Cheap & FREE Christmas date ideas around the city!

you guys! it's coming! tis the season for holiday cheer, christmas miracles and your bank account plummeting lower than any other time the rest of the year… yay! between buying gifts for everyone in your life, hosting holiday parties, that crazy heating bill and having to buy new snow boots …. it's gonna be a long winter, y'all! i figured it would be fun to write up a quick list of some of the cheapest christmasy date ideas around the city! because everyone loves a good winter date with that special someone, but tickets to some of those holiday attractions can get a little crazy expensive. we all know i'm pretty good at cutting cost corners, so i'm calling them "JD's HoliDATES" … date ideas all under $20. man, i love a good pun.

 Findlay Holiday Market 
ok, so obviously you could spend thousands at an event like this. but every year, it's just fun to walk around the market and listen to the holiday music, admire the lights and sip on your hot chocolate. it's kind of a perfect findlay day. lots of vendors come out with beautiful holiday gift pieces and there's also a tree lot ready to go.

The Christmas Ranch
a cincinnati favorite for sure. over a million lights, a reindeer room and did i mention the wagon rides? it's only a couple of bucks to get in. totally worth it. go in the evening and stay until the night time. photo opps all over the place!

Young's Funeral Home Christmas Open house
if you mention the Young's funeral home to most anyone, young (young. ha) or old, they will probably say "oh yeah! that's the one with the live nativity scene, right?" yes it is. complete with carriage rides, warm snacks and live animals to admire you won't want to miss out on this. did i mention it's free? high five.

Ice Skating downtown
this is one of those perfect holiday activities. there's always the cutest 14 year old couples awkwardly holding hands and at least one girl out there twirling and spinning that has clearly been ice skating her whole life. your toes will be cold and you'll fall at least once but it's only $10 so deal with it!

Santa's Workshop
ok, maybe this is more of a kid friendly event rather than a sexy holiDATE but still… maybe you're one of those couples that wants Santa selfies OR maybe you want to bring the kiddies along on your dates? who knows. but this event is free, every saturday and … free!

The Nutcracker at the Museum Center
a free performance of the #1 holiday show ever created? this one sounds too good to be true but i'll be there will bells on. jingle bells, obviously. the museum is always decorated so beautifully for the holidays and this show is a favorite for everyone.

Santaland
While walking around and admiring christmas lights is fun and all, sometimes you just want the good times to come to you. Stay in your car, play your own tunes and drive thru Santaland to enjoy the lights from the privacy of your Honda.

Cincy Sings
it's the choir nerd in me that can't wait for this event. i'll go alone if i gotta! while doing your holiday shopping downtown, enjoy the sweet songs of the best voices in the city. if you see me there, i'll be the one singing along and probably getting yelled at by security.

Holiday Trains
ok so this one might not be free to everyone! but it IS if you are a duke energy customer OR a member of the cincinnati museum. which includes a lot of us out there. this display is pretty spectacular and there's plenty of holiday treats available there, too.

keep an eye out for coupons, discount codes and other alternatives to paying full price to get into all those other holiday activities out there! and if you have anything to add to the list, feel free to let us all know! the holidays are one of the tightest for everyone when it comes to saving their money so let's all keep each other in the loop for cheap ideas! you're welcome, lovers!

update: i went to pick up skyline today AND there's half off adult & child admission to the festival of lights. that's a pretty serious deal,  guys!