Many of us are faced with redefining our social gatherings, an extra challenge during a month when, it seems, everyone comes out of the woodwork for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating. We asked Woodstock resident Debbie Nickerson, who organizes events for her community, to share some ideas for keeping fall a festive time, in a safe way. We hope you get inspiration from the photos of decorated pumpkins from the neighborhood’s 2019 Halloween party! The artistic creator of the second-place winner sliced a white pumpkin horizontally, then put it back together with a few embellishments.
Ideas for Gathering Safely
The need for social interaction is basic for people of all ages. You can tweet, post, email and zoom all you want, but nothing beats human contact. Our neighborhood is filled with empty-nesters from all over the country. Free from the carpool, soccer practice, harried life of our younger identities, we have found that we like to play with others!
How can we meet this need for social interaction, especially in the wake of a pandemic and keep socially distant? Theodore Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” A good start is to walk in your neighborhood, if you have a neighborhood directory, send out an invitation to all residents to walk at a designated time. You will be surprised who comes out of their house. Stop and chat, keeping your distance, of course!
Autumn is the perfect time for outdoor activities, which adds a level of safety to our get togethers. Block off a cul de sac for a cornhole tournament or a street dance. Hire a food truck to come to the neighborhood, turn on some music and enjoy the night. Scavenger hunts, pumpkin or scarecrow-decorating contests, wine tasting, telling spooky stories by the fire pit or just talking to your neighbors will do wonders for your sense of well-being.
Let’s not waste this beautiful fall season … carpe diem … being socially distant naturally.
– Debbie Nickerson
Leave a Reply