Celebrating the Holidays

The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people who live with you.

According to federal, state, and local heath officials, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. This holiday season, consider how your plans can be modified to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep your friends, families, and communities healthy.*

Here are some fun tips to keep you, your family, and friends safe and healthy this holiday season:

Consider other activities to celebrate New Year’s, such as:

• Have virtual celebrations with loved ones.
• Plan a New Year’s party for the people who live with you.
• Plan a neighborhood countdown to midnight.
• Watch a livestreamed firework display, concert, First Night event, or other New Year’s programming from your home.

Host a virtual celebration with friends and family

• Schedule a time to eat a meal together virtually and have people show their main dish, vegetable, or dessert.
• Host a virtual “ugly” holiday sweater contest.
• A family is shown indoors, holding presents, with a laptop in front of them. They are talking to other individuals who are shown on the laptop screen.

Gather virtually for a gift exchange or activity

• Schedule a time to meet virtually to open gifts together.
• Build gingerbread houses, decorate cookies, or make holiday crafts and decorations.
• People walking in snow in front of housing and social distancing

Decorate for the season

• Decorate or create a winter holiday scene. (Bonus! Take family photos at home in front of your decorations/scene).
• Make holiday crafts, cards, or cookies to send or deliver to family, friends, and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others, such as leaving them at the door.

Enjoy fellow Islander's decorations

• The Mercer Island Preschool Association has created a great new map of holiday lights & decorations! Buy one today online, make your cocoa-to-go, and then start your driving tour.
• For more details: https://miholidaylightsmap.com

Enjoy the winter weather

The mountains have seen recent snow and are calling!

• Go sledding / skiing / snowboarding / snowshoeing. (Make sure to check resort COVID-19 changes before heading out, reservations may be required: Summit at Snoqualmie; Mt. Baker; Crystal Mountain)
• Have a family snowman or snow angel contest.
• Build a snow fort or other snow structure.

Throw a virtual dance party

• For winter holidays that traditionally include music and dance, set aside time with loved ones to meet online to share music and dance.
• Collaborate with friends and family on a holiday playlist.

*Here in Washington we are under a travel advisory for interstate and international travel, and in-home gatherings with people outside the household are prohibited unless participants quarantine for fourteen days (14) prior to the social gathering or quarantine for the seven (7) days prior to the gathering, and receive a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 48-hours prior to the gathering. Read more about Governor's tightened restrictions here.