. You can even lead a mixology class, teaching everybody on the call how to make your favorite holiday drink. Your participants can follow along with the recipe, making it a great way to spend time together while learning something new.
Holiday Karaoke
Karaoke is always a hit at holiday parties, and it works just as well virtually. You can use platforms like Smule or Karaoke Party for an interactive experience where everyone can sing along to their favorite holiday songs. Alternatively, you can create a YouTube playlist of popular holiday tunes and let guests take turns performing or lip-syncing live.
4. Keep It Short and Sweet
One of the challenges of virtual parties is that attention spans can wane when people stare at screens for hours. While in-person holiday parties often last several hours, virtual gatherings are most successful when they are shorter and more focused. Aim for a one to two-hour event, with a mix of activities to keep spirits high.
5. Test Your Tech
For some, troubleshooting might be the biggest problem when setting up your holiday party. The day before, you can check that your microphone, camera, and internet connection are working well. You should also ensure all your guests have the correct platform and that the virtual backgrounds or shared media files are correctly loaded.
If you plan on using more complex tools, like a trivia app or interactive games, run through the process ahead to troubleshoot any potential issues. Consider asking a friend or family member to help with a test run to ensure everything flows smoothly on the day of the event.
Final Thoughts
Though hosting a virtual holiday party is a great way to stay connected with loved ones, some potential issues could deter you from creating your own event. Now that you have the proper information regarding video-calling software, festive activities, and troubleshooting, you have everything you need to make a great experience that your friends and family will forever remember.