The year 2020 will probably go down in history as one of the strangest years of our generation. A global pandemic has sent us into a tailspin changing everything from the way we work, go to school, shop, and more.
Schools encourage home schooling and distance learning and employers transitioned their in-office staff to telecommuters. If you’ve become one of the many employees that now work from home, you might be craving adventure, fun, and social encounters.
While you may not be driving as much as you used to, due to stay at home orders, your car might be the key to some form of normalcy.
Drive-In Theater
Are you missing the days of getting into the car and catching a blockbuster movie at your local movie theater? Or missing the nights of catching a double feature at the drive-in theater? Well, now you don’t have to! You can create your very own at-home drive-in theater.
To create your at home Drive-In theater:
- Hang a white sheet on your garage or across your driveway and secure each corner and smoothing out any wrinkles so that the sheet is taut.
- Connect a laptop, tablet, or Blu-ray player to your projector.
- Position the projector so that the images are projected perfectly onto the sheet. This may take some experimenting to get it just right.
- Connect wireless speakers to your device, or using your vehicle’s Bluetooth features, pair the device to your car to play the movie’s audio through your car’s sound system.
Because so many theaters have been closed due to quarantine, many movie studios, in hopes of earning a profit have released movies straight to streaming platforms for viewers to watch from the comfort of their own home. Though renting a new-release movie through a streaming service is a bit more expensive than your average rental, you’re not paying the same per person price you would otherwise pay at the theater.
Now that you have your projector all set up and your movie selected, make your drive-in experience extra special with snacks such as fresh popped popcorn, your favorite candy, or nachos and be sure to add pillows and blankets for comfort.
Car Camping
Many family vacations have been postponed or cancelled all together. Instead of traveling, some people have opted to go camping in the northern areas of our state to get away, but with current wildfire dangers, having a campfire is out of the question. If you’re feeling stuck inside your home and want the great outdoor experience, bring it home! Turn your minivan, truck, or SUV into your own campground!
Lay seats down in the rear area of the car and spread sleeping bags out for sleeping. Bring out flashlights and open the back of your minivan or SUV or put the tailgate down on your truck to sit, chat, and tell stories around the campfire.
No campfire? No problem!
Wheel your grill out near the car and roast hot dogs and marshmallows over the open flames. Be sure to supervise children. When it’s time to turn in for the night, be sure to crack your windows to allow some air flow while you sleep.
Car Parade
Though many things have been put on hold and we have not been able to throw any parties or visit our loved ones, milestone and poignant celebrations such as weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and more are still happening.
While it’s not a good idea to host a party, you can still make Grandma feel special on her birthday or make your best friend’s bridal shower a memorable event by hosting a car parade! Contact friends and family and set a special time and place to meet all parade participants prior to beginning the parade. Decorate your car with car-safe paint on the windows, balloons, streamers, signs and posters, or whatever you can think of to make the event special!
Be sure to include noise-makers for the event to create some excitement and interest such as bells, whistles, banging on pots and pans, noisemakers, a bull horn, air horns, and of course, honk the horn in your car.
There’s no limit to how fun and creative you can get with your parade. Remember to be kind to your neighbors and let them know about the parade ahead of time and follow local noise ordinances.
They say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and you can invent your own way of having fun and making memories during this unusual time. We know this year looks different and is something many of us have never experienced, but you can still have fun outdoors by following our guide for an at home drive-in theater, car camping, or a car parade to celebrate special events.
Make the most out of today–the happy moments you make now, make fond memories later.
