As the winter months are approaching, many people are mourning the loss of sunny summer days and basking in the sun. I’m here to remind you of all of the fun activities that we miss out on during the warmer months! If you’re feeling unenthused with the approach of the winter months, here are ten ways to enjoy this winter season:
1. Make Cards for the Kids of St. Jude
Everybody deserves to feel some holiday cheer and love, but especially those who are going through tough times. If you’re interested in making some cards for the kids of St. Jude, you can make cards and drop them off in the box outside of Mrs. Paddock’s office or give them to Rachel Paddock.
Story continues below advertisement
2. Watch Holiday Movies
A super easy way to get into the holiday spirit is to turn on your favorite holiday movie! Whether you prefer movies like Elf or The Santa Clause, cheesy Hallmark movies, or Die Hard, there’s a holiday movie out there for everyone! (Bonus points for wearing christmas pajamas)
Tired of the same old same old? Here’s some new winter movie ideas:
- Little Women
- Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
- Rise of the Guardians
- While You Were Sleeping
- Harry Potter
- Frozen
- Lego Batman (Libby says there is snow on the ground?)
- Mean Girls
- Miracle
- Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Decorate Cookies
Whether you make them for your family, friends, neighbors, or just for yourself, decorating cookies is a super fun winter activity! No worries if you’re not great at crafting, they’ll taste great no matter what!
4. Go Ice Skating
Throw on your winter coat, grab your friends, and try out ice skating! For information on places to ice skate, visit this website: https://www.enjoyillinois.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/ice-skating/
5. Go to a Light Festival
Light festivals are an amazing way to relax and soak in the holiday vibes. The most popular local light festival is the Festival of Lights in East Peoria which runs November 29th through January 1st.
6. Donate to a Toy Drive
Winter is an incredible time to give back to those less fortunate than you. You can donate toys to many different places locally. For starters, Mrs.Bishop at the primary school collects toys every year!
7. Build Gingerbread Houses
If you enjoy decorating cookies, you can also try gingerbread houses! This can be a bit of a challenge but I have a tip: use hot glue to put the houses together (just remember to not eat those parts).
8. Sledding
If you are an adrenaline junkie (and don’t mind braving the cold), sledding might be right up your alley! Make sure to bundle up, grab a sled, and make sure to warm up with some hot cocoa after.
9. Support Local Sports Teams (basketball and wrestling)
During the winter season, Dee-Mack High School will have multiple sports teams in action: girls and boys basketball and wrestling! Check out the Dee-Mack game schedule and come watch your favorite teams play their hearts out!
10. Make Goals for the Next Year
The end of the year is a perfect time to reflect on how your year has been, what’s been good, and what you’d like to change. Then, you can set goals and intentions for the next year to try and make 2025 your best year yet!
