Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Gracia Clark takes a photo of a group of friends having an unofficial formal Friday at Betts Park. Joining Clark in an unofficial formal event were (from left): Jared Younger, J.J. Moore, Jacob Sorensen, Melaina King, Rachel Beatty, Cammie Crouse, and Amelia Crouse.

It wasn’t what anyone would call the new normal.

Maybe it was the new formal.

A group of high school and college students from (mostly) Warren County got together Friday to take a little bit of life back from COVID-19.

“I saw a video online,” Rachel Beatty said. “Let’s get really dressed up and do random things.”

“The people in high school won’t have a dance,” Beatty said. “We won’t have homecoming. We’re having our own unofficial formal.”

Beatty dusted off a prom dress for the occasion.

“The idea was planted a week ago,” Jared Younger said. “And today’s the day.”

Beatty, Younger, Gracia Clark, Amelia Crouse, Cammie Crouse, J.J. Moore, Melaina King, and Jacob Sorensen met at Betts Park, thinking that would be an easy place for everyone to find. Only one member struggled with the location.

They looked very out of place in dresses and shirts and ties on the metal bleachers in the middle of the grass.

Being out of place was part of the fun.

“We’re going to take pictures at random places and then go out to dinner,” Beatty said.

Other than Betts and Bob Evans, there weren’t many stops on the schedule.

There wasn’t even a dance — although dancing was not ruled out.

Someone tossed out the idea of miniature golf, but was shot down.

The event was intended to allow the friends to get together and have some fun.

Beyond dances, even simply seeing friends when they return to college is out for those whose educational programming will be delivered online.

“This year has been a whirlwind,” Sorensen said. “A wild ride.”

“It’s been stressful not knowing what’s going to happen with next semester,” Beatty said.

It was still early when someone asked Beatty if the event was everything she had hoped when she started organizing it. “I think we’re having fun,” she said.

King was the only visitor to the county, joining from Lancaster. She thought the event was worth having. “This is really strange, and I’m digging it.”