Thanksgiving Date Ideas

Thanksgiving is a beautiful time of year. Festivities, falling leaves, fantastic food—but it can also be kind of… stressful? We feel our energy getting spread thin across the chatting, eating, entertaining, and enthusiastic nodding through the annual life updates of distant relatives. 

Checking your Bumble matches and grabbing a couple of hours for a quick date can actually be a great way to let off steam, relax, and have fun with someone new. So here are our favorite Thanksgiving date ideas, whether you just need to get out of the house or you’re looking for some old-fashioned holiday romance.

Make the most of those crisp November days! Try our favorite date ideas for Thanksgiving that get you out of the house. 

Home for the holidays? We get that indoor dates might be off the cards, especially if you’ve got well-meaning relatives around. If you want a Thanksgiving date without starting a whole conversation with your aunt about rings and things, we suggest getting out of the house for a scenic walk. Walking is a great, low-pressure way to chat with your date and get to know each other better. As Pete, 29, says, “I find dinner dates intense, as you’re just staring right at each other for hours. Instead, taking a long walk together is energizing and helps conversation flow naturally.” 

If you’re looking for a walking route, we love apps that provide ready-made paths or help with planning your own hike if you’re feeling adventurous. City folk, a park will do just fine, or you could take an urban wander to check out pretty shop windows.

We love a festive Thanksgiving date idea, and our top pick has got to be ice skating. Find somewhere to get your blades on and twirl around a rink together (holding the penguin is also fine, actually kind of cute). You can, of course, check out your local indoor rink, but don’t forget that seasonal outdoor rinks have opened up now, too. The open air, twinkling stars, hot drinks to warm you up… it’s peak romance.

“The open air, twinkling stars, hot drinks to warm you up… it’s peak romance.”

But if you’re not down to fall on your butt in front of your date, that’s understandable. We have some skate-less suggestions, too. Have a search for local look-out spots and try an evening hike up to see pretty city lights, or take a trip to check out the holiday displays in your local area. Don’t forget those hot drinks!

Whether you’re heading into the country for the holidays or staying home in the city, your local community will have lots to get involved with at this time of year. Turn those festive moments into a great Thanksgiving date idea you’ll never forget.  

Let’s get serious for a second: one of the best things you can do this holiday season is make a positive difference to those around you. Explore opportunities to donate your time together over the colder months, like working at a community meal service for those in need. As a volunteer, you might be serving in the dining halls, helping with inventory work behind the scenes, or putting together food parcels for delivery.

“Explore opportunities to donate your time together over the colder months, like working at a community meal service for those in need.” 

Check online for nearby volunteer options, or call a local shelter charity. Some cities even run initiatives like “Do Good Date Night”, so you can join forces with other daters to make a difference. 

Cute and quirky independent stores often rely on holiday spending, so why not make it a date? Take a tour of local markets or smaller shops and make the most of that personal service you just can’t get from bigger brands. As well as browsing unique pieces and getting a feel for your date’s tastes, you’ll avoid mass-produced items and cheap gifts from global suppliers. And don’t sleep on those local cafes and restaurants, too! A well-timed stop for coffee and snacks will turn a good date into a great one. 

Maybe you’re spending the holidays in your own space and are planning to hole-up indoors until New Year. We get it, and we love that you’re protecting your energy. So if you’re staying in, here are our favorite date ideas for Thanksgiving and beyond.  

Ready to get seriously controversial? Pies—pecan, pumpkin, cherry, sweet potato—are the best Thanksgiving food. They’re the savory side everyone reaches for first and the sweetest end to any big meal. 

So take this chance to perfect your pie-making before the big day (plus it’s never too early to practice for next year) and turn a Thanksgiving date into a pie-making session. Even better, have a pie-making contest. Any holiday recipe book can tell you how to make a great pie crust, or you can do a quick online search. Choose your fillings and make sure you end it with a taste test—blind if you can. Or if you’re not ready for your competitive streak to shine yet, you can just bake one and enjoy it together. It’s your date! 

We love introducing dates to friends and getting a general vibe check. Florian, 25, loves this tactic: “Group settings help you get to know each other without needing to fire lots of questions one-on-one. My friends will bring a date too, and it’s always a great, relaxed time.” We agree with Florian—count it as a major green flag when you’re so excited about a date, you just can’t wait to introduce them to your crew. So how about throwing a low-key Friendsgiving as a Thanksgiving date idea? 

“Group settings help you get to know each other without needing to fire lots of questions one-on-one. My friends will bring a date too, and it’s always a great, relaxed time.”

Invite some of your favorite people over, and you and your date can collaborate on serving up something delicious. Don’t feel bound by traditional Thanksgiving foods—this is all about new traditions, so go wherever you want with the menu. And if you’re not so keen on an all-day cooking session, you could turn it into a pot-luck situation and see what your friends can muster up. 

We hope the suggestions from our Bumble dating experts have given you ideas for a great Thanksgiving date night. We love that you can try out these dates anywhere and with anyone, whether you’re looking to cuff up or keep it cute and seasonal. And if you’re looking for someone to help you celebrate the season with a fun date or two, download and sign up to Bumble now to find them!