WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (May 1, 2020) – The City’s Community Events Division has developed a new “DIY Event Guide.” The content is an effort to help City residents recreate the City’s award-winning events at home due to current social distancing recommendations in light of COVID-19.
While craft projects are included, the guide inspires virtual gatherings, or “events,” to make special, memorable moments as families self-quarantine. To honor the frontline workers who have worked so hard to protect our community, the City created a new “Hats Off to Heroes! DIY Festival.” Residents can look forward to more upcoming home-grown event ideas, including “Celebrate Mom! DIY Events.”
“In addition to facilitating food, financial assistance and other basic needs, we are also offering this exciting new guide to elevate our residents’ spirits,” said City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “Our events are about uniting the community, and this new initiative is an excellent source for doing so. We are in this together and are here for whatever you need.”
The series first launched with a how-to video for an at-home egg hunt. The content was complemented with a giveaway of treat-filled eggs, courtesy of the City, at City recreation centers. Future projects encourage residents to craft and create their own mini events using common and inexpensive household items.
The “Hats Off to Heroes! DIY Festival” shows how to make various hats out of paper and other common household objects. Participants are encouraged to use the campaign hashtags to share their stories, especially if they have a special hero who they are saluting. The virtual salute will create a compilation of the community’s collective gratitude.
A Mother’s Day celebration, “Celebrate Mom! DIY Events,” will soon be available. This section includes step-by-step instructions on how to make a forever flower bouquet for mom, with additional ideas such as a massage and manicure when presenting the flowers for an at-home “spa day.”
“Our events team is passionate about creating memorable experiences for our residents,” said Mary Pinak, community events manager for the City of West Palm Beach’s department of parks and recreation. “Like many things these days, we are moving our in-person schedule of events to an online forum. We look forward to seeing everyone’s creativity on social media.”
Additional upcoming DIY content includes:
- At-home concerts
- Dad’s Day Air & Boat Show
- Milestone-Moments Events
- Screen on the Green
The guide can be found on www.wpb.org/events. Residents are encouraged to come together by posting their creations and celebrations to social media using the hashtags #WPBtogether and #WPBcares. The City recently announced that all community events, including Clematis by Night and Screen on the Green, have been cancelled through May 11.
The DIY Event Guide is provided in English and Spanish, and contributions are provided by the full team to provide a variety of examples and thought starters. For more information about the WPB DIY Event Guide, visit www.wpb.org/events, call (561) 822-1515 (TTY: 800-955-8771) or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB and on Twitter and Instagram @westpalmbch.
