In a normal year, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer as millions of people head to beaches, parks and backyards to take part in any of a number of fun activities. But with much of the United States being on some form of lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19, celebrations are likely going to look very different this time around.
While it may be tempting to rush back to normal life as the temperature rises and we get an extra day off, it’s still important to be cautious and take precautions to avoid the further spread of the disease.
Social distancing, masks and smaller groups are essential to cutting down on the number of infections. But that doesn’t mean Memorial Day has to be canceled outright. It just means we have to be a little more creative!
In case you were looking for some ideas of safe and fun ways to celebrate Memorial Day while still social distancing, we’ve got you covered with a few.
Finding ways to exercise and get fresh air are crucial to everyday life, especially when so many of us are working from home and hardly going anywhere else. While walking is definitely a good start, and going for a run is even better, going for a bike ride can help you get a workout in while and explore. You can get a chance to revisit old stomping grounds and maybe even find new places you never noticed before.
Feel free to make a group gathering out of it and invite some family or friends who are up for the trip. Just be sure to wear a mask and avoid getting too close to anyone else you come across.
Grilling isn’t completely off the table this year. You just have to be especially considerate of shared space and food.
For example, it may be standard practice to grill out in the backyard and lay all of the food out on a table for people to grab as they want. Well, that could expose a lot of people to unnecessary risks by grabbing food from the same surfaces.
Dr. Jen Caudle even suggests letting people bring their own food to make sure it doesn’t come into contact with anyone else.
If you’re interesting some healthy food and snack ideas, check out a list we published full of ideas.
It’s a tradition for some people to take part in races like 10Ks or half marathons on holidays and Memorial Day is no exception. However, putting thousands of people close together on a trail as they all breathe on each other isn’t really the best idea right now.
While it’s not the same as running with a lot of people on a designated trail, some organizations are letting people join in by running the same distance they would in an official race and share their experience on social media.
Here’s a full list of virtual races you can still sign up for!
As movie theaters are mostly close or operating at minimum capacity drive-in theaters have seen a major rise in attendance. This allows people to stay in their cars and far away from each other, while still enjoying a communal experience and watching some entertaining films.
But if you can’t find a drive-in theater nearby, don’t worry. With a little creativity and hard work, you can set up your own theater in your driveway or backyard for a marathon. All you need is a projector and some speakers and you’re good to go!
Memorial Day is meant to honor those who lost their lives while serving their country. Staying safe and sheltering in place is no reason to neglect this opportunity. If you have anyone you lost that you’d like to honor, you can reflect and share stories and memories of them with other loved ones.
But if you’d like to extend this honor to any veterans who are still with us, you can borrow the popular activity of hosting your own parade to celebrate them. Feel free to organize a string of cars and drive past the house of any veterans you know and bring some joy to their day.
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