There’s no arguing that COVID-19 has changed almost all aspects of our lives. One area it forced us to adapt the most is what we do for entertainment. Unfortunately, fall is my favorite time of year, I usually love the idea of going to haunted houses going trick or treating and attending large Halloween parties with my friends. Although some of my favorite fall activities can still happen with COVID, I’ve welcomed the idea of trying to come up with other activities that are COVID friendly. Here are my favorite three. 

1. Flag football 

When I think of fall, I think of the start of football season. Although people played flag football before COVID-19, flag football is a good activity that can involve many people without the heightened worry of someone transmitting COVID-19. Flag football is also a good option because you can involve friends who don’t want to play tackle while keeping the game competitive for those who take it very seriously. The availability of parks with fields in St. Louis Park also provides you with a plethora of locations where you can play at. 

2. Outdoor movie 

Watching outdoor movies has been one of the most creative activities I’ve done. I usually love watching scary movies in the house with a lot of my friends, but COVID-19 has largely prevented indoor gatherings. The idea is that you take a projector and project a movie onto a wall or fence, or hang up a big white sheet to project it onto. This can be really fun for Halloween if you set up bean bags, chairs and blankets to have your friends over for a spooky gathering and horror movie in your backyard. The best part of this idea is that it’s pretty affordable and improves on the haunted movie experience instead of simply being a compromise that isn’t as good. 

3. Cooking over bonfires

Traditionally, s’mores are the go-to option for any time you have friends over for a bonfire in the backyard. However, there is an abundance of meals and desserts you can make while enjoying a nice fire with your friends. For people who are looking for a low maintenance project, cooking hot dogs or s’mores are probably your safest bet. If you’re looking for a challenge, you can make chile or a dutch oven dessert cake or many other recipes. The nice thing about doing a bonfire is that you can pair it with other activities, such as watching an outdoor movie or after a fun game of flag football. Regardless of whether you’re looking to make an actual meal or just a simple snack, a bonfire can be a source of lots of fall fun for you and your friends. 

These activities would not usually be my first choice, but the pandemic calls for us to adapt from our usual fall repertoires. We have to think outside of the box to find fun and exciting things to get us through these difficult times.