Holiday events sought!

In our urban high rise neighborhoods, social committees are common in HOAs and they usually have a pretty good budget.* Due to the virus, Our Social Committee (SC) only held one even early this year-- a Super Bowl Party. So they have lots funds left over.

For Halloween, they packaged up little bouquets of any treats and left them at door ways. So far, this winter holiday season, they purchased a lot of very nice white poinsettias and placed them at residents'' doorways. We usually have a very festive and elegant Holiday Gala with catered food, music, etc., but, of course cannot.

The SC has not come up with any other ideas. A high rise near us had a winter scene cast on the side of their building and residents could have phots taken on themselves there. there also was a taco wagon. Appointments were spaced, etc. Great idea!

In detached homes neighborhoods, holiday decorating contests can easily occur.

Please let us know what your community is doing for the holidays.

Please let me know if you have any Ideas for our HOA!

* Please do NOT give your opinion of having a SC budget in HOAs.

We don't do much besides string some festive lights at our entrance gate. People do put up some decorations outside their homes in this single-family one-story community. Luckily, everyone who does so takes them down before January's over. We have nothing about this in any of our documents or rules, however; we've just been lucky. A few homes approach the level of "trailer park" chic, but they, too, take down their decorations fairly timely. We'd never consider a contest. That would be a license to go "full trailer park" in this area.

The only thing we do is have the Fire Department bring Santa through the neighborhood
Santa hands out candy and photos are taken.
the HOA makes a donation to the FD.

That said, not being on the board, I do not know if it is happening this year due to covid.

Thanks much for ideas. Strict rules here about our front doors which open out to a interior hallway. Many of us have an over-the-door hanging wreath or other object. We have a max of five doors per floor--we're not a long-hallway building.

I have to say that many more residents in our high rise & others nearby have put decorative lights on their balcony rails. The C did an extra fine job of trimming the tall trees in our two lobbies and pacing festive items on lobby side tables, reception desk, etc. We happen to have credenzas in each lobby with very nice menorahs on them some "gold" coins, a wrapped package, dreidels. In our circle drive inside our premises, there's lots of lights and under a tree a lighted reindeer family.

Whats missing is the social interaction. Last year the SC had a photography contest with excellent photos of ab ny time within a mile of us. Got wonderful entries. The all were framed and hung in one of our Lounges and residents voted on their favorites. The SC just couldn't seem to get it together this year. for it.

Another year tables were set up with residents selling homemade items like mosaic work, paintings, fabric knick knacks and other items that would would make clever gifts. I guess we could call it a "Gift Faire." We can't create enough social distance to do that entirely inside, but it might be a good semi-social activity in detached home areas. Sort of like hand- made garage sales items. If weather's OK for driveway activity with spacing among folks.

I think we might be able to make a big outline of a Xmas tree to put on a utility door in our lobbies. Thanks Cathy!