Between a freshly passed COVID-19 relief bill and multiple highly effective vaccines, the end of the global pandemic is finally in sight. Given how many events and gatherings so many of us have passed on at this point, it's understandable if the first thing you want to do is through a post-COVID house party. If the break from hosting has made your party planning skills a little rusty, here are some fun ideas you can consider incorporating into your next house party.

Host a Potluck

There's a lot of work that goes into putting together and throwing an amazing house party. With all the planning and preparation you'll be doing, finding ways to share some of the prep workload can take away some of the stress. Hosting a potluck gives you a way to host a party while relieving some of the responsibility from yourself of providing all the food for everyone to eat. Of course, it's helpful if you have a variety of dishes instead of everyone just bringing a dessert. You can improve the level of organization and make sure there are plenty of options by creating a sign-up sheet. People can sign up for slots to bring different items, which will help you avoid having too many of one type of dish. As a bonus, it will also help you get a feel for what may still be missing closer to the party so you can fill in any gaps.

Choose a Theme

Just throwing a party, in general, can be fun. But if you want to make things a little more exciting, you can choose a theme for your party. There are tons of fun party themes you can choose from. To choose the perfect theme for your party, consider the guests you intend to invite and the sorts of themes they might enjoy. Conversely, if you have your heart set on a certain theme, you can cater your guest list specifically for that theme. Once you choose our theme, choosing decorations and food will be easy.

Serve Casual Finger Foods

Food is a natural part of house parties. Everyone loves having something to munch on while visiting with other people. Casual finger foods can be the perfect addition to a house party. Small, bite-sized appetizers are a great way to whet the appetite or to tide people over until a meal is served. Whether you're serving fruits and vegetables, cheese and crackers, or an assortment of other nibbles, make sure you have a good way to serve them. Even if COVID concerns have passed, no one wants someone else's hands getting all over the food. Toothpicks are practical ways to serve appetizers at a party. For foods that toothpicks don't work so well for, small tongs and spoons can be good serving utensils as well.

Make it a Dance Party

We're all craving a little more contact right now, right? What better way to celebrate being able to let loose and get close than cutting a rug on the dance floor? Make your post-COVID house party a dance party, featuring great music, fun people, and plenty of space. Dancing can be great exercise as well as a ton of fun. Make sure you take care of your guests by providing them with something to drink. Ice cold water is always a good choice. If you want something a little more fun, there are a lot of fun slush drinks that are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Play Some Tunes

Whether you opt to host a dance party or something a little calmer, music can be a great way to take your house party to the next level. When choosing music, consider the tone you want to set for your party. Do you want it to be laid back and chill, or energetic and maybe a little crazy? How formal is it supposed to be? Did you choose a theme? What do your guests like to listen to? Is the music supposed to be background music or something you can dance to? These are just some of the questions you should ask to decide what to play for your post-COVID house party.

Have a Make-Up Birthday Celebration

A year's worth of birthday celebrations came and went with far more subdued gatherings to celebrate—if any were held at all. If you want to throw a post-COVID party but aren't sure what to do, consider throwing a birthday celebration to make up for the missed occasions last year. You can make an awesome birthday cake or opt for more individualism by offering cupcakes, cake balls, or another fun party treat instead. Have fun playing games, exchanging gifts, eating cake, and making up for missed time. If everyone getting gifts for everyone seems like too much, go the Secret Santa route and draw names to assign out who is giving a gift to whom.

Party Favors

Party favors aren't just for little kids' parties. At the end of the party, it can be fun to give your guests something small to remember the occasion by. It could be a cute little note, a sweet treat, or something in line with your chosen theme. There are a lot of fun party favors adults will enjoy. You can even put them in little bags personalized with the names of your guests so you can make sure everyone gets one before they leave.

When it comes to planning a post-COVID party, your imagination and your budget are the only limiting factors you need to give attention to. There are a ton of fun ideas you can pick from to make your party what you want it to be. If you want, you can even combine a few different ideas to kick things off. Pick the sort of party you want to have, make your plans, and send out your invitations. The party will be started before you know it.

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