On top of the stresses of COVID-19, the upcoming long weekend can’t come soon enough. While this would usually be a great opportunity to get together with friends to help pass the time, the need for social distancing is still here. It’s time to get a little more creative about ways to stay safe and enjoy the extra time off.
If you’re an art fan, MU’s Museum of Art and Archaeology is a must see. You can visit for free on Saturday or Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visitors must limit their groups to no more than six, wear masks, social distance and wash their hands frequently. The museum also has some online exhibits so you can learn about Gemstones of Antiquity, Picturing Black American Families and Artful Lighting from the comfort of your home.
While the Columbia Art League’s physical building is closed to the public, they have plenty of virtual galeries to explore. Here you can learn about artists you might not have heard of and get to read about what inspired their work. 2020’s Art in the Park may have been canceled, but online you can see featured artists and work.
If you’re tired of being indoors, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of Stephens Lake Park. The park has shelters and picnic areas where you can sit and enjoy the feeling of the sun on your face and the shimmering lake, or bring along some snacks and have a socially distanced picnic. if being active is more your style, you can walk along one of the trails.
For people who are looking for a scenic place to stroll, Shelter Gardens is the place to go. It not only has an array of colorful flowers, but also a gazebo and a replica of a one-room schoolhouse. The wide variety of trees and shrubs make for a great place to walk around and enjoy nature.
No one wants to do homework on their day off, but a good use of the extra day off would be to catch up on school work. With a lot of classes being moved online, and stress and homework building up already, taking the opportunity to use the long weekend to possibly work ahead in classes could be beneficial.
_Edited by Sophie Stephens | sstephens@themaneater.com_
