COVID-19 has completely flipped society’s view on summer plans and what they have always entailed. When thinking of summer, most think about enjoying the warm weather with friends and family. With COVID-19 restrictions, the original summer that a lot of people have been waiting for may not be feasible. However, there is a way to enjoy your time off from school safely.
Summer fests canceled
Festivals that scream summer like Coachella and StageCoach have been canceled since June of 2020. The ongoing struggle of COVID-19 cases rising and falling has made the creators of events, such as concerts, postpone or cancel for the safety of their fans.
Thousands of musicians and bands have had to cut their tours short or will not have one whatsoever due to the pandemic. These musicians range from the classics like Bon Jovi and Elton John to new artists like Doja Cat and The Weeknd.
Some bands have relocated their tours and concerts to larger arenas for fans to spread out. Maroon 5 has announced their 2021 tour dates starting on Sept. 10 at Madison Square Garden.
StarEvents’ plan for summer
Numerous companies have stepped up to provide a COVID-safe summer plan for their fans. StarEvents, a Chicago-based company, has hundreds of events they’re hosting throughout the summer of 2021 to provide the slight feeling of music, food and friends all in the same place.
Events like RiotFest, Clark After Dark and SouthPort Art Fest are all held through StarEvents in different cities around the Chicagoland area. They are COVID-19 certified and provide health checks upon entrance, contactless payment, sanitization areas and extra space between booths. Masks and social distancing are required at all events.
Students’ summer plans
If you find yourself not to be a Chicago lover, there are a ton of activities that students plan on partaking in during break. Julia Siston’s, ‘24, summer plans include “a lot of outdoor activities like hammocking, hiking, swimming and biking,” all of which she found to appreciate during quarantine last year.
Seniors were robbed of their final year at NCC, but there is always the next step, and the COVID-19 pandemic cannot stop that. Arianna Jones, ’21, is pursuing “job applications in hopes for a more secure job before applying for graduate school at Erikson Institute,” where she plans to complete a Master of Science in Child Development, with a Child Life concentration.
Don’t throw away the great weather and sunshine that summer provides due to a pandemic. Restrictions can be tight but there are ways to make the most of your summer while being safe. Look forward to your future and learn more about possible steps you can take or sit back and relax to some music and great food. To learn more about COVID-19 and summer restrictions, visit NCC’s COVID-19 website.
