Going beyond 'back to normal': 5 research-based tips for emerging from pandemic life

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, was established as a national holiday in 1971 as a way to pay tribute to American military personnel who died in war. Originally known as Decoration Day, this tradition of observing military sacrifice has its roots in the post-Civil War era. One of the earliest Memorial Day gatherings was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in South Carolina in 1865. A national moment of remembrance always takes place at 3 p.m. local time; you may wish to incorporate this into your gathering. You could also collect donations for organizations that support families of fallen service members.

Be sure to also keep an eye on local COVID-19 restrictions in order to plan the safest possible event. Communicate with your guests ahead of time to set expectations.

Keep the kids entertained with a variety of activities like coloring, lawn games and bubbles. Team up for a cornhole tournament with a fun, age-appropriate prize. If you have a patio or you’re planning to do some celebrating in your driveway, sidewalk chalk is a great way to let kids unleash their creativity.

To keep kids entertained and safe after dark, consider putting on an all-ages outdoor movie. Provide blankets and individual bowls of popcorn or other treats.

Since Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the summer, serve summery desserts like popsicles or an icebox cake. Make your own popsicles using popsicle molds or simply pick up a variety pack at the grocery store. Classic American desserts with red or blue fillings, like cherry or blueberry pie, are also popular picks. Keep things easy by serving a festive fruit salad made with watermelon, strawberries and blueberries topped with whipped cream.

There’s no shame in going store-bought, either. Serve a store-bought pie in a glass plate and impress your guests without having to stress over baking. Many stores and bakeries also offer festive frosted cookies that are a hit with guests of all ages. Remember that the point of this gathering is to spend time with the people you care about, so don’t stress over putting together picture-perfect food.

With an outdoor party, there’s no need to go overboard with decorations: an easy way to add charm to your outdoor space is by putting up string lights. Hang them from gutters or fences or wrap them around trees and deck railings. You can use larger string lights with vintage-inspired bulbs or put out classic Christmas lights with white cords. Keep them on throughout your daytime party or set them on a timer to turn on around dusk.

Alternatively, put up American flags of any size or make simple banners out of triangular star-spangled paper and string. If you have them, put out Americana touches like red wagons, bandanas, wicker baskets or vintage lanterns. Place miniature American flags in bud vases for charming, simple centerpieces.

No matter how big your yard is, there’s a lawn game that fits your space. Cornhole, croquet, bocce ball and ring toss are easy and fun games that can be played with social distancing. If you have a lot of space to work with, set up a net for badminton or volleyball. Whether your guests are competitive or more laid-back, everyone can have fun with a tournament, and getting matched up against different competitors in a bracket is a great way for guests to mingle. Set up games ahead of time as part of your decorating so you’re free to mingle with your guests when they arrive without having to troubleshoot game assembly or look for missing components.

If your guest list includes a wide range of ages, consider setting up more than one lawn game. Smaller children may enjoy games that are less complex, like ring toss or cornhole, while older kids and adults will be able to appreciate trickier or more competitive games like badminton or bocce ball. Have hand sanitizer and a first aid kit easily accessible, and be sure to apply sunscreen frequently to protect both kids and grown-ups while they’re enjoying the sunshine.

Whether you want to keep things simple or you’re ready to host a feast, a cookout on the grill is a time-tested way to feed a crowd. Plan a barbecue and include sides like mac & cheese, cornbread or potato salad. For a simple, crowd-pleasing meal, grill up a bunch of hot dogs and veggie dogs and let guests choose from tasty, inventive toppings like roasted red peppers, goat cheese or coleslaw. Give burgers the same DIY treatment by making mini burgers and serving them at a slider bar, with petite buns and toppings like bacon and pickled jalapenos. Kebabs are another easy option for tasty, portable party food. Prepare skewers of meat, veggies and fruit ahead of time to make the day of the party go more smoothly.

Regardless of your Memorial Day menu, save yourself day-of-party stress by doing as much of the food prep ahead of time as possible. Just like with desserts, don’t feel pressured to make everything by hand, either. If you’re not up for cooking for a crowd, plan a meal around the grocery store’s deli counter, or support a favorite local restaurant by ordering handheld food like sandwiches, tacos or BBQ to serve your guests. At the end of the day, what they will remember more than Instagram-worthy food is getting to spend a fun day with their loved ones.

For beverages, incorporate festive colors by serving red and blue drinks like vodka cranberry cocktails, strawberry margaritas or the famous Blue Lagoon. Cocktails and mocktails alike can be served in glasses rimmed with red, white or blue sugar. Provide nonalcoholic options like lemonade or iced tea garnished with strawberries and blueberries. If you’re serving beverages in bottles or cans, place them in the fridge the night before so your drinks are chilled by the time guests arrive.

No matter what your Memorial Day weekend forecast looks like, don’t forget the ice. Pick up a bag of ice the day of the party (or make room in your freezer to store it ahead of time) and keep your drink bucket or cooler topped off with fresh ice throughout the party. To add a special touch to the drinks themselves, consider freezing herbs, berries or thin slices of citrus in ice cube trays to enhance a variety of drinks.