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It’s been over a year now…… It’s been well over a year of pivoting schedules, canceling plans, and re-imagining how we work and play in this new world of Covid-19. Last year, at this time, the decision of whether or not to hold a holiday party was simple -- no one did. In fact - in many parts of the country, we were under strict lockdown orders, and couldn’t have gathered together if we wanted to. The landscape might look a bit different this year, but overall, the looming question remains the same. Is it safe to host a holiday party this winter, 2021? We might be more open, but with covid variants top of mind for many business owners and corporations, many are asking the question - should we hold a holiday party for our employees and teams? 
Safety tips for Celebrating If you do choose to host a holiday celebration with your work crew, we suggest the following Covid Safe planning tips: 1. Remember that Sanitation is TOP priority. Many venues are required to follow strict safety guidelines. Make sure you are communicating these guidelines and rules to your guests. Plan on providing extra masks, extra sanitizer, and extra space for your guests as well.  2. Skip the buffet and other congestive serving mechanisms. People don’t really want to grab an appetizer off of a tray in a room of thousands of people - nor should they! Stay away from champagne towers, punch bowls, and buffet lines. Replace these with chef serving stations, hip vending machines, and pre-packaged or individually-boxed food experiences. Food trucks are very popular -- why not hire a few of these to cater your team’s holiday celebration? 3. Think outside the box -- THINK OUTSIDE Don’t plan your typical office holiday party. How about a Scavenger Hunt that takes your staff on a trip around town? Plan a round of “golf” at one of the Top Golf locations in Northern Colorado. Feeling altruistic? Set up a day of volunteering and give back to the community with your crew. Perhaps even give your entire staff an extra day off to spend any way they please. When it comes to celebrating the holidays - there are no said rules -- you can make it up as you go, and thanks to Covid, you have an excuse to “shake things up” a bit!  Whatever you do - RESEARCH & COMMUNICATE Whatever route you decide to do, it is important that you do two things -- Research and Communicate It will be up to you to know and follow all of the local, state, and federal rules and precautions. Some of these may impact events. Make sure you are following best practices. It would be bad form to host a party that turns out to be a super spreader - that would not be something to celebrate. Communicating your company’s Covid-19’s response and preparedness is vital, too. Not only with the vendors and venue you choose to use for your celebration, but with your employees, too. Let them know what your expectations are for the event, and the steps your organization will be taking to keep them safe. For more information on Larimer County Covid-19 Health protocols and guidance: https://www.larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-community-updates-public-health-orders  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken - by Tiffany Dinsmore With another year ending, the fall and winter festivities are beginning! As always Halloween is kicking off our holiday season! Although there are a lot more events being held this year people are still being cautious and most events are being held outside. Christine Forster with My Big Day Events and Marketing along with Thompson Education Foundation created a way to celebrate Halloween in a safe and easy way with NoCo’s Greatest Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience. It was a huge success for 2020 and they are hoping for another successful event at the end of the October!  I have asked Christine to answer a series of questions to help give some insight on the second year of this event! How long have you been working with TEF? MBD has been working with Thompson Education Foundation for a couple years now. Although Christine and Kim go way back. "We met 17 years ago volunteering for the Downtown Loveland Association." What was your creative process when creating the Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Event last year? "The idea came about quickly and naturally, but when developing the concept, it was crucial to us that we evaluate who all may benefit from partnering with an event such as this, where might the drive-thru traffic be most appreciated, etc. We reached out to other entities to inform them of our concept and to invite others to join in to give families a safe Halloween."  The event must have been a success to do it again this year, what are the fundraising goals for 2021? "When we initially created this, we didn't have a fundraising goal. We wanted to cover expenses of course - but a safe trick-or-treating option for local families was our biggest goal. We were thrilled by the number of sponsors who supported the event last year and have already seen great response this year!" Is there a particular moment or memory from 2020’s event that stands out to you? "Being on the back end of management for the event, watching hundreds of tickets get snagged up in minutes was a real Ticketmaster moment. To know that we had 3,000 people attend the event and thousands more on the waiting list is our top memory for 2020."  Where is the event located this year and how will it be different from the 2020 event? "This year we are taking advantage of the generous access we have to the Thompson School District Administration building. This allows for plenty of space for booths, vendor parking, volunteer parking, regulated entrance/exit flow, and indoor facilities for our staff and volunteers. The event itself will be the same, with the exception of limitations by county and state. Last year we were limited to the number of people we could have 'gather' at an outdoor event, so our booths could only host 2 workers, and we had to limit volunteers and number of cars in attendance by timed interval." What is the biggest challenge that you are facing with putting this event together? "As with any outdoor event, one challenge can be weather. There is always a chance for snow at the end of October. This event will happen rain, shine, or snow. It will only cancel should there be an absolute blizzard. Also, as with any event right now, we are still dealing with a global pandemic. MBD has planned enough events during the pandemic to have plans and processes in place to offer guests, staff and volunteers a safe experience!"  The drive-thru trick-or-treat experience is just $5 per vehicle (no campers or busses). All guests will sign up for a 30 min window of time to arrive. All tickets will need to be purchased online in advance. Booths are available for businesses, non-profits and schools (and each booth comes with 1 free guaranteed entrance to the event). Thank you Christine for inventing such a unique Halloween experience!
 Masks are back and mandatory indoors beginning October 20, 2021 as issued by the Health Dept for Larimer County. With rising cases and full hospitals, it was only a matter of time before the announcement was made.  The new public health order, released Friday afternoon by the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDPHE), calls on everyone aged 3 and up to wear face masks in all indoor public spaces starting at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, regardless of vaccination status. As reported by Denver 7 News: County health officials said Friday local hospital ICUs have been operating at or above 100% capacity for the past month. Currently, 40% of patients in the ICU have COVID-19 and 90% of those are unvaccinated. Their hope is that universal mask wearing will help slow transmission of the highly virulent delta variant until more people get vaccinated. “Larimer County hospitals are being overburdened and we cannot allow this to continue indefinitely,” said Larimer County Public Health Director Tom Gonzales in a prepared statement. “Our hospitals need relief so they can swiftly and adequately treat all urgent medical needs in our community. Universal mask-wearing is the next best prevention tool we have to reduce the strain on our hospitals.” Data from the Larimer County COVID-19 dashboard shows 35% of the county has yet to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The data also shows the county reported an average of 250+ cases per 100,000 people over the past month. LCDPHE officials said the public health order will remain in place until the county has met the following metrics for 21 consecutive days: 1. Less than 65 COVID-19 patients in Larimer County hospitals 2. ICU capacity at less than 90% of usual and customary levels 3. A 7-day case rate of less than 300 cases per 100,000 people. 4. A 7-day positivity rate of less than 10%. Larimer County will become the fifth Colorado county to reinstate mask mandates as cases of the novel virus continue to increase across the state due to the highly transmissible delta variant. read the entire health order HERE  What does this mean for your theater tickets or holiday party? If you are gathering indoors, you will need to wear a mask. This order is in effect until numbers go down. Social distnacing and sanitizing is still recommended. Recent research has also shown us recommendations on types of masks in order of effectiveness. Quality mask reminders Especially in higher risk situations, use the best-quality and best-fitting mask you can get. The highest quality masks are designed and tested to ensure they meet a standard. That means they perform at a consistent level to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The highest quality, in order, are:
 Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken The MBD Marketing & Events team supports a number of non-profits across the front range who serve families and children. Knowing that Halloween is just around the corner, and COVID is still here at full strength, we are getting tons of questions around event safety. While we are event experts, we are not the CDC. We follow our county, state and government recommendations closely so that we can help our clients make educated decisions. If you are wondering what you can do to safely enjoy Fall Festivities, this blog is for you!  Summer is almost over and with the Fall season right around the corner it is not too soon to start thinking about Halloween. In 2020 our entire world was rocked by the pandemic with most of our favorite events and activities canceled or closed. So for 2021 we are wondering, will we be able to check everything off our Autumn Bucket List in a way that is safe? 1. Outdoor Gatherings are the Safest We have all been told that being outdoors is the best way to be in larger groups of people. If we can keep our distance and we are outside, we do not even need to wear masks! According to an article from USA Today, experts said “that activities such as visiting a pumpkin patch, going apple picking and other outdoor events generally pose a lower risk for you and your family.”[1] Thank goodness for the AMAZING Fall weather we have in Colorado! Tons of outdoor time is possible here. [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/09/11/halloween-hayrides-experts-explain-covid-risks/8276516002/  2. Halloween Themed Masks are Fun and Safe! Wearing a mask on or around Halloween has been a popular thing to do long before COVID entered our lives. Luckily now your fun or spooky Halloween mask. Can also help protect you and others at Halloween events and parties! Prevention.com informs us that, “Halloween costumes actually originated from the ancient Celtic tradition of dressing up to ward off wandering spirits on October 31—so this might be the only year when doctors and druids alike agree that your costume is necessary to keep you safe.”[2] [2] https://www.prevention.com/health/g33584965/halloween-face-masks-covid-coronavirus/  3. Vaccinations We' are all aware of the available vaccine. And soon it could be available for children. According to a Forbes article “Vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 could potentially come as soon as October under a “best case scenario,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief who serves on Pfizer’s board.”[3] [3] https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/09/12/covid-vaccines-for-kids-could-be-approved-by-halloween-under-best-case-scenario-gottlieb-suggests/?sh=30260500378a  4. Find Alternative Ways to Stay Festive From Halloween movie marathons to decorating the house as spooky as you’d like, you can get creative with how you celebrate Fall and Halloween festivities. A fun way to celebrate with your neighbors and friends from a distance is “Boo-ing” them! Click here on more information on how to “BOO!” https://indywithkids.com/how-to-boo/[4] [4] https://indywithkids.com/how-to-boo/  5. Attend Noco’s Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat A socially distanced Halloween for families, with something for everyone. Picture a reverse parade! Kids can trick-or-treat safely from their car window. Families will slowly drive through a long series of Halloween scenes decorated by local businesses, schools and nonprofits. COVID safety measures will be in place. Last year this event sold out in just 5 minutes, so we recommend you follow the TEF FB event page to learn about ticket sale date/time. *This is a fundraiser for Thompson Education Foundation. Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/140202334926374?active_tab=about  Covid Response - Events during the Delta Variant
Events during a global pandemic This past year and a half, the events industry has had to learn to adapt quickly. Shifting on the fly from fully in-person to full cancellations to hybrids to covid safe events has been a metamorphosis to behold. The change in dynamics within our company alone has been amazing to witness. And while we can all agree it has been one of the most challenging periods, the growth that we have seen - both personally and professionally - has been life and business-changing. We (My Big Day Marketing & Events) have learned a lot during the pandemic. We have discovered how to creatively manage and pivot live, in-person events, into exciting and engaging virtual and hybrid events. We have figured out ways to deliver points of connection for our communities and clients in covid-safe events when it hasn’t been safe to gather together. And while we are more than ready to be back together, celebrating weddings, anniversaries, business milestones, and community accomplishments live and in-person, we know that we can continue to do so in creative ways until it is safe to do so together in one place. Our Covid-Safe Practices Event planning begins months and sometimes over a year out. We have been living and workin moment by moment, day by day, following every recommendation and order by our counties, our state and the CDC. Our clients are counting on us to help them decide what events to keep and how to 'get creative.' We are making sure that we are keeping our clients and our employees safe by implementing and following all CDC recommended guidelines and best practices for events that take place in person. This means we are:
 How We Are Planning for the Fall and Beyond Typically during this time of year, our workload consists of venue tours and vendor meetings for the busy upcoming holiday party season. And while our calendars are still filling up with community events, non-profit fundraisers and weddings, many of these are hopeful events for later, reaching further into 2022. Unfortunately, we are feeling the effects of this latest surge in hospitalizations due to the Delta Covid Variant. With the new CDC recommendations that everyone - regardless of vaccination status wear masks indoors, businesses and corporations are rethinking their holiday parties and celebrations. Many are canceling. Our own MBD team is even considering hosting a virtual holiday party happy hour instead of gathering together, just to play it safe. Moving Forward As we move forward, we will continue to create events with multiple scenarios in mind. We aim to have a plan A, B, and sometimes a C in place -- just in case lockdowns, restrictions, and other regulations are put in place by the government and local agencies. Part of being an event planner means being prepared for anything and everything. This is the nature of the job. We must say, however, that it is getting somewhat tiresome, trying to keep up with all of the constant changes that this pandemic has thrust upon our society and industry as a whole. We have had to add the title of “community health expert” to our role, and that is a hefty expectation to fill. We are learning on the fly - and we’re just as scared and confused as the next person. That is why we rely on experts to lead and guide our decisions. We have learned a lot over the last year - a lot of new, exciting, and somewhat scary stuff. We hope that if we can continue to apply what we have learned, listen to each other, and follow guidelines with each other’s health and safety in mind - we’ll find that normal we are all so desperately wanting again. 
3. Order delivery or grab some takeout for a date night in Bring the restaurant date night to you. Order in delivery or takeout from your favorite romantic restaurant - even fancy steakhouses and seafood restaurants are offering takeout during the pandemic. If you want to go all out, recreate the restaurant atmosphere at home with tablecloths, your best plates and glassware, and some candles and flowers to set the mood. If you don’t live with your partner, you can still enjoy the meal together via video chat. You can even surprise your S.O. (significant other) with the romantic meal by ordering the food ahead of time to be delivered to them. Most restaurants with their own delivery system will offer this, as do Uber Eats’ share system and Grubhub. 4. Shop local gifts Show your partner and struggling local businesses some love this year by choosing unique gifts from a small shop in your area. If you’re worried about going inside, many small businesses are offering curbside pickup, and some have even set up online ordering with shipping. If you live in NoCo, check out MBD’s local-centric Valentine’s Day gifts Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/valentines-day-gifts/ full of unique products from Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and more.  5. Stream a virtual concert Virtual concerts are still happening - more than ever. If concerts are a favorite date night pastime for you, now you can recreate the music fan experience at home. You can now easily search Google for a list of upcoming virtual concerts. SongKick also has a great list you can bookmark: https://www.songkick.com/live-stream-concerts of live streaming concerts with times. Clear the living room for slow dancing (or a mosh pit, if that’s more your vibe), have an in-home concert “tailgate,” and have your favorite concert drinks on hand. 6. Make chocolate fondue Chocolate and romance go hand-in-hand, and nothing is more romantic than melted chocolate with fruit or sweets. You may not feel comfortable going to your favorite fondue restaurant this year, but you can bring the fondue experience home. You can buy a fondue pot online for as little as $15 these days, grab a box of strawberries, melt a bag of chocolate chips, and voilà.
8. Send Valentines through snail mail Maybe you’re in a long distance relationship, or maybe you just want to surprise your partner with a note or two left around the house. Either way, handwritten notes are a romantic tradition that go a long way in today’s world of text messages and Snapchats. Take your time writing (practice that cursive?) and, if you’re mailing your Valentine, use your nicest stationery or take some time to personalize what you have. Doodles or notes in the margins will make these keepsakes even more memorable, and you’ll love looking back on them together down the road.  9. Serve your loved one breakfast in bed Surprise breakfast in bed is basically never a bad idea, if you ask us. Sneak out of bed early to prepare your loved one’s favorite meal (pizza is fine for breakfast, by the way) and surprise them with it. Alternatively, cook breakfast together, then head back to bed to enjoy your culinary creations and spend the day being couch bed potatoes. 10. Connect virtually If you can’t be together this Valentine’s Day, carve out some time to connect virtually. Phone calls, video calls, and virtual activities like an online class or Netflix movie party are an easy way to show someone you’re thinking of them. Other ideas include eating a meal or sharing a glass of wine “together,” live streaming the same concert, or solving a virtual escape room.  11. Get outdoors together Coloradoans are known for our love of the outdoors, so take to one of your local trails or head up to the mountains with your partner for a romantic outing in nature. Hold hands, have intimate conversations, take in the scenery, practice teamwork, and boost your health all in one date. Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken We know there are many families who will not be gathering together over the holidays this year. Even though families won't physically be together, there are still ways to honor special traditions and celebrate with one another, virtually! Here are some ideas to spruce up your family’s online celebrations this year:
If crazy dress up is not your style, use this gathering as an excuse to ditch the covid sweatpants and fix yourself up a bit! 
Create a Christmas BINGO game, Christmas Pictionary, or a Christmas Scavenger Hunt. The possibilities are endless!
My Big Day was proud to be asked to help pull together a new way to pull off a historic event in Old Town Fort Collins, the Realities for Children NightLights Tree Lighting. A 23 year old tradition embraced by the community, we knew that COVID was going to make re-inventing this loved event quite a challenge.  With the help of many community partners, we were able to pull of a spectacular Live Stream of the NightLights tree lighting, with thousands of live viewers and impressive donations to this deserving charity serving Northern Colorado. If you aren't familiar with Realities for Children, you should be. Realities For Children provides for the unmet needs of northern Colorado children who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk. We do this by providing emergency funding, youth activities, critical distributions and collaboration resources for our Partner Youth Agencies. Realities For Children was incorporated in 1995 and has been funding the unmet needs of Larimer County children who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk since 1996. Currently, Realities For Children supports the services of 39 Partner Youth Agencies and represents nearly 250 Business Members invested in making it their business to make a difference.
The many amazing businesses and talented folks who made this fundraiser possible include:
Below are some photos captured by Craig Vollmer of the Live Stream event. You can continue to support Realities and their NightLights fundraiser all December long HERE: https://www.realitiesforchildren.com/events/night-lights/ Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken  Looking for some ideas on how to host Thanksgiving, but need assistance getting creative during a global pandemic? My Big Day has a helpful list for you! Keep it small - The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is with just your immediate family. Traveling is still considered risky - hotels, airports, planes, and gas stations are more crowded during the holidays. Hold your immediate loved ones close and sit down for an intimate dinner featuring everyone’s favorites. Swap recipes - Try something new and feel closer to your family at the same time by swapping recipes with grandma via email or text. The 2020 holiday season may leave your relatives – particularly the older and more vulnerable – feeling lonely. Involve them by reaching out for recipes or decorating tips and spending time on a phone or video call while you’re cooking. Go virtual - In addition to individual video and phone calls, many creative planners are already gearing up to host Thanksgiving dinner virtually on a simultaneous video call. Invite friends and family (you can even send a paper invitation, if you want to be fancy) to gather around the (virtual) table and eat together. After all, what would Thanksgiving be without Aunt Judy’s unsolicited advice and Grandma’s etiquette corrections?  Enjoy already-COVID-friendly traditions - There are plenty of Thanksgiving activities that are already COVID-friendly: watching parades and sports on TV, playing family board games, and going for a walk or run post-turkey. Others can be modified, i.e. moving your Black Friday shopping online this year. Give thanks - There are countless activities to be found online (check out My Big Day’s “Saying Thank You” Pinterest board [https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/saying-thank-you/] for some of our favorite ways to say thanks) to encourage kids and adults alike to express what they are grateful for. It is especially important this year to remember what we do have, when so much seems missing or different. You may surprise yourself and find that you appreciate Thanksgiving this year all the more for its simplicity and quality time at home.  Finally, if you must invite someone from outside your household: Host outdoors - Try moving your festivities outdoors (weather permitting). Not only is it a fun change of pace to spend the day outdoors in the fresh air, it reduces the risk of COVID spreading among your party. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a barbecue-style Thanksgiving dinner.  Clean before and after - This is another one that’s important if you’re hosting a guest from outside your home. You’ll want to be extra-diligent this year about cleaning your home and, especially, dinner table before and after your guest arrives. Make sure you take the same approach to bathrooms and doorknobs, known as high-touch areas. Ask guests to wash their hands before they come to your house, and use hand sanitizer when they arrive and periodically throughout the day. Consider a buffet - By far the safest way to host a meal this season is to have each guest serve themselves. Have clean utensils and a plate already set out for each guest, so they can bring them to the buffet rather than reaching into a shared utensil cup or stack of dishes. Consider using disposable utensils, plates, and napkins, or for an eco-friendly approach, ask guests to bring their own place setting from home that they’ll take with them when they leave. Also encourage guests to clean up after themselves by having a foot-touch or already open trash can ready for any unfinished tidbits of food. Mask up - It may feel extreme, but you can reduce the risk of COVID spreading to your family and friends by having everyone wear a mask except when eating or drinking. Remember, the more alcohol people consume, the less likely they are to wear a mask or to wear one properly. If you don’t want to spend the day dishing out reminders, it may be best to limit the alcohol this year.  Get tested and stay home if you have symptoms - Guests who are traveling should get tested before hopping on an airplane and travel only if they have a negative test and no symptoms, to minimize risk to others. The same goes for hosts: Even if dinner is an hour away and the turkey is in the oven, the safest option for everyone is to cancel. Here is a list of symptoms to watch out for:
Stay safe, be creative, and enjoy this (unusual) Thanksgiving!  Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken |
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My Big Day Company LLC 2006-2022 www.MyBigDayCompany.com
970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 EMAIL US
We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken
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