12 Things to Do for Christmas If You Don’t Celebrate
The season of joy is upon us, and we all need as much holiday magic as the world can provide right now. Whether you’re an avid Christmas fanatic or just happy to have a few days off from work, this series will help you choose the perfect gifts, playlists, meals and activities to make this the best Christmas ever .
In some ways, the Christmas season will be more fun if you don’t celebrate it. There is no pressure. You can enjoy the colorful lights your neighbors have installed, but you don’t have to install your own. You won’t have to make any routine purchases. You can take a vacation and not feel obligated to visit relatives. But Christmas itself leaves you in an almost closed world where it seems like there is nothing to do . Luckily, there are still plenty of options to make December 25th a fun weekend, no matter what your observances are.
Non-Christmas classics: Chinese restaurants and cinema
You can’t go wrong with some moo shu pork and a trip to the multiplex. Chinese restaurants and cinemas traditionally remain open on Christmas Day for non-celebrants, and they are often crowded with other Christmas refugees. Check your local Chinese restaurant’s opening hours on Google and call them to make a reservation. If you’re more adventurous and are in a city big enough to have a Chinatown (or any other city), just head straight there at Christmas and see what happens – that’s how the best days usually start.
If Chinese food isn’t your thing, check out restaurants that offer any non-European cuisine: Greek, Japanese and Mediterranean establishments are usually open, as well as many Italian restaurants and steakhouses. Just make sure you check first. Many chain restaurants are open on Christmas Day, including Applebees, McDonald’s, Benihana and others. You can even get Christmas breakfast at your local IHOP. But not all stores open the same hours, so check first.
When it comes to movies, most chain multiplexes open on December 25th and theaters are usually pretty full. The films attract both people who don’t celebrate Christmas and people who do but want to get away from their families for a couple of hours, so make sure to reserve a seat in advance. Consider going to a remote location or theater with table settings and comfortable seating to make it feel like something special.
Most Christmas movie fans don’t want to watch Christmas feature films, so they often plan to release interesting “secular” films on the 25th. For example, the 2024 Bob Dylan biopic Total Unknown is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day and likely has nothing to do with Christmas.
Less obvious Christmas entertainment options
Chinese restaurants and cinemas aren’t the only places open on Christmas Day. Here are some more options:
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Go skiing or snowboarding: Most mountains are open on Christmas Day and the lift lines are blissfully empty. There’s no better way to celebrate the winter holiday than on an open mountain.
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Visit the skating rink . Speaking of winter sports, skating rinks are usually open on Christmas Day as well.
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Pretend to be a tourist : Tourist attractions are often open at Christmas, especially in larger cities. This includes places like Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not, as well as zip lines and Segway tours – so do that tourist thing you’ve never done before.
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Remove the number. If you have some spare money and nothing else to do, rent a hotel room. Hotels typically stay open on Christmas Day and usually offer plenty of amenities, so take advantage of the pool at the Holiday Inn or the spa at the Four Seasons, depending on your lifestyle.
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Hiking and Biking: Hiking trails and parks are open on Christmas Day if you want to get out and about. If you like to bike, hike the trails, or stroll the streets: Christmas Day traffic is minimal, so it’s a great time to get some serious road work done.
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Volunteer : Having nothing to do for Christmas is not the biggest problem in life, especially compared to people who have nowhere to go and nothing to eat. So use Christmas to help people and really bring this whole “good will to man” idea to life. Check your local Craigslist for volunteer opportunities.
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Use Christmas as a day to catch up: This is strictly for Type A people, but if everyone is out of town and no one is going to call you, why not spend the day working on undone tasks or personal projects? You can spend at least part of the 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.
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Just sleep all day : Type B personalities like me view a day free of obligations and other people as a perfect opportunity to do as little as humanly possible, a day to completely dedicate oneself to laziness.
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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 with your loved ones, play games, watch a movie, cook together, talk or do anything else you enjoy. You don’t have to go out to have fun, so don’t rule out staying home with the people you care about.
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Shopping : This place is at the bottom of the list because it’s iffy. Pharmacies and convenience stores such as 711 typically open on the 25th. Grocery chains like Kroger’s and Trader Joe’s typically don’t do this. Your local mall or retail area may be open, but most likely will not be open, so check in advance.
Make a list and check it twice
Since so many places are closed on Christmas Day, you should plan ahead (unless you like spontaneity and don’t mind the possibility of disappointment):
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Make a list of places you want to go.
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I call nearby establishments to confirm that they will be open, since not every chain follows the recommendations for corporate holiday hours.
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Booking tables at any restaurant(s) you plan to visit.
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We create a basic daily schedule that takes into account travel time so you don’t lose your reservation, miss a movie, or arrive after the store closes.