Autumn Date Ideas . . .That AREN’T Movie Night!

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Everyone loves Christmas dates, but what about the other forgotten holidays of the year? It’s easy to throw in a favorite spooky movie and stay in at the end of October. It’s easy to put a pause on dating during the big family feasts in November. But don’t neglect creative dates, because this time of year is perfect to think outside the box! Here’s a list of our favorite date ideas during the Halloween and Thanksgiving season:

For Halloween . . .

Host a Halloween party . . . that doubles as a single’s mixer.

When I was growing up, a family of relatives always hosted an ENORMOUS Halloween bash. Complete with costumes, bobbing for apples, games, and more, this was a childhood tradition. As an adult, I know plenty of people who continue the Halloween fun: Monster Mash dances, costume competitions, spooky photoshoots, and more. Grab your friend group, put together a list of singles to invite, and throw your own Halloween-themed mixer!

Go on a spooky scavenger hunt.

For your one-on-one dates, try a scavenger hunt for classic Halloween decorations like skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, witches, etc. You can make your own list, or download something from the Internet. Then, go for a walk or a drive and see how many you can spot! Don’t forget to bring pumpkin-flavored snacks.

Trick or treat with a busy young family!

Parents of multiple little kids will always appreciate an extra adult or two to cross streets, hold hands, and be available if the littlest pumpkin gets scared. You and your date can both enjoy the holiday and see how you both do around little ones!

Attend a Halloween parade or street celebration.

Many small towns and even big cities have public holiday events. And often, they’re free! Around my area, there’s always a costume kids’ parade in October, complete with craft booths, face painting, and candy hunts. So grab your date and explore!

Carve pumpkins together.

This is the perfect Halloween date for the creative introvert. Pick up a couple of giant pumpkins, a carving knife set, and get to work! You can see who can come up with the better design, or you can pick a premade pattern to follow. Make sure to take photos of your epic work (and probably epic mess) at the end!

Arrange a backwards Trick Or Treat.

By this I mean, get your date and a few friends together and hand out candy somewhere which needs volunteers. Businesses, nursing homes, libraries, schools, and churches are often looking for extra hands for different events. See if your date night can double for volunteering!

Walk through a Catholic graveyard and pray for the dead together.

It’s worth remembering how Halloween comes from All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ day. Praying for the dead is an oft-forgotten work of mercy. What better time of year to embrace it? The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a particularly strong prayer for those in purgatory.

For Thanksgiving . . .

Cook a feast together.

This is especially fun if you’re engaged, and you will be creating your own Thanksgiving traditions together next year. You can also jump in with extended family and learn from them. Tackle the big kitchen tasks together and enjoy the creativity!

Pick ONE specialty dish to cook together.

Because it would be really awkward to have your just-met-you first date on a marathon baking spree. If you and your date are in the early stages, embrace the season in a small way. You can pick a dessert, a drink, or a side dish to make together. Then enjoy the delicious results after a walk outside together!

Go to a barn dance.

This may be just me, but barn dancing (aka square dancing) is a great way to embrace the pioneer spirit of Thanksgiving. They’re usually family-friendly events, perfect for beginners, and you can bring just a date or a whole group with you. I attended lots of these in college, and it was delightful to hang out with friends, dance to live music, and meet new people too. So buckle on your boots and take your little lady out dancing!

Make your own centerpieces for the Thanksgiving table.

Cornucopias are traditional, and usually craft stores of all sorts will carry everything you need to make your own. You can also make fall wreaths, a candle display, or simply arrange some autumnal-colored flowers in a pretty pot. Don’t worry if you have no eye for this—it’s even more fun if your centerpiece turns out atrocious!

Arrange a Thanksgiving potluck for singles.

Another excuse to do a singles mixer, right?! Many people live far from their families and choose to go home over Christmas, which leaves them alone on Thanksgiving. Others have no family left, and still more have reasons not to do a big family celebration this time of year. Seek out these “lost” people, and set up a celebration for them. You can even reach out to local CatholicMatch members, or put a notice in your parish bulletin!

Go to Adoration specifically to thank God for all His blessings in your life.

Take your date to Adoration, with the specific intention of praising Him with gratitude. It’s easy to center prayer on what we want, what we need, and our struggles in life right now. It’s less easy to simply thank Jesus for what he’s already given us! Remember the Gospel of Luke, when Christ heals the ten lepers, and only one returns to thank Him. Be that one healed leper and go back to prayer with gratitude. 

Well there you go....A whole host of seasonal date ideas for today's single. Don't let this fun and festive time of year pass you by!

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