What to Do for Christmas If You Don’t Celebrate

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, unless you celebrate it. Then you are stuck in an almost closed world with seemingly nothing to do. Luckily, you still have quite a few options, whether you’re going out alone or with friends, to make December 25th a fun weekend, no matter your observances.

Obvious things: Chinese restaurants and films

Chinese restaurants and cinemas traditionally remain open on Christmas Day for those of us who don’t celebrate Christmas and/or have nowhere else to go. Just by buying an orange chicken and watching what’s on at the multiplex, you can have a merry Christmas. While this guide will cover ways to find other activities, don’t rule out these time-tested non-Christmas activities. They are an integral part of the holiday for a good reason.

Chinese food is a great Christmas option, but it’s not your only choice.

Finding a Chinese restaurant open on Christmas Day shouldn’t be too difficult. Just search Yelp for options near you. A few phone calls will get you to food pretty quickly. If you’re in a larger city with a lot of Chinese restaurants (like Chinatown), you can head straight there, but be sure to make reservations, even if it’s just for dinner or a small party. Popular restaurants sometimes get so busy at Christmas that they can’t accommodate everyone. You may not encounter a problem, but it’s always better to be prepared.

If Chinese cuisine is not your thing (or your reservation was unsuccessful), look into restaurants that offer any non-European cuisine. This is a good time to check out that Vietnamese place you’ve been eyeing or try some Thai food called Halakh . Many establishments serving non-Western food close on Christmas Day because they feel they won’t have enough customers to justify the cost of operating, so check opening hours online or call them to be sure.

Going to the Movies: A Classic Christmas Activity

The traditional choice of Christmas entertainment is movies. There are always several new releases at Christmas because theaters attract both people who don’t celebrate Christmas and people who do celebrate the holiday but want to get away from their families. Moviegoing is so popular on Christmas Day that it’s best to buy your tickets in advance—check out Fandango , MovieTickets.com , or order them directly from the theater of your choice. Consider visiting a distant or more expensive theater with table service or comfortable seating that you wouldn’t normally go to, which could make it an event.

If there’s a movie theater nearby that has seating, consider going there, even if you have to drive a little further. Christmas is a very busy time at the cinema and you don’t want to be stuck in the front row. However, regardless of your assigned seating, you should still arrive a little early. Traffic and parking can lead to delays on a busy day.

Some Less Obvious Options for Christmas Fun

Chinese restaurants and cinemas aren’t the only places open on Christmas Day. A number of other retailers – and even some local stores – are limiting their hours for the minority who don’t celebrate the holiday.

Activity

Some attractions remain open on Christmas Day, especially in larger cities. As always, call ahead before making plans. Here are some options:

• Ski or snowboard : Most mountains are open on Christmas Day and the lifts are blissfully empty. There’s no better way to celebrate the winter holiday than on an open mountain.

• Pretend to be a tourist : Tourist attractions tend to stay open on Christmas Day, especially in larger cities. This includes places like Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not , as well as zipline and segway tours. Find out what’s happening in your area and chances are they will have special Christmas hours. Of course, many tourist attractions do not need to remain open for you to enjoy them. If you want to see a monument or historical site, they are still available over Christmas and won’t cost you anything.

• Visit a park or skating rink : It may be cold outside (in some places), but if you bundle up, you can enjoy the park or skating rink. Bring your friends and play snow soccer together. Bring a sled if your park has a large slide. When you get home, make some hot chocolate and enjoy the warmth again.

• Remove the number . If you have some spare money and nothing to do, rent a hotel room. Hotels may not close on Christmas Day and they usually offer plenty of amenities. As always, be sure to call ahead to find out if there are any restrictions on Christmas Day.

• Volunteer : Having nothing to do for Christmas is not such a big life problem that needs to be solved. Other people have nowhere to go and nothing to eat. If you have nothing to do, use this time to volunteer and help people who need it. Check out local homeless shelters and non-profits. Check out VolunteerMatch if you can’t find anything easily. Your local Craigslist has a volunteer board that you can look into as well.

• Use Christmas as a meeting day : Has everyone left town? Have you been neglecting household chores, work, hobbies, or even working on multiple DIY projects ? While getting things done may not be anyone’s first choice on a weekend, Christmas or other day, you can spend at least part of your day crossing a few things off your to-do list and relax the rest of the time. This way, you’ll get a break and still feel accomplished.

• Spend time with friends and family at home : Not celebrating Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t spend the day with family and/or friends. Get together as a family (or a family of your choice) and play games, watch a movie, cook together, talk, or do anything else you all enjoy. You don’t have to go out to have fun, so don’t rule out staying home with the people you care about.

These are just a few options. Some local events and attractions, such as arcades, laser tag, spas and sports clubs, often remain open on Christmas Day. We can’t list them all here, but call a few places to see if they’re open. You might be surprised.

Many chain restaurants are open on Christmas Day.

Some national chain restaurants remain open on Christmas Day, so if you’re not a fan of Chinese food, you can always count on them. There are a variety of restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to suit every taste, from Applebee’s to Benihana, Denny’s, Fogo de Chão and many more. Keep in mind that not all franchises often follow the same schedule, so one Burger King may be open on Christmas Day while another is not. Call ahead first.

Pharmacies and convenience stores are generally open. Grocery chains often don’t

You won’t find much to celebrate at the store, but many chains traditionally remain open for a short time on Christmas Day, including Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven. Grocery store chains are typically closed on December 25th—Costco, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and many others will be closed for the holiday.

Plan ahead

With so many places closed on Christmas Day, the only thing you need to do is plan ahead. In most cases, this won’t take more than 15-20 minutes and can ensure that you don’t encounter any unwanted frustrations throughout the day. Just follow these steps:

1. Make a list of places you want to visit.

2. Call nearby stores to confirm they will be open, as not every chain follows corporate holiday hours guidelines. It’s always a good idea to find out their exact opening times on Christmas Day.

3. Make reservations at any restaurant(s) you plan to visit.

4. Create a basic daily schedule with travel times in mind so you don’t lose your reservation, miss a movie, or arrive after the store closes.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be ready to enjoy a special non-Christmas holiday, whether you’re going alone or enjoying the day with others.

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