A rave for babies: Bay Area Children's Theatre goes virtual with its popular 'Baby Rave'
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Every month, the Bay Area Children's Theatre holds a wildly popular event known simply as "Baby Rave." On the surface, Baby Rave is exactly as it sounds: club music, flashing lights, and endless dancing. Only this rave asks participants to BYOB: bring your own baby.
BACT Executive Artistic Director Nina Meehan said, "It started two-and-a-half years ago, and it became Bay Area Children's Theatre's fastest-selling event. We put them online and they sell out in hours."
RELATED: Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis
But due to health and safety concerns regarding group gatherings and preventing the spread of COVID-19, the group decided to postpone Baby Raves until further notice. But that won't stop the party from going virtual.
DJ E.T. Hazzard, the popular Baby Rave leader of ceremonies, said, "Given the circumstances, most of my gigs have been cancelled or postponed." He continued, "All we're trying to promote is everyone having fun and positivity, so why not, even now, do it virtually?"
"E.T. is the magic behind it," Meehan said, "He creates these playlists that have this incredible balance, where the parents really feel like it's music that they can groove to and have a good time. And the kids do as well."
Bay Area Children's Theatre estimates that between 400-600 viewers were tuned in to Virtual Baby Rave, broadcast through Facebook Live. "It's purely about fun and interaction and to be able to release some energy with the young ones, that's what it's really about," Hazzard said.
Parents were encouraged to create their own props and decorations to turn their homes into the perfect dance floor for a virtual rave.
Myles Nye, a supporter of Bay Area Children's Theatre and regular attendee of the Baby Rave, said that the value of what BACT does for young families goes beyond what they offer at their physical location. "The prospect of attending the Virtual Baby Rave makes me feel like Bay Area Children's Theatre still has my back, and it makes me look forward to a break," said Nye.
He went on to say, "I think I speak for a lot of parents when I say, 'Hey, I could use a break.'"
The Bay Area Children's Theatre will hold another Virtual Baby Rave in the coming weeks. Visit their Facebook page or website for more information.
Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
- Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
- Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
- What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
- Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
- Coronavirus and the new normal of living in the San Francisco-Bay Area -- COVID-19 Diaries
- Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis
- Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's why you should practice 'social distancing'
- DRONEVIEW7: What the Bay Area looks like during the coronavirus shelter-in-place
- ABC7's drive around San Francisco shows empty streets, businesses shuttered
- Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
- List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
- Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
- Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
- How to maintain learning during school closures
- No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
- Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions
- Asian community fighting racism, xenophobia, bigotry as world fights COVID-19
