The countdown to the holidays is officially on! If you’re one of those people that takes down the Halloween decorations on November 1st and breaks out the Thanksgiving decor, then you’re our type! It’s never too early to start planning for the holidays, especially during a year when logistics are still more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, and our holidays may not necessarily be back to normal. It’s best to have a backup plan and prioritize the health and safety of our loved ones, especially since many of us have not been together as a family in over a year. 

Let the festivity planning begin! Get a head start on your holiday season by securing all of your rental needs with Tent Guys.

Moving Thanksgiving Outside for 2021

Given the recent uptick in cases due to the Delta variant, we totally understand if your in-person Thanksgiving plans are being delayed or getting moved outside. Even if you and your loved ones are fully vaccinated, the CDC says the Delta variant can still be spread among groups of people if they’ve been exposed. Stay safe by testing ahead of time before travel, limiting exposure to the public in the 14 days leading up to the holiday gatherings, and try to plan celebrations during the day, outside.

We have all of your rental needs to move the party outside and stay comfortable, no matter the cold or weather conditions. Airflow and UV rays are essential to diluting the virus, and moving outside ensures that there’s plenty of room for 6 or more feet of social distancing. 

Traveling home is going to be the biggest risk for the holidays. Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times of the year and poses a big opportunity to be exposed to COVID. If you must travel, traveling via car is the safest option to be exposed to the least amount of people. 

Make sure your whole group is on board with the same levels of precautions. Respect the masking or vaccination requests of your hosts. If your loved ones weren’t able to quarantine or test before attending, encourage mask-wearing indoors or while in close proximity. Be a good host by providing plenty of disposable masks, hand sanitizer, and soap at all sinks. 

Set up tables at least 6 feet apart, and have ‘visitor chairs’ placed 6 feet from each table so visitors from separate households can still mingle safely. Avoid communal appetizers, platters, or buffet style food. Instead, put appetizers on each table, and assign one or two people to plate everyone’s meal, and deliver accordingly. 

Shelter your guests with our variety of tent rentals. Whether you have a gathering of 20 or 200, we have a whole range of tent sizes to accommodate your celebration. If the weather is cold, add sidewalls to your tent and consider heating, if needed. If it’s just chilly outside, patio heaters are the perfect way to warm up your guests while keeping the celebrations simple.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

2021 marks the 95th year of the Thanksgiving Day Parade! The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the world’s largest parade and takes place in New York City on Thanksgiving Day. While their crew is preparing to showcase their signature amazing helium balloons, floats, performers, and the man of the hour himself — Santa Claus! — you’re going to want to plan out your showing party! This year is extra exciting because public viewing among the parade route is back.

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade took place in 1924 in New York City’s Herald Square. The parade traditionally follows a 2.5 mile route through Manhattan. Last year due to COVID-19, the parade was rerouted to only have performances staged around Herald Square. For those who dearly love the tradition of watching the Thanksgiving parade, whether, for the fun balloons or seeing all the icons and performances of American pop culture, you won’t want to miss anything. 

You can watch the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC from 9 am to noon in all time zones on November 25th. If you’re watching from home with family, make sure you have the perfect brunch and TV set-up for everyone to enjoy the parade. Set up a TV outside, or project the parade onto a free house wall for all to watch. 

Celebrate Virtually

If nothing else, living in a pandemic has taught us how to socialize and gather online, and become masters of Zoom and FaceTime. Schedule a time, ensure everyone has the link, and gather with friends and family online. If you want to eat dinner together, here are a few ideas to make everyone feel closer:

● Share a recipe beforehand, and have everyone make the same dish. Even better if you snag grandma’s best casserole recipe!

● Share your best fall cocktail or appetizer recipe. Host a happy hour with friends or family.

● If you live near your family and friends, prepare and no-contact deliver individual dishes before the meal, like a pie, and then eat together online. 

● If everyone lives in the same region, support a local restaurant by ordering their Thanksgiving meal to go. Make sure you order ahead of time for the restaurants closed on Thanksgiving Day. If you’re all in different regions, choose your favorite chain or get takeout from your favorite restaurant that you’re thankful for feeding you and making it through the pandemic. 

Host a Drive-By Thanksgiving Feast

If your loved ones are high-risk and an in-person gathering just isn’t in the books this year, consider hosting a drive-by Thanksgiving dinner. Safely prepare food in your home, individually plate and wrap, and then set up a drive-by table for family and friends to pick up a plate. Recruit extra help from friends and family, and you can host a safe, yet enjoyable event where everyone still gets a delicious plate of food to enjoy. 

Activate Feast Mode with Tent Guys

Thanksgiving is our favorite meal of the year and we’re ready to get our eat on! Similar to last year, we may be celebrating a little differently, but food can always bring us together. The best of Thanksgiving will remain roasted turkey, delicious side dishes and casseroles that steal the show, and of course, an assortment of pies you have to make room for even after finishing off a full plate. If you’re hosting this year, Tent Guys have everything to make you the hostess with the most-ess!

 You’re going to want to make sure your guests are comfortable, happy, and enjoying themselves, but you have enough on your plate already if you’re hosting! Don’t worry about where everyone will sit, if there’s enough flatware, or not having enough table space — Thanksgiving event rentals can save the day and ease your stress! Tent Guys has everything you need, delivered right to your home so that you don’t have to worry about everyone having a great time!

Tables and chairs: You have to have a stage before you can set it! The table is where it all comes together for Thanksgiving dinner, so make sure you have plenty of space and seating. From standing-only cocktail tables, which are perfect for appetizers and drinks, to rectangular, round, or farm-style tables seated with chiavari chairs, padded chairs, or even farm table benches, we can make sure everyone has a place to sit, with your style in mind. Make sure you rent chairs and tables for all of your guests, plus a few extra spots for tagalong guests. 

Linens: Up the fancy by going all out with linen tablecloths and napkins. You can choose from our 30+ colors, stick to classic black or white, or aim for holiday colors like Burnt Orange, Copper, or Gold. Party experts recommend setting up your Thanksgiving table the night before, that way you can focus on cooking and enjoying your company the day of.

Dinnerware: We are excited to announce that we now offer the full range of chargers, silverware, glasses, a range of plates, salad plates, martini glasses, champagne flutes, and coups, as well as serving bowls. The same with seating, make sure you have plenty of extra flatware for serving and providing your guests with multiple utensils for different courses. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen washing dishes when you could be spending time with family. Rent enough of what you need so this isn’t an issue!

Not hosting this year or attending a Thanksgiving meal? Don’t forget to gift your hostess!

Thanksgiving is truly about showing up, being with those you love, and expressing gratitude for how grateful you are to have everyone in your life. Certainly, many of us know someone (or maybe that someone) who has had a particularly tough year. Maybe you want to say thanks to the unsung heroes in your life, from your children’s teachers, your mail carriers, or delivery drivers. It never hurts to bring a little something for your host, hostess, or the people in your life helping make the holiday happen! 

Pulling together a Thanksgiving menu is no joke, so here are some small gift ideas to acknowledge your thanks for how much you appreciate their hard work. 

● Bring a bottle of wine, liquor, champagne, or a case of beer

Dress up your gift with a cheery tote or ribbon. A bottle of bubbly is never unwelcome, and it’s ready to pop open to celebrate a day of cooking or later on for a job well done.

● Gift a holiday candle

Pumpkin, apple spice, fir needles, cedarwood, and sandalwood are all perfect scents that bring the smells of the holiday into the home. Candles are typically a perfect host gift, especially if they’re trying to keep their home smelling great despite all the traffic!

● Add a handwritten card with a Thanksgiving quote or favorite verse for the finishing touch

It’s a great year to let those you love know how much you appreciate them and their presence in your life. Sometimes the gift of words is worth more than a material gift.

Get together with loved ones this Thanksgiving 2021 with help from Tent Guys.

Ease your Thanksgiving stress by reserving quality event rentals ahead of time. You can rent tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, and more, and we deliver the day before your event, giving you plenty of time to set up, cook, and clean up at your own pace. At Tent Guys, we love nothing more than bringing people together! If we can help you organize your Thanksgiving celebration by providing all the essentials, contact us! We look forward to working with you this holiday season!