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04/16/2020 12:00 AMThey packed up the kids, loaded up on snacks and downloaded the app. Then, as dusk approached, 23 carloads of families seeking safe, socially-distanced fun pulled into the parking lot at North Branford Parks and Recreation for 'Drive-In Family Trivia Night' April 14.
Just like at the drive-in movies, viewers nosed their vehicles in position, facing an outdoor screen in a truck bed parked outside the Stanley T. Williams Community Center in Northford. Event host Keith Alan of Keith Alan Productions (Prospect) brought the truck, 11-foot screen and provided the trivia game app, as well as emceeing the game as a live broadcast picked up on car radios over a special frequency. The trivia questions flashed across the screen to challenge teams the families had named themselves, many in the spirit of the social-distancing situation, like Team "Livin La Vida Corona." The first team to answer a trivia question was rewarded with bonus points and their team name on the big screen, amidst the sound of vehicle horns beeping to cheer them on.
The free event was arranged by interim Recreation Director Patrick Rossiter and Assistant Recreation Director Kerry Haynes. The department has worked with Alan in the past, said Haynes, who recently spotted the Alan's Drive-In Trivia post on CT Recreation and Parks Association's social media.
"Keith does game-show style activities, and he had put it out that he had this great idea to do a safe, in-your-own-car, drive-in trivia. I read about it and emailed him right away. He gave us the layout and we said, 'We have to do this,'" said Haynes.
An invitiation to join the fun on April 14 went out on North Branford Parks and Rec Facebook page, drawing 26 pre-registered participants.
"We've been striving to bring together crowds, safely," said Haynes. "Given the situation, I know, as a mom of two children myself, I think people are looking for things to do; but at the same time are hesitant. So we really didn't know what to expect. We were really happy to have nearly two dozen cars come in."
While no one was allowed to exit their vehicle, the effect of coming together in the same space felt like socializing, just the same, said Haynes.
"It's been challenging for us, because Parks and Rec is about bringing people together; and we can't," she said. "So we've been really trying to be creative in coming up with fun, family-oriented, safe things that people can do. I worry about the social isolation and how it's impacting people mentally and emotionally, and we want to be able to offer people something to look forward to, and to be able to get out and do something."
The trivia event went off so well, NB Parks and Rec is working on bringing in another drive-in event for the week of April 26: Juke Box Bingo. Look for date/time updates to be posted soon on the department's Facebook page (@NBParksandRecreation).
In the meantime, NB Parks and Rec is fielding calls from other towns interested in how to go about putting on their own Drive-In Trivia event, said Haynes.
"I think it would be a great thing for different towns to host it," she said. "To have different things for people to do is really important right now."
Speaking of which, Rossiter and Haynes have also set up a treat for local families with little ones who want to get outside, at a safe social distance from others, of course.
"Right before Easter, Patrick painted these cute little green and orange wooden bunnies, and we took a little hike on the North Farms trail, which is a really easy trail for families with small children. We put the bunnies on trees in random spots, and called it The Cottontail Trail," said Haynes. "That will be up at least through the end of this month."
Word is just getting out about the bunnies being an NB Parks and Rec seeking game. Haynes said she's seeing posts on North Branford community social media pages of people encountering the bunnies and wondering who put them there. She said the trail was selected because of its ease and also because it's one of the area's lesser-known hiking trails; so this is a great time to become more familiar with it. The department reminds residents not to overcrowd hiking trails.
At the North Farms trail, "...we'll have the bunnies out there at least through the end of the month, so if there are a lot of cars in the parking lot, you can come back another time," said Haynes.
The North Farms trail head is located at North Farms Park in Northford on Route 139.