Halloween is over, so time to celebrate the holiday season! Who doesn’t like the holidays? Here are some cute date ideas for you and your partner to try out during the winter months. Before talking about these ideas, you two should create a playlist of fall songs to play while you do these activities. The end of November is the perfect time to get some walks in while the trees still have leaves on them, and you can even do a cute photoshoot together.

Something that’s been trending on TikTok recently is couples painting portraits of each other and then taking pictures side by side with the portrait their partner painted. You can even bake a pumpkin, pecan, apple, or cherry pie and let it bake while you paint each other’s portraits. 

Another trending activity online is making a “Brrr Basket” of winter themed gifts that your partner can enjoy. Places like Dutch Bros and Starbucks have also brought back their winter menus, so trying out each of the drinks, like the Sugar Cookie Latte (Starbucks) and Hazelnut Truffle Mocha (Dutch Bros) that are new or back for the season is a fun way to bond with one another. The closest Starbucks to South is on 29th and Willamette, and the nearest Dutch Bros is on 11th and High Street. Lunch time during school is a perfect time to drive/walk to try them! 

The Rink Exchange is open at the Eugene Fairgrounds as of Sept. 1, so take a night to grab dinner and go ice skating (only $9 for students with no time limit)! 

Stores like Target or Walmart, or even places at Valley River Center, have all recently brought out their holiday decorations or gifts, so taking a trip to one or all of these stores could be a fun way for both of you to get things to decorate your room or house, as well as figure out gift ideas for one another. 

Decorating gingerbread houses can be both a fun addition to the house decor you found at the stores and also a fun bonding activity. Since many families have started decorating their houses with lights and other holiday decorations,take a night drive through some neighborhoods to see the lights being put up! Bringing a bucket of popcorn or candies to eat while you look at lights can make it even more enjoyable. And check out The Axe’s Martinelli tasting guide in this issue to add a festive beverage to your winter activities. Finally, the Holiday Market at the Eugene Fairgrounds will be open the following dates: Nov. 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30, Dec. 6 ,7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23 & 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on each day except for Dec. 24, when it closes at 4 p.m.

Article by Lucas Harshbarger