COVID-19 Changing Holiday Plans for Families in Stevens Point
December 10, 2020
In Stevens Point, one of the most popular events in the holiday season is the town’s holiday parade. The Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that this parade filled with music, dancing, candy, fire trucks, and a grand finale with Santa Clause himself will all sadly not be part of Stevens Point holiday celebrations this year.
With community events on pause and large gatherings prohibited, this year the celebrations will be focused on smaller family gatherings. Griffin Slowinski, a Junior at SPASH stated that “My family won’t be able to get together because of all of this going around”. He later noted that although he can’t see his extended family because of large group restrictions, he’s only able to spend this holiday season with only his immediate family. Family gatherings don’t have to be cancelled, but just cut back to immediate family.
Traveling poses a higher risk during this time and with many families choosing to travel during the holidays or have family traveling to them, many will possibly reconsider their normal holiday traveling ordeal. Many of this traveling is also happening over longer distances. The question many people are speculating is if it is still safe to fly. April Fulton, a NPR reporter stated in an interview “planes are pretty safe …It’s actually more risky to be at the airport, especially if it’s crowded. If it all seems like too much work, remember, staying home is your safest bet.” Thus, flying and planes aren’t too risky themselves, but being in a crowded airport acts as a significant risk. Staying home overall seems to be the best option during this pandemic even though this may mean not seeing some greatly missed family members.
In the end, this whole pandemic has caused lots of things to shift into an offbeat pattern, dissimilar to all the usual things we enjoy so much during this time of year . No more holiday parades or community events, no more large family gatherings, traveling with family, or the usual holiday parties. All of this makes this holiday season especially very unique and not necessarily in a favorable way. Keegan McKinley-Chapin, a SPASH student even cleverly stated “I’m probably going to get more cards in the mail this year”. Although this is a comical point, it really does show how different even the little things this holiday season will be.
Though most families can still be together in smaller numbers, it is still a shame that so many things are different. Our normal holiday traditions whether with your annual family traditions or traditions in the community individuals annually attend, will have to be on hold until next year.
Anthony Vang • Jan 21, 2021 at 10:15 AM
Isa, I have to agree that changing holiday plans did affect my family. It did go negative to positive since my sisters came to celebrate with us.
Colby Hintz • Dec 16, 2020 at 3:49 PM
Isa, I really like how, instead of just spitting out facts for us to try and figure out for ourselves, you connected to the audience on a more emotional level. I felt like I could really connect to this article because, of course, I live in the Stevens Point area, but I could connect to it because you helped us understand what you were saying using feelings and how different people felt about this subject.
adviser • Dec 15, 2020 at 7:53 AM
I really like how covid-19 is affecting during the holiday plans with their families. I also liked how we are not going to see holiday parades, and how traveling can be risky for a lot people.
Katrina Cisewski • Dec 13, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Isa, I agree that Covid is changing holiday plans for many families across Stevens Point. We typically have our immediate family over on Christmas Eve; however, this year due to Covid, we are not able to have 25 people at our home because we need to be safe and the virus could affect our grandparents more significantly. We might have to celebrate virtually.I feel it is important that we look out for others in our community. If we are safe now, we can get back to ¨normal¨ someday soon.
Olivia Schultz • Dec 10, 2020 at 1:31 PM
I really liked how you mainly directed the focus to people in Stevens Point because it will connect to the majority of your readers. Also adding specific things in Stevens Point that covid has changed our town for the holidays. Your writing was very professional which I really admired. Interviewing some people our age was a very good addition. I loved it!
ben raczek • Dec 10, 2020 at 12:29 PM
It really sucks that the holidays will be different this year. I agree that it doesn’t have to get cancelled, only cut back. Its important to stay safe during the holidays. With the community cancelling the parade, they are trying to keep the citizens safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dylan Williams • Dec 10, 2020 at 10:41 AM
Isa, this is a great topic to talk about. I as well go to visit family, however it is easier as it is only a 45 minute drive. For some, they do need planes and such, which makes it very hard for them as it could be a difficult desicion. I agree that it is very to care for your health, but families this year are definitely going through a hardship, especially the ones who only see eachother once a year.