It’s been over a year since the pandemic hit, so every single person on the planet will have had birthday plans affected by lockdowns and government restrictions. You are unable to socialize with large groups of people, hug your loved ones, and blowing out candles on a birthday cake is out of the question.

When you have a friend or family member with an upcoming birthday, you no doubt want to help them have a great time. We all need a bit of escape in these troubling times, and what better way to do this than a celebration with people that love you? But it’s not so easy to throw a birthday party at the moment. You have to be conscious of the constantly changing government regulations and adhere to social distancing regulations at all times. You don’t want to leave people out but you also can’t invite every single person on your guest list amidst a deadly pandemic.

Fortunately, there are several ways to help your loved one celebrate their birthday in style without risk or breaking the rules. Here are four ways to throw a fantastic pandemic party. 

Send them a delivery

Just because you can’t visit your friend in person, that doesn’t mean you can’t make them feel loved. Get online and order them an amazing gift or a birthday flower delivery to brighten up their home. Alternatively, you could get your hands dirty and make them a cake to celebrate their big day.

Get together virtually

Online communication tools like Zoom and Skype have been a lifeline for many people throughout the pandemic. They allow people to get together remotely and momentarily forget everything that’s going on in the world. If you can’t have a real-life party, why not throw a virtual one on Zoom. This way, you can invite as many people as you want and don’t have to worry about spreading germs. Get everyone to dress up, order in some food and drink, and spend the evening playing games online. 

Throw a parade

Perhaps your loved one feels a little down at the prospect of spending their birthday stuck at home. If so, get in touch with their friends and family to organize a special parade to surprise them. Drive past their house in a line with balloons and birthday messages adorning your cars and some party music blaring out of the stereo. Whether or not you can do this will of course depend on the current government guidelines at the time and make sure you are respectful of your loved one’s neighbors. 

Send them a celebrity message

Cameo is a service that has become popular throughout lockdown. It is an online service that allows you to pay celebrities to send you or a loved one a personalized message. The list of A-list stars using Cameo is increasing all the time, but you can enlist the likes of David Hasselhoff, Caitlyn Jenner, and Debra Messing. If your friend has a particular idol or celebrity crush, this is an excellent way to bring a smile to their face.