Party
2021 LI K E I T ’S
After a year of car parades and Zoom parties, kids are looking forward to
the return of in-person birthday celebrations with family and friends.

If your party-planning skills are a little rusty, don’t panic. We’re sharing tips
and ideas to make your child’s big day fun for everyone.

BY WF STAFF
18 Washington FAMILY MAY 2021
ne of the hardest parts of the
pandemic for parents was
making birthdays feel just as spe-
cial as they did in the Before Times. We
invited friends to honk car horns down
our streets and hired magicians to per-
form over Zoom. We decorated cupcakes
virtually and hosted outdoor laser tag par-
ties in the dead of winter. And we mostly
succeeded in making our kids’ celebrations
seem normal, despite the extraordinary
circumstances in which we were living.

Today, vaccines are bringing us closer
to our pre-pandemic lives, including the
return of in-person birthday parties. But
until children can be vaccinated, health
experts still advise against crowded,
indoor gatherings — especially without
masks. Bounce houses, escape rooms and
bowling alleys may be out, but outdoor
parties are, well, in.

If you’re trying to remember how to
plan an in-person gathering, here are some
ideas to help you get this party started.