Coronavirus: What activities can you do this Memorial Day weekend?

It’s the unofficial start to summer! But what activities can Ohioans safely take part in this weekend to celebrate, while maintaining current social distancing guidelines?

We’ve got a few ideas...

Have a (small) BBQ

• Gatherings of under 10 people are permitted, so long as guests remain 6 feet apart and practice other guidelines laid out by Gov. DeWine.
• Just make sure you set up the proper seating to accommodate these guidelines, and implement safe practices while preparing food.

Go for a swim

• Beautiful weather is expected for most of the weekend! [full forecast here]
• However, while pools were permitted to open by Gov. DeWine, the majority of local community pools opted to remain closed for the 2020 season. See our list here of open and closed pools.
• For those with access to a personal pool, as long as social distancing is practiced, it should be warm enough to swim. Bodies of natural water will likely be too cold, though, due to recent low temperatures.

Go out to eat

• Restaurants are now permitted for business both outdoors and indoors, so if you don’t feel like grilling out yourself, you can now eat out again.
• However, many restaurants have not yet reopened, due to needing to adhere to several regulations to do so. It is recommended that patrons call their restaurant of choice ahead of time, because 1) They may not be open, and 2) If they are open, they could have a long wait time due to limited seating (to accommodate for social distancing).
• It’s going to be beautiful weather, though, so it may be the perfect weekend to enjoy some of Dayton’s best patio dining.

Go to the drive-in

• Already a naturally ‘social-distanced’ activity, drive-in theaters across the country are making a comeback during the pandemic.
• Here locally, the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton is back open for business, and will be offering two double features this weekend: – Bloodshot (with Vin Diesel) and Bad Boys for Life (with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence)on Screen 1, and Onward/Call of the Wild on Screen 2.

Drive-ins great option for safe Memorial Day fun Drive-ins great option for safe Memorial Day fun

• They ask that you park closer to the parking poles than in the middle of a space to allow for more distance between cars. Guests are still permitted to watch the movie from outside their vehicle, but the concession stand options will be limited.

Visit a lost loved one

• In the true spirit of the holiday, Ohioans are still permitted and encouraged to honor lost loved ones this weekend.
• The majority of Ohio cemeteries, and other forms of final resting places, remain open. Visitors are just encouraged to practice social distancing when possible.

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