As you plan for the holiday season, it is important to consider how to celebrate safely in order to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has shared information on how to take part in the holiday season in a manner that reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19. Here is a breakdown of the types of activities that are not permitted under the county’s most recent stay-at-home order, as well as some safer alternatives you can do to still celebrate the holidays:

Not Permitted (gatherings and events are not currently allowed under the Health Officer Order)

• Private and public gatherings with individuals not in your household are prohibited with the sole exceptions of permitted religious or cultural services and ceremonies and protests.
• Carnivals, amusement parks or festivals.
• Santa/holiday displays or photo opportunities except when conducted outdoors with all participants wearing face coverings and maintaining a 6-foot physical distance.

Not Recommended

• Door to door activities, such as caroling, are not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors and ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread.

Permitted and Recommended

• Online parties/contests (e.g. Thanksgiving meal, tree trimming).
• Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle-based parades including:
• Drive by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and drive by “judges” that are appropriately physically distanced.
• Drive through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with holiday displays.
• Drive in events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged non-perishable treats) or take away item from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicle.
• Drive in events where individuals drop off or pick up toys or other donations.
• Holiday movie nights at drive-in theaters (must comply with the public health drive-in movie theater guidance).
• Live Performances or Concerts done at Drive-in theaters (must comply with the public health drive-in movie theater protocol).
• Holiday themed meals at your favorite restaurants, preferably through curbside pick up or contactless delivery,
• Holiday themed art installations at an outdoor museum (must comply with the public health museum protocol).
• Dressing up homes and yards with holiday themed decorations.
• Outdoor Santa/Holiday displays or photo opportunities with all participants wearing face coverings and maintaining a 6-foot physical distance.
• Buy and decorate a Christmas tree (tree lots must comply with the public health retail establishment protocol and may not have amusement park or carnival type activities such as rides, face painting, petting zoos, food service, bounce houses or visits with Santa that are closer than six feet.)

If you’re looking for ideas, L.A. Magazine has compiled a list of socially-distanced events that are happening in Los Angeles to help you celebrate, including drive-thru experiences, festive film screenings, streams and broadcasts, in-person events, and drive-in performances.

Source: LA Public Health