Using Zoom to Have a Safe, Socially Distant Labor Day Weekend

By Carolyn | September 03, 2020

For most Americans, Labor Day brings to mind barbecues, baseball, family gatherings, and other fun, group-based activities. Since Congress made the first Monday in September an official holiday in 1894, Labor Day has become an increasingly fun and anticipated event in the U.S. 

Last year, for example, approximately 102 million citizens held cookouts, while 25 percent of the country planned to travel out of town to celebrate, according to WalletHub.com. 

But what will we do this year? 

With Labor Day approaching, it’s a good time to take a look at an alternative, COVID-conscious activity to make sure you can still enjoy the spirit of the holiday holiday while also respecting current health guidelines. 

Hold a Zoom Cookoff 

It’s tough to imagine Labor Day without the smell of charcoal, but with current regulations in Austin discouraging social gatherings and outright prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people until Dec. 15, 2020, this Labor Day certainly will look (and smell!) different. 

It’s not an ideal circumstance … but why not make the most of it? 

Using minimal planning and a Zoom video conference, you can still arrange a fun, backyard cookoff with your family and friends. 

Who can make the best burger? Who can invent the craziest combination of toppings for a hot dog? 

“My friends have been trying to organize an at-home cook-off, Chopped-style, where we pick four pantry ingredients and all start cooking over Zoom,” Cosmopolitan op-ed editor Jessica Goodman recently said. “We’ll judge based on presentation and creativity, not taste (duh). But we have yet to do this because no one can agree on the food choices. It’s very unclear why everyone hasn’t bought anchovies yet!”

While Jessica and her friends seem to be onto something here, Labor Day presents the perfect opportunity to actually make this idea happen! 

Have a burger or hot dog cookoff among your family and friends and see whose chef skills reign supreme. 

Winner gets to choose who hosts Labor Day weekend next year (COVID permitting!). 

What COVID-conscious activities do you have planned for Labor Day? Let me know at carolyn@haneyhomeconcierge.com. I’d love to hear your ideas!