It’s the most wonderful time of year! Well it was supposed to be until COVID rained on our parade. But fear not – COVID hasn’t cancelled the festive season entirely! Instead, people are getting creative and thinking of alternative ways to celebrate. Payflex puts together some of the best ways to party and let your hair down and party at home this festive season.Â
Have the ‘whole shebang’ brought to you
Why go out when you can have it all brought to your doorstep? Gin your Garden, brought to you by Thirst, Gemelli, Mesh, and Greenhouse, is an exclusive home entertainment concept that makes bringing people together around great food experiences effortless. The concept converts your home into the hottest bar and restaurant in town and you have the best seat!Â
Guests have the choice of either venue that will cater the food and included in the food packages are chefs, waiters, cutlery and your choice of cuisine. Additionally, the offering includes a well curated gin bar served by Thirst bar services. This is the ideal festive season entertainment option for those who don’t want to lift a finger.
Take your festivities into the great outdoors
Whether it’s a garden, backyard, balcony or park, roll out a blanket on your lawn, balcony or patio, crack open some beers or a bottle of your favourite wine, and enjoy your festive season celebrations outside with a gourmet picnic. But the making and transporting of a picnic can be seriously labour-intensive thing – things always get forgotten, the salad wilts, and everyone is eying the sandwiches out suspiciously. So forget those soggy sandwiches and take things up a notch with a gourmet food hamper or picnic box. Yuppiechef has some incredible gourmet gift boxes for the Cape Tonians. While Fresh Creative Catering has some delicious picnic boxes for the Jozi peeps.
Have a socially distanced cook-off
Canapes & cocktails, lunch or dinner, sweet tea-time treats or even a healthy seasonal meal. Why not host a socially distanced cook-off with friends? One of your friends has to take one for the team and do the judging (Cue loads of alcohol. Loser has to down ALOT). Try delicious mealkits from UCook or one of Yuppiechef’s online masterclasses with some of SA’s most famous chefs. For something completely different, try your hand at Cape Malay cuisine with Bo Kaap Cooking Tour or learn how to cook with the King of Cooking himself Gordon Ramsay.
Try an at-home wine tasting experience
Wine lovers rejoice! You no longer need to leave the confines of your four walls to explore the world’s most beautiful wineries and vineyards. No need to bother with travel restrictions or quarantines either! Raising a glass to a virtual wine tasting experience with your friends is a great way to party at home this festive season. Some of South Africa’s leading wineries have come to the party to make your experience that much better including La Motte, Leopard’s Leap, Creation Wines, and Steenberg.
Get your game on with a games or quiz night
If you like us, are partial to a drinking game, quiz nights and games evenings can be a fun way to break the ice. Whether it’s in person or over Zoom, get a group of friends together, gather the snacks and drinks, and get your game on. Try Quiz Nights, Random Trivia Generator, or QuizUp. Alternately bring out the old faithfuls like Monopoly, 30 Seconds, UNO, or Pictionary.
