How To Celebrate New Year's Eve While Social Distancing

Like almost every other holiday in 2020, New Year's Eve celebrations are looking very different from those of years past. Staying safe and protecting the health of our community is our top priority, so check out our favorite ways to ring in the new year while avoiding COVID-19, including:

• A Socially Distanced Block Party
• A Virtual Dance Party
• Festive Foods
• Watching the Ball Drop

Party Into the New Year — On Your Lawn

Gather your neighbors for a socially distanced block party. Plan the event in advance through the Nextdoor app, a Facebook group, or good old-fashioned invites taped to doors! Set up chairs on your lawn, pull out the speakers, turn on any Christmas lights you haven't taken down yet, and grab your favorite snacks. From the comfort of your yard, chat with neighbors about the lessons you learned in 2020, your hopes for 2021, and everything in between. You can also commemorate the night with biodegradable confetti poppers.

Host Your Own Rockin' Dance Party

If you love going out to dance to ring in the New Year, consider putting a 2020 twist on it, and host a virtual party with all of your friends. You can get dressed up, play the most popular songs of 2020, and dance the night away from the comfort of your own home.

Eat Your Way To Good Luck in 2021

There are several traditions that promise to bring you good luck in the coming year, and most of them involve food. Cook up a traditional pot of Hoppin' John, a dish of black-eyed peas, rice, and bacon, for dinner. If that doesn't sound like your ideal dish, enjoy smashing and eating a peppermint pig with your family or roommates, and don't forget to eat 12 grapes (one for each month in the new year) when the clock strikes midnight.

Watch the Ball Drop at Midnight

While most traditional New Year's Eve celebrations are canceled due to COVID-19, some are just getting a bit of a makeover. The traditional ball drop in Times Square is being transformed into a “virtually enhanced celebration that brings Times Square and the Ball to you digitally no matter where you are. . ." Learn more here, and tune in with your family or roommates on New Year's Eve.

However you choose to celebrate, remember to stay vigilant and continue to practice healthy behaviors like frequent hand washing and wearing a mask in public. If you're sick, stay home. This is not the time to let our guard down.

We hope you have a safe and joyous New Year's Eve. Find the latest information about COVID-19 at the St. Luke's Health Hub.