Planning your New Year’s Eve celebration? Like most of 2020, your safety-first New Year’s will look different than it has in the past.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control announced their official guidelines for New Year’s Eve, with an emphasis on reducing the transmission of COVID by celebrating at home and limiting gatherings to only those living in individual households. Even with these restrictions in mind, there are so many fun and creative ways to mark the end of 2020.
- Make reservations at one of your favorite Douglas County restaurants now certified for indoor dining through the COVID Best Practices Business Certification Program. These restaurants are certified based on their commitment to increased COVID safety measures.
- If you cannot get a reservation at your favorite restaurant, include food and beverages from your favorite restaurants to serve at home. As you plan, let someone else do some of the cooking by building your New Year’s Eve menu around the many to-go/takeout menu options at restaurants near you. Indulge in your favorites or get adventurous and try something new, while also supporting local businesses.
- Technology to the rescue. From your home, host a virtual dinner party or plan a virtual toast with friends and loved ones.
- Watch New Year’s Eve television programming from your home, such as the Times Square ball drop. Or watch Douglas County’s more than 20-minute pre-recorded fireworks display given as a gift to the community by the Board of Douglas County Commissioners
- Do Not Drink and Drive – arrange a Lyft ride home. If you plan to celebrate away from home on New Year’s Eve there are ways to do so safely to protect you and others from the transmission of COVID……..and to ensure you arrive home safely if you consume alcohol as part of your celebration. Plan ahead and let us help you. Douglas County is partnering with Lyft to provide discounted rides from light rail stations throughout the area. Simply open the Lyft app, navigate to promos, and enter your code: DOCONYE20 for $5 toward your Lyft ride.
Douglas County wishes you and yours a safe and happy New Year’s celebration.