THE FRIEND DATE BUCKET LIST: 12 IDEAS TO TRY THIS YEAR
I think it’s safe to say that a big part of growing and maintaining healthy, intentional friendships is spending quality time with your friends.
But coming up with ideas to hang out can feel daunting, and sometimes it is.
And you’re also tired of doing the same old things.
But the trick is to take that old thing and turn it into something new, putting your own spin on it to make it enjoyable for your friend group.
This blog post is here to help you jazz things up with these 12 unique friend dates for every month of the year.
Feel free to use these ideas as is, or remix them in a way that you and your friends will love!
4 Ways To Have An Amazing Friend Date
These four elements are key to ensuring you and your friends have a great time hanging out together. You don’t need all of them every time, but as the saying goes, the more the merrier!
1| Include food or refreshments
We love to eat! Anytime food is involved, you have a better chance of your friends showing up.
For the hangout, it’s important to pick meals, snacks, or refreshments that make sense for the occasion.
Like if you’re going on a bike ride, it’s ideal to shoot for lighter refreshments beforehand instead of a full-course meal.
Don’t forget to consider your friend’s dietary restrictions, allergies, and budgets.
2| Do an activity
While we love a good opportunity to sit and chat with friends, doing that every time you get together can get old pretty quickly.
Incorporating an activity allows you and your friends to experience life together and create new memories.
Strive to do something different each time you get together to break up the monotony.
Activity Theme Examples:
Creative activities
Adventurous/spontaneous activities
Physical activities
Craft activities
Competitive activities
Relaxing activities
3| Spark good conversations
Some good ole girl talk never gets old! Find conversation starters that will spark fun dialogue, healthy debates, and lots of laughs!
Doing so allows you to learn more about your friends, their interests, perspectives, and who they are in this season of life.
4| Collect a keepsake from the hangout
This can be a photo that you and your friends took together, a coffee cup from a cafe you visited, or a scarf from a crochet class you all tried.
Anything to help you remember the special moments shared with your best friends.
12 Friend Date Ideas For Every Month
January Friend Date Idea: Blind Book Date + Cozy Drinks 📚☕️
Go to a bookstore with your friend and split up. Find a book you think the other will enjoy or challenge them with a new genre to explore.
Then, head to a local coffee shop, exchange books, and relax with some cozy reading and a warm drink.
February Friend Date Idea: Cake Decorating 🎂🧁
Gather your friends and either take a class together or have a fun decorating party at home.
If you choose the DIY route, you'll need cake decorating supplies (check your local craft stores), pre-made cakes (box mix, anyone?), cake topping decorations, and cute boxes to package the beauties.
For extra razzle-dazzle, create a photo staging area so everyone can take IG-worthy pictures of their masterpieces!
March Friend Date Idea: DIY Charm Bracelets & Bubbly 💚🥂
St. Patrick's Day is this month, so it's the perfect time to gather your friends and create your own "lucky charms."
Transform a space in your home into a craft station and allow your creative juices to flow!
Craft Station Items:
Jewelry pliers
Wire cutters
Beading wire
Keyrings
Clasps
Jump rings
Charms
Beads
Enhance the experience with green-themed bubbly drinks to really get in the spirit!
April Friend Date Idea: DIY Flower Bouquets & A Picnic 🌷🧺
Spring will have sprung, and the flowers will be in bloom, so why not kick the season off by spending time outside?
For the picnic: pack a durable and comfy outdoor blanket, picnic food and drinks, utensils, and a portable speaker.
For DIY bouquets: find an assortment of flowers at local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or florists.
Bouquet Items Needed:
A flower vessel (thrifted vases, mason jars, floral wrapping paper, or decorated paper bags work well)
Rubber bands
Scissors
Water
Tape
Find inspo and how-to videos on social media to bring your visions to life.
May Friend Date Idea: Personalized Puzzle Date + Takeout 📸 🧩
We love customizable fun, and this activity is perfect for that!
Grab your favorite photos of your friends or use a group shot (and make sure everyone likes it!)
Use a free tool like Canva to create a digital collage, then upload it to a site like Etsy or Shutterfly to turn it into a custom puzzle.
Order your favorite takeout and challenge yourselves to complete the puzzle in one night.
Record a short clip every 15-30 minutes to track your progress until you complete it, then watch it back together.
June Friend Date Idea: Walking Circuit 🚶🏽♀️🤸🏽♀️
Let’s lean into fitness this month as a way to spend quality time with our friends.
So, what’s a walking circuit?
It’s when you and your friends go for a walk (or jog) and choose to stop after a certain period or distance and do an exercise or two.
Example:
Plan to walk for 30 minutes, and after every 5 minutes, stop and do either jumping jacks, squats, or push-ups.
It’s a free activity that requires no equipment, just two friends taking care of their health while bonding.
July Friend Date Idea: Popsicles + Swimming 🌊☀️
Summer will be in full effect, and it can get really hot!
Cool down and get creative with homemade smoothie pops (icees, freeze pops, whatever you like to call them!).
Blend fresh or frozen fruit with your favorite base (yogurt, juice, or milk) and toss in some healthy extras like sea moss, chia seeds, greens, or protein (because it’s a healthy girl summer, right?!).
Pour the mixture into cute popsicle molds and freeze. While the icees set, head to your local pool, lake, or beach to go swimming.
Then, wrap up the day back at your place with refreshing popsicles and relaxation in the summer sun.
August Friend Date Idea: Outdoor Activity + Try A New Restaurant 🛶🌮
This month is the perfect time for an outdoor activity. Gather your friends, put on some cute athlesiure, and go outside!
Outdoor Activity Ideas:
Fishing
Gardening
Kayaking
Hiking
Canoeing
Doing an obstacle course
Playing a sport
Bike riding
Afterwards, head home to freshen up and meet back up to try a new restaurant together.
September Friend Date Idea: Bakery + Fall Shopping 🥐🛍️
When September rolls around, it’s like an automatic switch flips, and you and your friends are ready to give your home a cozy makeover.
Might as well do it together!
Start by visiting a local bakery and grab your favorite pastries.
While you’re there, create Pinterest boards of the fall, winter, and holiday aesthetics you want for your home.
Think about what you already have and make a list of what you’d absolutely love, really like, and items you’d be open to purchasing if they’re on sale (but aren't a must-have).
Then, head out for a shopping date with your bestie!
Continue the fun by heading to each other's houses to help decorate.
October Friend Date Idea Costumes + Bar Hopping 👩🏽🚀 🍸
‘Tis the season where you can dress up and have fun, whether you’re into Halloween or not! Get into glam mode, throw together a creative costume, and hit the town with your besties.
You don’t even have to drink to join the fun; grab a mocktail or share some appetizers instead.
Either way, you’ll enjoy a night of make-believe, laughter, and unforgettable photos.
Bonus points if you all really get into character!
November Friend Date Idea: Paint Night @ Home 👩🏽🎨 🎨
Around this time of year, we love a good cozy indoor activity, and hosting a paint night with friends is the perfect idea.
This month, keep it classic by painting simple canvases inspired by the holiday season.
You can follow free online painting tutorials or purchase a digital class from a paint shop.
Paint, canvases, easels, and palettes are fairly affordable and easy to find at your local craft store.
If you want to add a fun twist, set a timer for 3–5 minutes. Everyone starts painting their own canvas, then switches canvases when the timer goes off to add to the next person’s artwork, and repeat.
December Friend Date Idea: Host an end-of-the-year party 🪩🎉
This is a time of reflection and celebration, so why not do it with your best friends?
Make it potluck style and have each friend bring over their favorite dish.
Each person will put together and share a short presentation listing their favorite moments of the year, wins, books they've read, songs they had on repeat, or new experiences, and photos of themselves that they love.
Then finish it off with a dance party or karaoke night to bring the joy and laughter into the new year.
The most important thing about these friend dates is being together.
In a world that’s pushing people into isolation, let’s fight back with friendships that deserve our time and presence!
Do you have any friend date ideas that would be perfect for a particular month? I’d love for you to share in the comments!
