As new and old relationships head into a new year, couples have several cute date ideas to pick from. One option is to go to a barn dance. Yeah, it’s freezing cold outside, but the second you walk in, the music, movement, and warm air immediately take the chill away. These dances are held every few months on Fridays from seven to 10 p.m., the next one scheduled for January 16th. Depending on the month, you’ll find them either at the Arcata Veterans’ Center or the Blue Lake Roller Rink. You can find the schedule at humboldtfolklife.com.
If dancing isn’t really your thing, ice skating at the reopened Humboldt County Fairgrounds is another easy, wintery go-to. The rink is open weekdays from three p.m. to nine p.m. and weekends from nine a.m. to nine p.m. until January 11th, so you have plenty of time to go. Rates are $15 for anyone under 18 and $20 for adults. Whether you’re good at skating or you’re clinging to the wall the whole time, it can still be fun, and it gives you an excuse to laugh at yourselves.
Bowling at Harbor Lanes can be another easy, low-pressure date idea. You don’t have to be good at it to have a good time. Half the fun is just trying not to drop the ball on your foot, cheering each other on, or a little competition. It’s simple, cheap, and gives you something to do while the conversation starts to flow naturally.
Roller skating is also a cute option if you want to do something a little more lively. Honestly, roller skating kind of gives you the perfect excuse to hold hands, sometimes for balance, sometimes just because you want to. Between the lights, the music, and the occasional near-fall, it feels more like a mini adventure than just hanging out.
And if you don’t feel like going out at all, staying in, baking, and watching a movie together is honestly one of the best options. You can mix brownie batter, bake cookies, or make hot chocolate, then cozy up with a comfort holiday movie afterward. It’s simple, but just as special, and it’s the kind of night that doesn’t need a lot of planning to be memorable.
No matter what you end up doing: dancing, skating, bowling, or just relaxing at home, the holidays make it easy to find something fun to share together. It’s really the time spent, not the activity itself, that makes the winter season feel a little warmer.
