When was the last time you had a snow day? Since most of us have a remote work option now, snow days are not a common occurrence. Still, when it does happen, it’s nice to have ready a list of things to do in the winter with friends so the snow day is lived to the fullest.
Even without a snow day, I love to enjoy the winter months with my favorite winter outdoor and indoor activities. It’s the time for cold weather, warm drinks, winter festivities, Christmas celebrations, and more.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
40 Things to Do in the Winter with Friends
What are the best things about winter?
Out of the four seasons, winter gets swept under the rug. We pull out the bells and whistles for Christmas and New Years Eve, then forget about the rest.
But there are wonderful things about the winter season, too. So before we dive into suggestions for your winter bucket list, let’s get pumped up for all that winter has to offer.
- Snow – winter is the only season where snowflakes fall from the sky!
- Cozy blanket – this is the time to get bundled up in extra blankets
- Warm cider, Mulled wine, Hot tea – winter is the season for hot, spiced drinks
- Winter holidays – Christmas, New Years, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Valentine’s Day, Winter Solstice, First day of winter—and all the music, foods, and celebration that comes with it
- Winter Fashion – riding boots, scarves, hats, cozy sweaters, and faux-fur coats
- Snow Days – days off school and time off work
These are the best things about winter for me aside from the activities. For three months, the richness of winter is among us in all of these aspects.
With the best of winter ahead of us, let’s fill it with the best of winter activities. Snow day or not, working or not, here are some fun things to do on a cold winter day.
What do you put on a winter bucket list?
A winter bucket list is a simple way to organize your favorite indoor and outdoor winter activities for adults. Coming up with winter bucket list ideas is the more challenging part, but the most rewarding, too.
First up, indoor winter activities for adults.
Cook your Favorite Chili and Soup
The winter weather and cold days are calling for soup. Give warmth to the colder months by cooking your favorite chili or soup. Dust off the crockpot and find your favorite soup recipe.
Plan a Self Care Day
No matter the season, it’s important to prioritize your mental health and take time for yourself. Give yourself a self-care day and spend time on reflecting, relaxing, and resting. See these self care gifts to make your day relaxing.
Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
A puzzle is a great winter activity to do with friends and family. Pick a big jigsaw puzzle where everyone can pitch in and help. Play music, light a winter candle, and enjoy the challenge.
Build an Inside Fort
Later, we’ll suggest a snow fort and all the fun winter activities that come with snow. But if you’re in an area without snow or just want to stay inside, you can still have a winter fort in your living room. Make an inside fort with blankets, pillows, and holiday lights.
Make a Winter Themed Craft
There are crafts galore for every season. Find ideas on pinterest for winter crafts like painting mason jars, making paper snowflakes, or creating a winter centerpiece. Both of these would help you decorate the house or apartment for winter.
Bake Cookies or your Favorite Dessert
My favorite dessert for the winter months is carrot cake. What about you? Bake another sweet treat for winter and then make another to share with your family, friends, or coworkers.
Indoor Sports
Consider joining an adult sports league for the winter seasons. Our favorite outdoor sports, such as volleyball, soccer, and basketball, can be enjoyed year round inside.
Winter Cleaning
While we hibernate for the winter, why not get a head start on spring cleaning? Since you’ll be spending more time inside anyway, spend it in a cleaner house.
Thift Shop for Winter Gear
Winter means it’s time to bundle up and layer clothing. If you love bargain hunting or simply need to save money, go thrifting for all the winter must-haves: ugly Christmas sweaters, flannel, coats, jackets, and scarves.
Volunteer
You can help your community during the winter months, too. For example, volunteer your time at a soup kitchen nearby, donate winter clothes, or pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Clean out your Closet
Now that summer and fall have passed, get rid of the things you didn’t wear. Donate items to a local charity or homeless shelter so your clothes can keep someone else warm this season.
Spend Time in Reflection
Winter is such a great time to rest and recharge, especially once the end of the year holidays are over. Life seems to be so much quieter and all of the busyness of the rest of the year dies down.
- Take that time to do these reflection-related winter activities at home:
- Track your current goals and set new personal goals
- Use these thoughtful reflection questions and journal prompts to reflect on the past year
- Make a list of what to do less, do more, and start and stop doing
- Choose a focus word for the new year and set new year intentions
- Make a vision board for the upcoming year
Enjoy Hot Drinks
The cold weather calls for some warm drinks. Some favorite hot drinks for winter are hot cocoa, tea, apple cider, and coffee. But in my opinion, coffee is always in season.
Now, we move on to outdoor winter activities for adults. I’ve split this list into two categories. The first category covers fun things to do when it snows, and the second has outdoor activities without snow.
While this list is for adults, you’ll notice a lot of activities you may have done as a kid. Adults are the biggest kids of all. It can be such a joy to do the things we used to enjoy as a kid.
As someone always navigating the adulting struggle, it’s easy to get bogged down in all the stress of life. Letting ourselves be kids again and laughing at ourselves is part of the magic of winter.
Related: How to Handle Adulting with Flair and Faith
7 Fun Things to do in the Winter with Snow
- Build a Snow Man
- Make Snow Ice Cream
- Build a Snow Fort or an Igloo
- Go Sledding
- Make Snow Angels
- Take scenic pictures
- Snowball Fight
- Go on a Sleigh Ride
- Catch Snowflakes
6 Fun Things to do in Winter without Snow
- Go ice skating
- Attend a Christmas Tree Lighting
- Go to a Bonfire and Make Smores
- Visit a Museum
- Go to Christmas Markets
- Take a Brisk Walk or Do a Winter Hike
Now, we move on to more things to do in the winter with friends. Of course, you can also do these alone. But the winter blues may sneak up on you.
When the holidays are over, it’s easy for me to fall into the winter blues. Be sure to surround yourself with family and friends during the winter. Remember, the season isn’t over and there’s still more activities to do in the winter with friends.
Have a Christmas Movie Marathon
There are some movies that make it feel like the Christmas season. Some, I watch out of tradition. Others, I watch just because they’re so wonderful. Here are some of my favorite Christmas movies.
- Santa Claus
- Home Alone
- Rudolph
- Charlie Brown
- The Grinch
- The Chosen – Christmas Special
- Hallmark Christmas Movies, like A Christmas Card
Watch the Christmas Episodes of your Favorite TV Series
In addition to movies, you may want to revisit your favorite Christmas episodes for your favorite TV show. Share them with friends and watch them everyone’s favorite show together.
Snowball Fight
This iconic winter activity is perfect for a group of adult friends wanting to do something nostalgic that reminds them of childhood. No, adults are not too big to play in the snow.
Christmas Shopping
Christmas shopping can quickly turn into something that creates stress. Whether because you can’t find time to drive out to the mall or you have too many names on your gift list.
With your friends, carpool to the mall. Make it less about buying something for everyone and more about spending time with people you love.
Bounce ideas off of your friends while looking for the perfect gift. Keep each other accountable to your budget.
Host a Board Game Night
For those expecting a harsh winter, the season may mean less time outside and more time inside. This is the perfect time to play board games with friends. Imaginiff and Scattegories are two of my favorites, but my other friends love more complex games like Carcassone and 7 Wonders.
Attend a Christmas Party or New Year’s Eve Party
…Or host a party with close friends. You can go all out or make it a potluck with a couple of close friends. Bring in the new year by spending quality time with those you hope to spend the next year with.
Go Skiing or Snowboarding
Dust off those cross-country skis and go cross-country skiing. Or snowboard down a slope with your friends. When it comes to winter sports, skiing is one of the best ways to enjoy the winter season. Many ski resorts have non-skiiing activities, too.
Painting or Pottery Class
Time to paint a winter landscape and snow-capped mountains at a painting class. Try new things this season with a pottery class, cooking class, painting class, or something else new!
Watch a Basketball Game
I love watching basketball during the winter. It’s a fast-paced game with lots of scoring and it’s inside! :]
Get a group together and cheer on your local basketball team. Follow March Madness by making your own bracket.
Go Ice Skating
Another iconic winter sport, ice skating is popular this time of year, too. Some municipalities will set up ice rinks at the center of town while others have indoor ice rinks.
5 Fun Things to do During Winter Break
For those of you in college, in grad school, or working at a school, you’ll have a winter break to enjoy as well. For those two weeks, four weeks, or however long you have, here are 5 fun things to do for your winter break bucket list.
- Sleep – Rest, rest, rest!
- Spend time with old friends
- Local Library Trip – find something fun to read
- Amusement Parks – some decorate for Christmas and others are in warmer climates. Perfect getaway trip.
- Visit family close by and far away
Winter Activities for the Christmas Season
I can’t mention winter activities or a winter bucket list without mentioning Christmas. There are many fun winter activities surrounding Christmas, too:
- Pick out and shop for gifts
- Decorate Christmas Trees
- Sing Christmas Carols
- Put up Christmas Decorations
- Drive through Christmas Lights
- Attend a Candlelight Service
- Read the Christmas Story
- Celebrate the Advent Season with Bible Readings, Prayers, Music, etc.
With each winter activity I do for Christmas, I continue to ponder the true gift of Christmas—Jesus Christ. I am reminded that this is something that we can celebrate all winter and all year.
That doesn’t exactly hold for these winter activities. So make sure to enjoy these other fun things to do in the winter with friends before the snow melts.
Winter Activities with Friends
While fall is my favorite season, winter has a special place in my heart, too. I wait for the winter months to come just for these fun activities and things to do with friends in the winter.
Cold weather is the perfect excuse for warm blankets, cozy clothes, and hot drinks while chilling at home and resting.
Even if you don’t get an official snow day, take some time off work and use that time for yourself – rest, reflection, and rejuvenation.
As for fun things to do in the winter with friends, it doesn’t really matter what we do together. Spending time with friends is always fun and always tops my winter bucket list.
What do you put on a winter bucket list?
Leave me a comment below!
Don’t miss this! More posts in the Growing in Faith Category:
- 33 Delightful Self Care Gift Ideas for Her
- 5 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Life and Stress Less This Week
- The Importance of Self Care and Taking Time for Yourself
- 70 End of Year Reflection Questions, Prompts, and Activities
Join our Email List!
Hey there! You don’t have to navigate the adulting struggle on your own. Here at Kara J Lovett Co., we want to support you while you’re figuring things out and getting it together.
That’s why we’ve made the “Getting It Together Guide”: 25 pages of support, encouragement, practical tips, prayers, devotionals, and resources for the adulting struggle.
Subscribe to our site for access to the guide, regular post updates, fun freebies, and printables! Or find out more about our premium Getting it Together Guide here.
These are all great suggestions! Can’t wait for the next winter season to come! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your comment. Please drop by again after your next winter season and let us know which acitivities from the post were your favorite.
~Trish, from KJL Co.