Emily Lepow ‘23

STAFF WRITER

With all the memories we can look back on in 2020, good or bad, there are somethings we can anticipate having in the coming year. Here are 21 things to look forward to in 2021.

1. Travelling

Many of our travel plans were cancelled in 2020, but now may be a good time to reschedule. Although we have no idea when this virus will go away for good, it’s safe to say this year it will be safe to travel, at least countrywide, and maybe within the next few years, worldwide.

2. COVID vaccine

With the new COVID-19 vaccine being implemented, many more places will be opening up across the country, and life may resume back to normal.

3. Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics have been postponed from last year, but they will resume this year in Tokyo, Japan. The expected date will last from July 23- Aug. 23. Unexpectedly as of Jan. 7, Japan’s COVID rates have been increasing, but this will hopefully be under control by the mid-Summer.

4. New Star Wars movies

Disney recently announced all its new projects for Star Wars this past month, and many fans will be ecstatic to hear about their upcoming films including: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, Rangers of the Republic, Andor, The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, Lando, The Acolyte, A Droid Story, and Rogue Squadron. Not all of these will be relased this year, but they will be coming in the next few years.

5. New Avengers’ movies

Much like the Star Wars fandom, Disney announced new Movies and Series that will be adding to The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the next few years: WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Loki, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man 3, What if…?, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Phase 5 and Beyond, She-Hulk, Black Panther 2, Deadpool 3, Captain Marvel 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Blade, Fantastic Four, Moon Knight, Secret Invasion, Ironheart, Armor Wars, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and I am Groot.

6. New Disney Rides

To accommodate all their new shows and movies, Disney of course has been in the works of some new attractions in Walt Disney World including: the Streets of Paris, a new area in Epcot themed around the Ratatouille movie. The area will include a new ride, restaurant, gift shops and many more.

7. “Friends’ reunion”

After 17 years, Friends will be returning to the air one last time. We don’t know when, but it will be available to stream on HBO max this upcoming year.

8. New Fantastic Beats movie

Harry Potter fans will be very excited to hear about the filming of Fantastic Beasts 3 coming this year. As a result of some casting complications, the release date has been pushed back from its estimated time this year into next.

9. Concerts

Concerts are known for many things, but one of them is not social distancing. However, many artists have already been conspiring on concert tours for the upcoming year depending on the rates of the virus.

10. School

Most schools in Florida are open for in-person learning--including Riverview--while also having an online option. However, in other schools across the country, in-person learning is not an option. Hopefully, for the 2021-22 school year, in-person learning will be allowed and safe, and many of our online learners at Riverview can return to school.

11. Golden globes

The Golden Globes will make its seventy-eighth run on Feb. 28 of this year. With hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, this should be another remarkable year.

12. Broadway shows

Like concerts, Broadway shows weren’t the best place to social distance, but with the new year, the shows might be able to reopen once again, depending on the success of the vaccine.

13. Lunar eclipse

On May 26, we can anticipate a Lunar eclipse, also known as a “blood moon.” Unfortunately, only Western South America, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Western United States will see the moon in full, but here in Sarasota we will still be able to experience a partial moon.

14. Sporting events opening back up

We have only been able to the see the games from in front of our TV screens, but now we might be able to experience them in person.

15. Prom

Our seniors for this year have worked so hard and deserve an end-of-the-year celebration. Our Senior Board is hard at work, doing everything they can do make this year worth it for our seniors.

16. Cruising

This popular form of vacation is enjoyed by many but is a scary place to be during a pandemic. However, it will slowly become safer to embark, as borders from other countries are opening back up to the U.S.

17. Super Nintendo World

A new theme park is opening up in Tokyo--Super Mario Brothers-themed. This park will have all of your favorite Nintendo characters, ride, snacks and more!

18. Mars landing

According to NASA, the Perseverance Rover is expected to land on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021, and it can be watched live at 2:15 EST on the NASA TV broadcast.

19. Hugs

Six feet apart means no hugs. Luckily, thanks to the vaccine, we will soon be able to hug our missed loved ones in the near future.

20. No masks

We all miss being able to see our friends’ faces at school or being able to smile at each other in public. Although masks are an integral part of slowing and preventing the spread of the virus, in the near future, masks will hopefully become a thing of the past.

21. Birthday celebrating

Many important anniversaries were skipped or merely acknowledged in 2020, and its time to start celebrating once again. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, weddings--you name it!