Fall Date Night Ideas

It’s finally that time of the year again - the leaves are changing, the air is crisper, and little shops are adorned with plump pumpkins. If you haven’t noticed, I am a basic white girl so naturally fall is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s also a good time for dates (with friends or your SO) considering how perfect the weather is for a short little window!

Now, I know the default activity is arriving at a pumpkin patch abundant in soon-to-be jack-o-lanterns and cute photo ops as you sip your pumpkin spice latte. While that would be living the dream, I don’t want to list off the same date ideas as every other article. Instead, I’m going to list a few other ideas on how to spend what I consider the best time of the year:

Drive-In Movie Date

Going to the Drive-In has become one of my favorite go-to plans for the weekend. I’m lucky enough to live about 45 minutes away from one so it’s an easy drive and nice getaway for the night. The one near me does a Fright Fest for the month of October meaning all they play are Halloween movies and decorate the venue with ghosts and goblins for a ghoulishly good time (too much?). Their employees also dress is terrifying costumes as they roam the park. During intermission ours even has a haunted house you can visit or, if that isn't your thing, you can check out their costume contest!

Horror Game Night

My boyfriend and I started this tradition even before we were officially together, but each year we do a Horror Video Game Night. We pick a chilly Friday/Saturday, order in, and play some spooky video games. In the past we’ve done Silent Hill, Until Dawn, and Resident Evil. For added fun you can make some Halloween-themed snacks and drinks to go along with the theme for the night! It’s a nice way to bond with your partner or friends and interact with some scary stories.

Fright Fest at a Theme Park

If you live near any amusement parks, they normally have some sort of Fright Fest during the month of October. I don’t live too far from a Six Flags that puts on this type of event every year. The employees dress as zombies and lurk around the park and the fountains have red dye in them to turn water into blood. Obviously there’s Halloween decor galore making for a frightfully delightful atmosphere and eventful evening.

Hiking/Camping

Why not take advantage of this gorgeous weather and spend the day out in nature gawking at autumn foliage? It’s always nice to take a few days off to either spend an entire day hiking or camp out in the woods for a night or two. Believe it or not, but in the Midwest we do have quite a few camping destinations nearby so it’s nice to be able to experience new terrain with a simple one or two hour drive. Build a bonfire, make some s'mores, and enjoy a beautiful fall morning by the lake!

I know it’s a bit hard to plan right now and get excited for trips or time off, but I say take advantage of the weather and enjoy the people in your bubble. Even if you’re far away from your loved ones right now try some of these adventures on your own - immerse yourself in a ghostly video game or go to that pumpkin patch and spend the night carving a jack-o-lantern while watching retro Halloween movies. I know with the shorter days and chilly weather that this can be a time where seasonal depression kicks in and given the trauma we’ve experienced this year, it’s easy to feel exhausted and unmotivated.

Still, October can also be a beautiful time where there’s an excitement of change in the air. As dark and horrifying as the universe can seem at times, I really encourage you to take a break for your mental health and take advantage of the gorgeous scenery and weather!