Super Bowl Sunday is on its way and many people aren’t exactly sure how to navigate a year without tailgating, in-person games, and game day parties. So, navigating the Super Bowl might be a tough event for some people, especially if you’re still craving the experience that you’ve had year in and year out. There are many things you can do to make the big event feel a little more normal though. Luckily, these tips won’t put pressure on your budget either, so you can easily save money this season to make your next big bash amazing.
1. Get Artistic
The Super Bowl is one of those events where you can really put your heart and soul into the creativity of your food. From stadiums made of food to unique dishes shaped like football gear, this event opens up the gates of creativity. Since you won’t be feeding a large group this year, then you might want to consider putting more detail into the food, so you get the same rewarding feeling. This probably won’t be more time consuming than cooking large portions of food, so you won’t sacrifice anything time-wise. You can even post pictures of your food online to share with other people. If you’re feeling the competitive spirit, then call out friends and family to post their pictures for an online competition that people can vote on.
2. Watch Party
Just because you can’t have visitors for the big game, doesn’t mean you have to watch alone. If you’re craving social interactions, then create a digital watch party. This can be a lot of fun, especially with many chat programs offering a wide variety of background options to add to the experience. Setting up a call with a few different households is very easy and will allow everyone to react to the game together as if you were there in person. Of course, you can also do a live stream if you’re feeling like sharing commentary to those that you would normally chat with during the game. This can make the experience a little less lonely, which is certain to bring more joy to the event, even if your team doesn’t win.
3. Online Predictions
A lot of people love to make predictions of the game, especially during a party. This is a little hard to do on your own, so if you want the game day experience then start a thread on social media or create a group text to help everyone put in their predictions. This can be a fun way to engage people throughout the event, which will create a more communal experience that will help bring you value. You can even add fun prizes to the mix like someone cooks dinner for someone else and delivers to their door and so on. This can add so much more fun to your game that you might even consider doing it even when you can get a party going.
4. Drinking Games
If you’re used to having adult parties then drinking might be a normal part of the game for you. It’s hard to enjoy some of the elements of drinking without an assortment of people surrounding you, but there are ways to include everyone during the game. One way to do this is drinking games. For instance, you can ask everyone to take a drink when one person scores or a coach yells, and so on. There are already many Super Bowl themed drinking games available to you, so if you don’t want to come up with rules of your own you can work from there. These games can be shared with friends as you enjoy a group video call or simply communicate with each other through text.
5. Decorate
Decorations are great when you’re hosting people, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the décor this year. In fact, you might want to add even more to make your own all the more festive. Take your decorations onto the lawn, place them in the living room and kitchen, and so on. If you don’t have a lot, then use your spare time to create some from items that you have at home. This will definitely make it easy for you to have some fun while making your self-isolation quarantine party all the more fun. You can even get the kids in on the crafts as they can make banners and more to help ease some of the boredom from having to stay home.
6. Traditional Snacks
Snacks are truly one of the best things about the Super Bowl. A lot of people love to go all out with foods they wouldn’t normally make. So, don’t skimp this year. If you really want to add some fun to the occasion, then whip up some of your favorite tailgating snacks. You can grill, smoke, or fry some of your favorite meats and vegetables as if you were heading to the game with friends. Another way to approach snacks is to add items to the menu that you would typically choose at the stadium. Add that hot dog to the menu, whip up some soft pretzels, or keep it simple with popcorn. Whatever you like to have at the game, make it. This will make the experience feel more authentic while still keeping your budget down. You can find authentic recipes online too, which will definitely make your life easier.
7. Embrace Half Time
Half time is one of the most popular aspects of the Super Bowl. If you’re not a fan of the halftime show or you tend to use the time to make snacks and whatnot, then you might try to sit down and watch it this year. This will allow you to fully embrace the Super Bowl while you don’t have guests to entertain. When you do watch the halftime show, make sure you have some fun with it. Get up and dance, sing along, cheer with crowds. Whatever it is you need to have some fun, you should do it.
8. Neighborhood Watch Party
Getting to enjoy some social interaction doesn’t have to only involve screens. If you have a close-knit community, then you might consider asking everyone to have a block party. As long as everyone stays in their own yard and wears a mask for safety then it should be a lot of fun. You can watch the game using a projector screen, or simply have everyone watch from their own devices. You might consider cooking out, chatting, or even playing football together. As long as you take safety precautions, like wearing gloves while playing football, then you should be fine.
9. Small Gathering
If you have a group of people in your bubble, then you might still be able to enjoy a small gathering. However, you always need to keep the rules in mind when you host such an event. For instance, you shouldn’t have more than ten people at your gathering, this does include the people already in your home. You should also have seating that is spread out to ensure you are comfortable while still maintaining safety. Sanitizing should be frequently done as well to ensure the health of everyone. Always use utensils when dishing out snacks as well. It is not safe for people to eat from the same dip bowl. Also, try to keep the get-together to strictly people in your bubble. Your bubble consists of people that are also social distancing, but also those you come in contact with frequently. For some, it will be family, for others it will be colleagues.
10. Encourage Kids
A lot of the time, the Super Bowl tends to be more about the adults. So, this year, you might take a step back from your own celebrations and instead enjoy spending time with the kids. You can tell your kids about the two teams playing, explain the rules to them, help them cheer on a team, and so on. You never know, you might be helping your kids to become lifelong fans. You also might create a new way for you to bond with the kids. With all of the other people away from your space during the event, the Super Bowl event may even take on new meaning, which will allow you to pass down some of your childhood football traditions on to your kids.
Although the Super Bowl might look very different this year, you will find that there are lots of ways to still have fun with it. Some of these tips may even give off the illusions of normal even though we are still having to take extra precautions to stay safe. So, sit back and enjoy the Super Bowl, you may find even more reason to celebrate when you try out something new this year.
