25 Christmas Date Ideas for the Holiday Season

December fills up fast. Between work parties, family visits and shopping, it is easy to reach Christmas without a single evening that was just for the two of you. These 25 ideas make it simple to protect a few.

Festive outings

1. Drive or walk through a light display. Many towns publish a map of the best-lit streets, and zoos and botanical gardens often run ticketed light shows.
2. Holiday market. Mulled wine, roasted nuts and handmade gifts. Go on a weeknight for smaller crowds.
3. Ice skating. Outdoor rinks open in many cities from late November.
4. See a holiday show. The Nutcracker, a local choir concert or a community production of A Christmas Carol.
5. Cut down your own tree. Tree farms make it an outing, often with cocoa and wagon rides.
6. Hotel lobby tour. Big hotels decorate lavishly and anyone can walk in to look. End at the hotel bar.
7. Ugly sweater bar crawl. Some cities hold organized ones; otherwise make your own route.
8. Train ride with holiday decorations. Heritage railways often run festive trips.

Cozy Christmas nights in

1. Decorate the tree with a playlist and drinks, telling the story behind each ornament.
2. Gingerbread house contest. One kit each, 45 minutes, judged by whoever visits next.
3. Christmas movie ranking. Watch one each night and keep a running scoreboard.
4. Bake and decorate cookies to give to neighbors.
5. Hot chocolate bar. Three kinds of chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream and a splash of peppermint schnapps if you like.
6. Wrap gifts together with a movie on, a glass of wine and a strict rule about not peeking.
7. Write holiday cards together and add a note to your partner in the stack.
8. Fireplace picnic. A blanket on the floor, cheese board and a fire or candles.

Cheap holiday dates

1. Look at neighborhood lights on foot with cocoa in travel mugs.
2. Free church or community choir concert. Many are free and beautiful.
3. Window shopping downtown to see the store displays.
4. Make ornaments for each other from craft store supplies.
5. Volunteer together. Toy drives, food banks and gift-wrapping stations need hands in December.

Traditions to start this year

1. Buy one ornament a year that marks something you did together.
2. Christmas Eve letter. Write each other a letter about the year, read them on Christmas Eve.
3. A gift on the first snow or the shortest day of the year, December 21.
4. A yearly photo in the same spot, wearing matching pajamas or scarves.

Planning tips for December

• Book early. Light shows, The Nutcracker and popular restaurants sell out in early December.
• Use weeknights. Weekends fill with parties, but a Tuesday light walk works just as well.
• Keep one night with no plans. The best holiday date is sometimes just not going anywhere.