Lockdown is here again and we’re all having to delay celebrations for birthdays, engagements, and anniversaries. But life must go on! Rather than wait forever, why not celebrate a birthday in lockdown? After all, there’s not much else to do!
So, how can you celebrate a birthday in lockdown when your favourite venues are closed and so many people are missing from the equation? We’re here to tell you that there is a way!
Whether it’s your own birthday, or you’re trying to celebrate a birthday in lockdown for someone you love, we’ve pulled together our top tips to help you bring your loved ones together and recreate your best birthday celebrations.
1. Virtual Wine Tastings
Wine doesn’t solve everything but it definitely helps, especially during a birthday in lockdown! That’s why these ingenious wine tastings have been such a hit with Sydneysiders craving a drop or two of their favourite wines.
First up, get a few friends together and book a virtual wine tour. Typically, these virtual tastings are organised so that the wine is sent to you prior to the tasting. Once you have everything you need, simply connect to Zoom and a wine connoisseur will guide you through the tasting. Compare notes afterwards and continue the party. You’ll (almost) forget you’re in lockdown!
Try our top picks:
- Whispering Brook virtual wine tastings
- Drinks with Dave offering beer, whiskey, or wine tastings
- Brokenwood’s Cellar Door at Home, which runs every Wednesday
- Golden Gully Bar is offering cocktail mixology classes
- Urban Winery Virtual Tasting tours are held every week
If you’re not up for a virtual wine tasting, order a cocktail-making kit from Mr Consistent or The Cocktail Shop and get creative with an afternoon of cocktails and snacks at home.
2. Paint and Sip
If you haven’t had a chance to get creative in lockdown, now is the time to try! If you’re celebrating a birthday in lockdown, embrace your inner artist and book in a virtual painting class. Invite friends or family to your virtual class to join the fun.
Cork & Canvas and Pinot & Picasso both offer virtual painting classes which allow you to paint along in a virtual session with a class instructor. Simply order all the materials you need prior to the class, BYO bottle of wine, and get painting!
3. Pretend You’re at the Races
Celebrating a birthday in lockdown with a horse racing fanatic? Why not pop the champagne, get dressed up, and watch the races?
To score extra brownie points you can even decorate your living room with racing memorabilia, whip out the snacks, and try your luck with a wager or two.
4. Get Pampered
It’s easy to neglect self-care when we have nowhere to go and no one to impress. Celebrating your own birthday in lockdown is the perfect excuse to get pampered! Start with a luxurious face mask or serum, have a bubble bath and a glass of wine, and take time out to just relax.
Next, ask your significant other or an unsuspecting family member to give you a massage. They can’t refuse – your birthday only happens once a year! Or, if you want to pamper someone else, spoil them with a Pamper Hamper full of lavish treats or a massage voucher to use when salons open up once more.
5. Don’t Forget the Food!
Let’s face it; a birthday in lockdown is all about the food and drinks, so there’s definitely no excuse to skimp on dessert!
Yes Chef! offers delicious gourmet meal options that can be ordered in advance, while Providoor also offers restaurant food with next-day delivery in Sydney. All you need to do is receive your delivery and heat up your meal according to the step-by-step instructions provided by the restaurant.
But let’s not forget the most important part – the cake! Try your luck at creating your own – we recommend a test run the weekend before. And if that fails, there are plenty of options! Cake in a Box offers next-day delivery in Sydney and has a range of bright, colourful, and creative cakes just waiting for their Instagram moment! Looma’s also offers gourmet cakes in a wide range of flavours and has plenty of delicious vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free variations.
If you’re celebrating a birthday in lockdown for a friend, housemate, or family member, customise it according to what they love the most. If they love Mexican food for instance, go all out with sombreros, Mexican food, margaritas and colourful decorations. You’ve been at home for weeks now, so the more you can decorate, the more you can transport yourselves to a new and improved version of your living room!
How would you celebrate a birthday in lockdown? Send us your top suggestions! Once the celebrations are over, don’t forget to walk off all that food with our pick of the best hikes in Sydney.
