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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.  Colorado is Back to School in person! After the 2020-2021 school year there have been a lot of questions about what the new “normal” will be this upcoming year for students. Many of your MBD team members are parents - and we all work with clients who serve and support children and students. Safety and health are very important to us. Below are a few things that the CDC has recommended to ensure the student and staff safety this 2021 school year.  Masks for ages 2+ if not vaccinated. KKTV 11 News wrote that the CDC guidelines say that “Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained.” If vaccinated, schools are asking for proof and then a mask is not required.  Staff, Teachers and Students should stay home if they have any infectious disease. This rule refers to any infectious disease, not just COVID. Colds and flus are on the list for being a required reason to stay at home and they recommend going to see a physician as well. Teachers and staff will continue to have disinfect. Staff and teachers will be supplied with disinfecting spray, to clean high-touch areas regularly.  The circulation of outdoor air inside will continue to be increased. “Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.”[1] [1] https://www.kktv.com/2021/07/21/colorado-health-officials-release-back-to-school-guidance-covid-19/ Schools will continue to “Encouraging frequent hand washing and providing access to hand sanitation stations.”[1] [1] https://www.dcsdk12.org/about/leadership/superintendent/looking_forward_back_to_school_2021-2022  Physical Distancing 3 feet or more. “CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking.”1 We must all work together to keep our schools safe! If we can all follow these guidelines we can prevent the spread of most illnesses throughout our schools and homes. Back to school is here and everyone is excited to return to the classrooms! Check out our Pinterest board for Back to School ideas and tips! https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/back-to-school-ideas/ https://www.denverpost.com/2021/07/20/colorado-school-guidance-covid-masks-vaccines-2021-school-year/ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html   MBD Marketing & Events receives questions nearly daily about what events will look look yet this year. We know everyone is looking for hope and we would love to give it. While we are event experts, we are not health experts or fortune tellers. Here is what we can tell you: We cannot predict how the current global pandemic will play out. The best we can do if follow current government guidelines and plan ahead with no less than 3 plans in place for events. (Plan A, B and C) All of our events in the past year have included hybrid elements to allow for participation remotely for the sake of safety. Come summer 2021, we hope that there will be more opportunity to gather traditionally. We do not anticipate that events will be back to 'normal' this summer. We plan on delivering events with the assumption that there is a 'new normal'. This means: outdoors as much as possible, including square footage calculators as part of our planning metrics, social distancing requirements, PPE supplies, COVID waivers, fewer elements that involve touch, and hybrid elements. We remain hopeful, but cautious. Now is the time where our creativity and ingenuity shines. We LOVE supporting businesses, non-profits and YOU and your life events. Can we have events? YES! How? Leave the careful planning to us!  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
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!
 Wow! 2020 - what a year?! There aren’t quite enough words to describe all of the feelings, emotions, and happenings of this past year. We have a few new words and meanings to add to our vocabularies and vernacular - pandemic (not really new, but used more this past year than probably ever before), virtual, socially distanced, hybrid, and Zoom. As event planners, New Year’s Eve is typically the perfect excuse to throw an awesome party! This year we won’t be throwing any huge gatherings or celebrations. 2020 was quite a ride of ups and downs. But - we’ve survived and made it, and that is something worth celebrating! We’ve come up with an extensive list of ways to say good-bye to this dumpster-fire of a year, and welcome in 2021 - what we hope will be a year full of healing, health, and goodness!
However you choose to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021, we at My Big Day Marketing & Events wish you all the best - health, happiness, and fortune in the New Year! 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  Non-Party Holiday Celebration Ideas Not ready for a virtual party but still want to show your employees you appreciate them this season? Check out these ideas for celebrating with them this year – no party needed. 1. High-end holiday gifts. Many employers are finding that the budget for hosting an in-person holiday party can easily cover very nice gifts for each of their employees. Trend forecasters have seen a surge in employer purchases of items like Apple AirPods and bluetooth speakers. Check out Swag in a Box to send custom employee gift boxes with your company’s branding.  2. Virtual group classes. Another trend in COVID-safe holiday experiences for employees is virtual group classes in subjects like cooking and crafting. Classes give employees a chance to bond outside the office, and a cooking class usually costs less per head than catering for your typical holiday office party. 3. Gift exchange. Organize an employee gift exchange via snail mail. Choose a White Elephant theme, or have employees choose gifts they think others would really like. Make sure to set a budget, and use a gift exchange tracking form to stay organized.  4. Virtual beer or wine tasting. Sites like Wine.com send tasting flights to your doorstep. Employees can do the tasting on their own time and view complimentary tasting walk-throughs on the website, or you can set up a virtual meeting for your employees to taste together. Colorado’s own Denver Microbrew Tour offers a structured 90-minute team building beer tasting activity starting at $200. 5. Virtual escape room experience. Colorado’s Conundrum Escape Rooms offers virtual events starting at $75 with a focus on teambuilding. Employees will solve a series of mysteries to “escape” and beat the challenge. Schedule easily online https://www.conundrumescaperooms.com. 
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 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 The MBD team has been extremely fortunate to have some amazing partners who have trusted us with their valued community events. Knowing that we are invested in our community and we still wanted to bring fun to local families, My Big Day worked with Thompson Education Foundation and The Centerra Marketplace to put on some amazing Halloween experiences!  Our socially safe Trick-or-Treat event hosted at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland was a huge success! Over 30 vendor booths, over 40 volunteers, and over 3,000 guests came through on Saturday, October 31st. This event was FREE to the public.  The Halloween Hullabaloo hosted by McWhinney at the Centerra Marketplace provided 7 drive-in movies for FREE for families to enjoy! What a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday, dress up, and enjoy some old fashioned fun! Our good friend, Jen West Photography, captured some photos of the fun over the Halloween weekend. Thank you for supporting our small business while we support others. We love what we do!  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 |
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My Big Day Company LLC 2021 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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