We Gather
After the covid lockdown, we learned how much most of us are social beings. We convene, meet up, congregate, confer, and come together to discuss, disagree, ideate, share, counsel, celebrate, socialize, and solve problems. Across all cultures and throughout history, gathering in groups around a fire, the kitchen table, the backyard, a neighborhood pub or a place for celebration, fosters genuine feelings of love, joy, togetherness, security, meaningful conversation, warmth, friendship, and connections that feed the soul. We crave experiences with others who are like us, constantly searching for heartfelt connections, a sharing of our ideas, passions, and enthusiasms, or even just a laugh. Connecting and celebrating with others is enormously satisfying and very comforting to our human spirit. Something special and memorable happens when we GATHER.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia and traditions bring about a familiar ease and security for people to escape from their fast-paced, stressful, and ever-changing world. It’s comforting to move towards something (even if only a memory) that is familiar, safe, and has positive, past emotional connections. Holidays bring out nostalgia; where stories and family gathering lore become memory markers in our lives and trigger pleasant thoughts of memorable past experiences. When escaping the commercialism that’s come to surround many holidays, you can reminisce replace, and resurface past traditions or choose to make new ones. Remembering and passing on these values and traditions define your past and create a future for your children. These holiday activities include planning, gathering, creating, cooking, storytelling, gifting, visiting, and taking the time to appreciate the joy of life. Creating and sharing these moments with those you care about most and knowing they will carry it on when it is their turn becomes your legacy.
Traditions
Traditions uniquely expressed, give families their own personal identity. Our traditions are strongest during the holidays. Any consistent routine or regular outing will not only define the identity of your family, but also give you a sense of belonging. Those who have had loved ones place a high emphasis on starting and maintaining traditions are more likely to have increased emotional skill, overall happiness, and greater success in life. Traditions bond relationships and are the cornerstone of a family-based society. The perfect time to create traditions are during the holidays.
Holiday Traditions
Family traditions are strongest during the holidays. The perfect time create new group sales revenue is by hosting holiday events and parties. Depending on your demographics these events may or may not include families of employees and or children.
Halloween has become the second largest holiday, when it comes to decoration spending and attending holiday-themed events. Safe space, family or group gatherings additional opportunities to show off their costumes, add to the traditional trick-or-treat night. Halloween-oriented events for families and adults are one gathering that can build year after year and become the tradition of the season. The key, commit and go all out on the theme decorations, sensory elements, and unique activities of the season, including a signature food and beverage. Here are a few examples.
Lil Spooky Fun (2yrs – 6yrs) includes a safe trick-or-treat trail, including candy treats and entertaining “tricks” scattered throughout the event on the weekend before Halloween night. After the children travel the trick-or-treat trail (indoors or out) they are invited to participate in other events like pumpkin carving/painting, costume contest/parades, magic shows, and spooky eats and drinks.
A Haunted Adventure (7 years and up) includes haunting your facilities/attractions with décor and startle jump-outs, a haunted party room, and a variety of spooky contests. We’ll haunt our laser tag with music, special effects, zombie popouts and a special zombie laser tag game. We’ll serve bug juice, bat blood, and gross edibles, not for the faint of heart, but your kids will devour them.
Make a holiday statement. Christmas events should be decorated to the max, with a huge tree and lighting ceremony each night. Cookie exchange, holiday marketplace, augmented reality scavenger hunt and holiday greetings for all. Early morning holiday events can include a ticketed, pancake breakfast with Santa. Set up photo opportunities with Santa for kids and or fur babies (dogs). Staff is dressed as their favorite costumed characters, a unique Christmas craft, not one that could be done in school and other holiday-oriented games and activities. You may even see the Grinch, Mad Elf, or Krampus to add some sinister spice to your adult holiday event. Santa’s workshop includes a variety of different DIY toy or gift stations. At one station you can write a letter to Santa, another station can make a Christmas ornament. Note: replace Christmas with your unique Dec holiday celebration.
The Great Easter Egg Hunt or an Easter Trail (a non-competitive version of an Easter Egg Hunt) can happen in the spring, indoors or out. The Easter Bunny and his friends will be there to meet, greet, and facilitate the egg hunt. Add bunny bowling, golf, laser tag, or ride a ride with the Easter bunny.
Holiday events are a reason to return. Use our desire to gather as the draw, then add the nostalgia and unique activities to build the tradition of including your event every year.