KAYSVILLE, Utah – People living in a tightly knit neighborhood are finding ways to stay connected while practicing social distancing.
Residents invited a disk jockey and held a “social distancing block party.”
“We are all cooped up inside and it’s everything that I want to do to entertain and get people laughing,” said Melissa Robison who organized the event. “It’s good for the soul.”
As music played, families remained on their own driveways and kept a safe distance away from their neighbors to prevent the spread of any germs.
This wasn’t exactly a return to normal, but an innovative way to say hello to neighbors now forced to keep to themselves amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s truly the happiest neighborhood I’ve ever lived in,” said Megan Keate. “Just be silly with people from across the street and get that connection again.”
Children danced with their siblings and parents while waving to their friends. Adults shouted greetings to their neighbors.
“It was really special to see them just being kids,” Keate said.
The event was also unique for the DJ, Rob Ferre. The sudden cancellation of all social gatherings has left him without any jobs.
“I can’t do my job without a crowd of people so why not do it in a way that’s creative and fun, but safe,” Ferre said.
Ferre is with Life of the Party Entertainment. He has spun tracks at Disneyworld and Universal Studios, but this event was a first.
“Probably under the strangest of circumstances,” he described.
He hopes to hold these block parties in other neighborhoods. He only asks that people donate funds to cover the cost of the gas required to travel.
“It’s important we bring people together,” Ferre said.
When the music stopped everyone went back inside their homes to continue isolating to do their part to flatten the curve.
The display showing that while coronavirus is disrupting life in many ways, it can’t knock down the human spirit.
“We’ve all seen those viral videos of the Italians connecting in their balconies and I think this is the American version of that,” Keate said.
