Things to do at night for free: 53 Free (And Cheap) Fun Things To Do At Night

53 Free (And Cheap) Fun Things To Do At Night

10
shares

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY DISCLOSURES FOR MORE INFORMATION

A few years ago, I got off work on Friday and was excited to hang out with my friends.

I ate dinner, showered, got dressed and headed over to my buddy’s house to meet everyone.

Once there, we all talked for a bit, then decided to figure out what we were going to do.

There was silence.

No one could come up with anything.

So we ended up at the local bar and had some drinks, like we usually did.

It was nice to hang out, but always doing the same thing gets old.

I got tired of the routine, so one night, I sat down and compiled a list of fun things to do near me.

I included things that were free and things that cost money. I tried to keep things on the cheap side because my one friend was saving for a house.

In the end, I came up with a list of over 53 fun things to do at night.

We did most of these things on Friday or Saturday nights, but you can do them on any night you choose.

This list covers everything, including:

things near me to do
fun things to do at night with friends
fun things to do at night outside
fun things to do at night at home
fun family night activities
things to do at night by yourself
adventurous things to do at night

The bottom line is, once you go through this list, you should not be at a loss for something to do.

Table of Contents

I’m breaking out the ideas in this post by category so you can easily find the perfect activities to do.

But don’t skip any!

Some family fun ideas can also be used when you are with your friends. And some ideas with your friends can be done alone.

Fun Things To Do At Night With Friends

#1. Game Night

This is my favorite fun thing to do with friends.

We get together and play some board games all night long.

It saves us money by not going out and it let’s us laugh and catch up at the same time.

Related: Click here to find over 75 ways to save money

And on a regular basis, something in the game will remind us of an old memory that will we retell and laugh about.

Here are our favorites to play. The best prices on these games are on Amazon.

Cards Against Humanity
Trivial Pursuit
Apples To Apples
Pictionary
Monopoly

There are some others, but these are our go to choices.

#2. Movie Night

Going out to the movies is expensive!

The ticket alone will cost you close to $20 and if you dare buy popcorn and a soda, you are looking at spending a whole paycheck!

A more frugal option is to have movie night in.

Pick a house to meet up at and then pick a movie.

You can either search for a free movie on cable, or you can buy one on demand. Usually renting one will only cost a few bucks.

Alternatively, someone could hit up RedBox on their way or bring a movie they own.

When we do this, we sometimes just meet up and figure out a movie as a group.

Other times, one person is responsible for picking the movie.

This usually works out well, since I see movies I otherwise wouldn’t choose to see.

The only catch here is if you are picking the movie, change it up. Don’t always pick a sports movie or a horror movie.

Add some variety so everyone can have fun.

#3. Go On Pretend Shopping Spree

This creative way to have fun is one of my favorites.

Growing up, I loved to watch Supermarket Sweep.

It was a game show where contestants had a couple minutes to run through a grocery store and put items in their cart.

The team with the highest total got to compete for $5,000.

You can do the same thing, but just pretend.

Go to a grocery store or department store and divide into teams.

Then take 5 minutes to go through the store and take pictures of the price tag of items.

Meet back up at the end and total up your price tags to see who spent the most money.

You could even do this online.

Pick a website and scroll through for a few minutes putting items into your cart. The highest total wins.

Want to change it up?

Instead of the winner getting the highest total, have the person who saved the most by buying items on sale and clearance.

Or, pull out your favorite credit card and see who can earn the most cash back or travel rewards based on the things you buy.

#4. Binge Watch With Friends

This is our newest fun thing to do at night.

Instead of picking a movie, we pick a TV series we all love and watch it.

Sometimes we will watch the episodes in order. Other times everyone will pick their favorites and we will only watch those.

With so many streaming options out there, finding some TV shows to watch should not be difficult.

#5. Local Community Calendar

If you are looking for free things to do, you have to check out your local community calendar.

There you will discover many options that cover all areas. From grand openings, to movies in the park and concerts, there is usually something happening.

In the past, you typically had to look through the local newspaper to learn about these events.

While you can still do this, local Facebook groups and your online community website should have all the details.

#6. Charity Event

Charity events are fun not only because you are supporting a great cause, but they usually have raffles and silent auctions.

The last one we went to, I bid on a gift basket of personal care items. Most people bid on the basket of scratch off lottery tickets.

I won my basket and didn’t have to spend any money on soap or shampoo for months!

#7. Drive Around

This is a fun thing to do that many people overlook.

Jump into a car and drive around town.

You may end up on roads you usually don’t drive down and discover a great restaurant or dive bar to check out.

Even better, if you and your friends are all from the same town, drive back there, assuming it is nearby.

You will have memories come flooding back as you drive around your hometown and see how it has changed over the years.

#8. Bowling

Bowling isn’t just for kids. It’s fun for everyone.

And it is especially something to do on Saturday night.

This is because many bowling alleys have Glow and Bowl.

It usually starts at 11pm or Midnight and for a few hours you bowl for a set price.

They turn down the lights and usually turn on black lights and play some fun music.

Some alleys even offer discounted food and drinks. And if you are lucky, the bowling alley near you serves beer!

#9. Pool

I’m not talking about swimming here, but billiards.

Shooting pool, even if you never played, is a lot of fun.

Most billiard halls rent out a table by the hour, so if you have 4 friends, you can split the cost.

Just note that some do charge per person and not by the table. So be sure to ask!

We can go and get lost for a couple hours.

And none of us are any good.

I think that is what makes it so much fun. We miss easy shots and hit ones that look impossible.

Fun Things To Do At Night Outside

#10. Outdoor Concert

Communities have free outdoor concerts during the summer months.

Just go to your community’s website to see what concerts there are.

Many bars and venues also have outdoor concerts and don’t charge as much as a typical concert.

Finally, there might be free concerts during holiday festivals too, like July 4^th.

#11.

Carnivals And Fairs

A fun thing to do outside is go to carnivals and fairs.

In my area, local fire companies have carnivals to raise money.

In addition to rides and food, there are games as well as music.

The best part is you don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want.

You can just walk around.

But if you do feel like having more fun, try bingo. It’s usually $0.25 a game and if you get lucky, you could win a few dollars.

#12. Geocaching

Geocaching is a blast.

If you aren’t familiar with it, people hide little treasures and you have to go find them.

It’s a modern day version of a scavenger hunt.

Just download the free app and create an account. You can then see the caches hiding around your area.

You will get a general idea where the treasure is, but you still have to find it.

Once you find everything in your area, you can expand the hunt to other towns.

#13. Laser Tag

Did you play laser tag as a kid?

I loved running around and shooting the other team.

They have newer laser tag guns where you can pair them so you can play with a large group of people.

Here are the ones we have.

Just divide into teams and start the game.

The great thing about this game is you can play outside during the summer and inside during the winter!

#14. Have A Water Balloon Fight

On a hot summer night there nothing more fun than a water balloon fight.

Just fill up some balloons with water and start the fight.

You can have a set area where you play or turn it into a game of tag.

Just use your imagination and you can turn a basic water balloon fight into something epic.

#15. Bonfire

There is nothing like sitting around a bonfire at night, talking and having some drinks with friends.

Of course, you need to have the area to have a great bonfire.

If you live in a neighborhood and bonfires are not an option, hope is not lost.

You can build or even buy a firepit.

Set some folding chairs around it or even just lay down some blankets and you are set.

#16. Stargazing

On a clear night, looking up at the stars is incredible.

To see the most stars, you want to get as far away from city lights as possible.

Then grab a chair and just start looking up.

If you are lucky, you might see some shooting stars or passing satellites.

You can even check out this site to see what planets might be visible in your sky.

While a telescope isn’t required to see the planet, having one will take the fun up a level.

Here is the one we use that we got from Amazon.

#17. Camping

I loved camping when I was little.

I would set up my tent in my backyard in the summer and sleep out there most nights.

You can do the same or even visit a local campground to camp at.

I just recommend you leave your phone in the house or car so you can enjoy a technology free night.

And as a bonus, you could even star gaze while camping!

Fun Things To Do At Night At Home

#18.

Put Together A Puzzle

Jigsaw puzzles are great. They make your mind work and you get to relax at the same time.

I like getting a beer and sitting down for a few hours on a Friday night and put a puzzle together.

It helps me to unwind from the week.

You can find puzzles everywhere to buy.

But I recommend you pick some that look like an image that doesn’t look too hard.

This is especially true for first timers.

It can get frustrating putting together a difficult puzzle for the first time.

And while you can put the puzzle together on your own, you can also do it with friends.

#19. Card Games

Playing cards is a classic way to have fun at home.

There are so many games you can play with a deck of cards:

Blackjack
Solitaire
Go Fish
Hearts
Crazy Eights
Poker

Of course there others as well.

The best part is you can play many of them alone or with friends.

#20. Potluck Dinner

We starting doing a monthly potluck dinner and it’s a lot of fun.

We first decide whose house is hosting, then we each bring a dish.

Then we sit around talking and eating amazing food.

If there are leftovers, we dole them out to whomever wants them.

Many times the dinner will end and we will start playing board games for the rest of the night.

#21. International Dinner

This is a twist on the idea above.

Instead of everyone bringing a random dish, focus on a specific cuisine.

Maybe this weekend is Mexican night, so everyone brings a Mexican dish to eat.

This adds to the fun of the evening as many times you end up cooking something new and may even discover a new food you want to start eating.

#22. Have A Pillow Fight

Pillow fights are the best. Round up a handful of pillows and divide into teams.

Make sure you remove anything fragile from the room you plan to have the pillow fight in so nothing gets broken.

You could set it up as a free for all where everyone fights at the same time or have one on one battles with the other people judging the winner after a set amount of time.

#23. Play Dress Up

Dressing up is a lot of fun.

And you don’t need to fit in a box either.

You could have fancy dress up night, where the men wear suits and the women wear dresses.

Or you could make it funny dress up and wear a suit top with just athletic shorts.

Or you could switch it up and have the guys wear dresses and the women wear suits.

Maybe wear Halloween costumes?

The choices are endless and will be more fun as you let your mind go to think of some crazy ideas.

#24. Make Smores

Making smores is an easy thing to do that everyone will love.

And you don’t need a campfire for making smores.

You could use a toaster oven.

Just use it to heat up the marshmallow and chocolate and you are set.

#25.

Charades

Playing charades is a timeless way to have fun on the weekends.

Just have everyone write some ideas down on paper, and put them into a hat.

Then you could divide into teams or have every person compete on their own.

Fun Family Night Activities

#26. Visit Friends Or Family

Think of the last time you saw some of your friends or family. Now make it a point to schedule a night to see them.

You can catch up and reminisce with the ones you love.

And the good feelings you get doing this will carry forward into the days ahead as well.

#27. Play Your Childhood Favorites

Remember all those games you played as a kid?

Now is the time to pass those games down to your kids.

You can play outdoors or inside, just teach the rules and get to it.

And if your memory isn’t great, here are the ones I loved as a kid.

Red Rover
Statue
Red Light, Green Light
Capture The Flag
Freeze Tag

Hopefully this short list sparks your memory of the fun things you did as a kid.

#28. Cook For The Week

If you like cooking and want to save some money, you could spend your Saturday night cooking food for the week.

Shop the sales at the grocery store and come up with a meal prep list.

Related: Click here to learn the simple tricks to meal planning

Then start making food and portion it out.

For things you plan on eating in the next few days, you can leave in the fridge. For everything else, put it into the freezer.

In one night, you could have a week’s worth of meals made, making dinner a lot less stressful.

To make it even more enjoyable, you can prep the meals while drinking a glass of wine and listening to music.

And if you have kids, be sure to include them in on the fun.

#29. Visit Flea Markets

As a kid, I loved going to flea markets.

I liked to look around at all of the different things for sale and just being out.

Of course, I also liked that we stopped at the one stand that sold licorice and got a few bags!

So find a flea market near you and experience something different.

#30. Scavenger Hunt

Having a scavenger hunt is a lot of fun with family or friends.

You can make up the clues to be around your house or around your town.

Then divide everyone into teams and give them the list of clues to find.

Just make sure you change up the players so the same person isn’t always the one creating the clues.

#31. Look At Old Photos

Another family night activity is to pull out the old photo albums you have or the photos you have on your phone and go through them.

As you scan through, you will be hit with memories and things to talk about.

You might even mark your favorites so you can create a photo book or album for future use.

#32. Mini Golf

Playing mini golf, of putt-putt to some, is a great idea for the family.

Young kids will have fun, as will adults.

You can even create teams to make it more competitive.

Afterwards, get a cone of ice cream to complete the fun.

#33. Go Karts

Riding go karts is a blast. We have both indoor and outdoor tracks around us.

And both have karts that allow for kids to sit with a parent to go around the track.

I’ll admit that even in my 20’s, my friends and I would go to the track on a Saturday night and race, it is that much fun.

#34. Arcade

Going to the arcade is another great fun thing to do. Most have newer video games to play as well as some old classics.

Add in pinball machines, skee-ball, and others and you have a night full of fun.

Things To Do At Night By Yourself

#35. Binge Watch

If you are alone on the weekend, you don’t have to mope around.

Find that TV show you always wanted to watch or come up with 2-3 movies you want to see and binge watch them.

Back in my single days, if I didn’t have plans on the weekend, I would order a pizza for dinner and start watching movies around 6pm.

I usually got through 2 and still was in bed at a decent hour.

#36. Earn Some Cash

Another option for something to do is to make some extra money.

Maybe you are trying to save up for a house, get out of debt, or you just want some more wiggle room in your monthly budget.

Related: Click here to learn the best ways to make money

There are many things you can do to make some extra money.

Drive for Uber
Take Surveys
Watch videos
Play games

While you aren’t going to get rich doing these things, they will put some extra cash in your pocket that can be used to get you ahead financially.

#37. Get Your Finances In Order

Speaking of your finances, another great option is to start getting your finances in order.

For many people this means setting up a budget so you know where your money is going.

But this isn’t a requirement.

Maybe you just set up a monthly transfer to a savings account so have a cushion of money if you need it.

Or you could just review your spending and see where you are spending too much money.

For example, maybe when you look at your spending summary on your credit card website you see you spent a ton of money eating out.

Related: Click here to see the many ways you are wasting money

Make it an effort to pack more lunches or make your dinner and save some money.

#38. Learn A New Hobby

What is something you’ve been wanting to do, but always put off?

Now is a great time to dive in and learn that new skill or hobby.

You can set aside one night or an entire weekend and educate yourself.

For me, it was photography. Astrophotagraphy to be exact.

I love looking at the night sky and taking amazing pictures always interested me.

So I set aside a few Saturday nights to learn how to take the pictures.

It’s been a blast and I am so thankful that I finally learned this new skill.

#39. Volunteer

This is the most underrated item on the list.

Most readers will skip this idea thinking it isn’t a lot of fun.

And while you might think it won’t be fun, the reality is you will enjoy yourself and be a better person as a result.

This is because when we volunteer, we get something out of it.

We get a feeling of pride and accomplishment inside that carries through to many days ahead.

And this will help you to not only be a better person, but be better with money too.

#40. Read

Reading is something I love to do, but rarely seem to have the time.

So when I have a free night, and am looking for a low key activity, I enjoy reading a book.

It helps me to think and strengthens my mind.

To make reading fun, pick out books on topics you like.

Maybe you enjoy the Civil War. Pick books on this topic.

Maybe you enjoy mysteries. Pick out some mystery novels.

The more interested you are about the subject, the more likely you will read.

#41. Declutter

If you are like me, you probably have piles of stuff everywhere.

Make it a point to clear some of this one night. Put on your favorite music and tackle a pile.

Your goal isn’t to clear every pile in your house.

Your goal is to pick 1-2 piles and go through it completely.

With the things in the pile, you either throw it in the trash or recycle it, donate it, keep it, or sell it.

The last option for all your piles is to keep the items. Usually if the item is in a pile, it doesn’t mean that much to you.

So try to clear the space first before deciding to keep something.

Once you have your pile cleared, make sure you donate anything on that pile so you be free of it.

Make sure to keep the receipt for the donation as you can write it off on your taxes.

If you have things in good condition, consider selling them. You can sell on Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook to make a few dollars.

If you have old electronics, like cell phones, consider selling them to Decluttr. They pay the highest price for your old tech.

#42. Dream

When I am bored on the weekend, I like to start dreaming.

I think of the things I want in life.

Then I start to figure out how I can achieve them.

Do I need to earn more money? Cut my expenses? Make it a point to save more money?

Maybe practice more at a new skill?

This usually gets me excited to challenge myself to try to make my dreams a reality.

#43. Put Together Photo Books

My wife has thousands of photos on her phone.

It’s a shame because there are some great photos that she rarely ever sees.

So we decided one night to start going through them and create photo books.

Now we have some great albums on our coffee table to scroll through whenever we want.

At the beginning, this activity can be more of a chore, but if you commit to having fun while doing it, it is really enjoyable.

Crazy Things To Do At Night

#44. Ghost Tour

If you are into the supernatural, see if there are any ghost tours near you.

These tours will stop at a few local haunted houses and tell you the story of why they are haunted.

It is a lot of fun, even if you don’t believe in ghosts.

#45. Play Hide And Seek In The Dark

This is one of my all time favorites.

My friends and I would get together right after sunset and play hide and seek.

All we needed was a flashlight and a set area to play.

Its spooky and fun to walk around in the night trying to find your friends.

#46. Play Truth Or Dare In The Dark

If hide and seek in the dark isn’t your thing, consider playing truth or dare at night.

I don’t know what it is about the night that makes this game so much more fun.

Maybe you can dare your friends to do wilder things because of the night and lower chance of being seen.

In any case, if you are looking for some crazy things to do at night, look no further than truth or dare.

#47. Drive And Get Lost

With GPS on our phones, it is nearly impossible to truly get lost.

But you can still experience the thrill of getting lost.

Just drive out to a place you never were and have friends guide you. When you get to an intersection, they can tell you whether to turn or go straight.

After a while, you will have no idea where you are. You might even stumble upon a new place to check out too.

When you are done, turn your GPS on to figure out how to back home.

Just make sure you have a full tank of gas in your car before getting lost.

And check the weather forecast too! You don’t want to get caught in a blizzard!

#48. Change Your Look

You can take this crazy thing to do as far as you want.

Maybe you just find some colors that you typically don’t wear and start wearing it.

Or maybe you change your hairstyle or the way you wear makeup.

The decision is yours.

Just research what you want to try out and then go for it.

For applying makeup, there are tons of YouTube videos to help you out.

If you are thinking of changing your hairstyle, I would find a couple you like and then book an appointment.

The last thing you want to try to cut your own hair and have it come out looking a mess!

#49. Take An Improv Class

Public speaking and getting up on the stage in front of people is our biggest fear.

So tackle this fear head on by taking an improv class.

You will come up with and rehearse a short skit and then perform it for the class.

It’s a great way to get over your fear and have fun at the same time.

#50. Go To A Shooting Range

Have you ever wanted to fire a gun but were too scared?

Set up a weekend to go to a shooting range with your friends.

You can rent out a booth for an hour, as well as the guns and ammo.

Have the instructor teach you the basics and stay with you as you learn how hard it is to fire a gun and be accurate at the same time!

#51. Skinny Dip

For the adventurous ones out there, there is skinny dipping.

You can do this in your own pool or even a lake or the ocean.

I don’t know what it is about this idea, but the trill of swimming in the nude gives you an endorphin rush.

#52. Break A Guinness World Record

There are thousands of world records out there. And I am certain there are some that you have a reasonable shot at breaking.

Run through them and find ones you think you can break.

Then sign up on the Guinness website and fill out the application.

#53. Dumpster Dive

Here is another crazy idea for you.

Go dumpster diving.

It is a lot of fun and you never know what treasures you might find.

Related: Click here to learn dumpster diving tips for beginners

Contrary to the belief of many, dumpster diving is not illegal everywhere.

As long as you follow the law, there are many places you can legally jump into a dumpster and take anything of value you find.

#54. Go Streaking

This one is along the same lines of skinny dipping.

There is a thrill that comes from streaking.

If you decide to do this, I recommend you have a plan and you do it at night.

By doing this, you will have a greater chance of not getting identified or caught by the authorities.

Wrapping Up

There are over 53 free and cheap things to do at night.

Run through the list and mark your favorites and then use them as a guide when you want to find something fun to do.

The best part is many of these can be done throughout the year and even during the week.

Don’t think that there is nothing to do.

There is plenty of things to do, you just needed this list to spark your imagination.

10
shares

30 Fun Things to Do For Free At Night in 2023

Looking to do fun things at night? But what if you’re on a strict budget? Maybe you’re saving money to get out of debt or to make a big purchase.

You may not want or be able to spend money on costly entertainment options. However, there are plenty of activities you can do for free — even at night!

Check out this list of fun things you can do for free any evening of the week.

Table of Contents

Free Fun Things You Can Do at Night
- 1. Enjoy a Free Outdoor Concert
- 2. Have a Game Night
- 3. Have a Backyard Camping Experience
- 4. Do a Girls Spa Evening
- 5. Do a Guys Sports Evening
- 6. Movie Night
- 7. Attend (or Host) a Neighborhood Outdoor Movie Event
- 8. Have a Bonfire
- 9. Walk the Downtown Streets and Enjoy the Action
- 10. Earn Some Cash
- 11. Create a Goals List
- 12. Organize a Neighborhood Potluck
- 13. Start on Your Christmas Gift Giving List
- 14. Binge Watch Your Favorite TV or Movie Series
- 15. Learn a New Skill
- 16. Learn a New Hobby
- 17. Visit a Friend or Family Member
- 18. Create Some Freezer Meals
- 19. Get Your Finances In Order
- 20. Go Reminiscing
- 21. Volunteer
- 22. Play an Outdoor Game
- 23. Visit a Bookstore
- 24. Check Your City’s Community Calendar for Free Events
- 25. Read a Good Book from the Library
- 26. Put Together a Puzzle
- 27. Go for a Walk
- 28. Organize a Room
- 29. Rearrange a Room
- 30. Do Some Decluttering
Summary

Free Fun Things You Can Do at Night

No matter where you live, you can always find fun things to do for free at night. You may not have all of these options in your town. However, it’s safe to say you can do many of them.

Make a list of the free things you can do in your town, starting by taking suggestions off of this list. Then grow your list based on options offered in your city or town.

1. Enjoy a Free Outdoor Concert

Most cities have some venue for free outdoor concerts. Try doing an internet search for “free outdoor concerts near me. ” You should get results sharing outdoor concerts in your city and surrounding cities and towns as well.

When I searched for free concerts in my area, there were at least a half dozen events that hosted free concerts every week. From Blues and Jazz to Classical, the free music event options are plentiful.

You could also try searching your state’s tourism website for information on free outdoor concerts and festivals.

This can be a great idea for a date night if you are trying to save some money.

2. Have a Game Night

One of our family’s favorite things to do is have a family game night. These nights usually include a few extended family members and teams involving semi-fierce competition.

Trivial Pursuit is our game of choice, but there’s just about no limit to the types of games you can choose from:

Card games like 500 Rummy
Charades
Scattergories
Codenames
Spontuneous
Escape Room in a Box

And so many other board games. Throw in some food, and you’ve got a full-fledged party on your hands. We usually do potluck and have everyone bring a little something.

Plus, if you don’t want to spend any extra money, work your food contribution into your monthly grocery budget.

3. Have a Backyard Camping Experience

Camping is great, but renting a spot at a state or county campground can get costly. Why not just camp out in your own backyard?

Set up your tent, get some hot dogs and s’mores fixings and enjoy a backyard bonfire while you gaze at the night sky. Then sleep outside as you listen to those great outdoor sounds.

What if you don’t have a backyard, or if your yard isn’t conducive to outdoor camping? If this is the case, call on a family member or friend who’s got a camping-friendly backyard.

Ask them if you can use their yard or see if they want to join you in the fun.

4. Do a Girls Spa Evening

Did you know you can do a spa evening at home using basic items you probably have at home?

Here are some ideas for pampering yourself, your mom, daughters and girlfriends:

Bring your favorite nail polish colors and do manis and pedis
Mix coconut oil and sugar to exfoliate and moisturize your hands, feet or whole body
Do a facial using these homemade facial recipes from Reader’s Digest
Have an informal yoga session using YouTube videos
Take turns doing a 20-minute Epsom salt bath

Feel free to search the internet for more at-home spa ideas. You can add in tea, juice and a few light snacks to make your in-house spa day complete.

5. Do a Guys Sports Evening

Don’t worry; we haven’t forgotten about the guys. While the guys may not be up for doing the spa night, they might prefer an evening of sports.

Hang out at a friend’s house who’s got the sports package with his cable or satellite package. Or check out these cable TV alternatives if there are no cable or satellite subscribers in your group.

Another thought? How about playing sports? An impromptu tag (or tackle) football game, basketball, or even sports games on your gaming system. Anything that gets you up and around and having some free fun.

Add in some chips and burgers on the grill for a bonus.

6. Movie Night

Movie theaters can get expensive – especially if you have a large family. For this reason, my family hosts a lot of movie nights.

Sometimes it’s just our immediate family, other times we’ll invite a few friends. We’ll show the latest movie on DVD that we own or a friend owns.

Or we’ll choose from our collection of classic movies such as Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, Back to the Future and more. Quiz your crowd and see what they’re in the mood for. Maybe they want silly humor, action and adventure, crime drama, or drama, etc.

There are several ways to get Fandango convenience fees waived too.

Cook up some popcorn, dim the lights and create your own theater experience at home for free.

Related Post: 23 Things to Do When You’re Bored at Work

7. Attend (or Host) a Neighborhood Outdoor Movie Event

Another option is to attend – or host – an outdoor movie event. Back when we lived in the city (we’re hobby farm owners now), we had neighbors who hosted an annual outdoor movie night.

They had a projector, a large screen that they hung on the back of the garage and a great hill for viewing the movie. They’d send out invitations to all of the neighbors, and they tried to choose movies that fit any audience.

If you’re hosting, you can create your outdoor movie event to fit your audience. Have everyone sit on blankets or bring lawn chairs. If you’re hosting a large event, encourage attendees to bring snacks for their families.

My former neighbors had an old-fashioned popcorn machine and offered free popcorn to guests.

8. Have a Bonfire

I never tire of backyard bonfires. Sitting by a fire in the comfortable nighttime weather offers the perfect atmosphere for relaxation and conversation.

It’s a great way to unwind from a busy day or week, or a great excuse to spend time with loved ones. If you want, you can add in bonfire friendly foods such as s’mores, hot dogs or even bonfire sandwiches.

9. Walk the Downtown Streets and Enjoy the Action

There’s nothing like the hustle and bustle of downtown streets at night. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a major metropolitan area or a cozy little town, downtown rocks.

The people, the lights, outdoor music, sports games and more. Walk around, window shop and enjoy watching others take in the lights and the action.

10. Earn Some Cash

Do you have some serious financial goals? Or do you just like the thought of using your evenings to bring in some extra cash? Luckily, there are dozens of side hustle ideas you could use to earn money at night.

Some ideas for night time money making endeavors include:

Babysitting or pet care
Get paid for sharing your opinion on Survey Junkie
Test websites
Create an online course and use Teachable to host and market it
Sell your stuff
Rent out a room in your house via Airbnb
Start your own business as a Virtual Assistant
Make money driving for Lyft or Uber

The sky’s the limit when it comes to making money during nighttime hours.

11. Create a Goals List

When was the last time you sat down and thought about your short, medium and long-term goals? What is it that you want out of life? Do you want to achieve financial freedom?

Travel the world? Start a new career? Pursue a volunteer opportunity? There’s no wrong answer when it comes to your goals. However, many people don’t take the time to figure out what their goals are.

Take some time one evening to think about some 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year goals. Create goals for your finances, your family or friend life, your career, your health and more.

Then create a chart or other visual help to design steps that will help you reach your goals.

12. Organize a Neighborhood Potluck

Why not organize a neighborhood potluck for an evening. You could even do a potluck event on an ongoing regular basis like once a month.

To give the event some pizazz, why not create a theme around the potluck? For instance, a friend of mine does a yearly Meat Lovers Fest.

People bring their most creative meat dishes, and we all eat, socialize and have a blast. The types of dishes people bring to the event never cease to amaze. Grilled, bacon wrapped cream cheese stuffed jalapenos were among the favorites last year.

13. Start on Your Christmas Gift Giving List

There’s never a bad time to start making a list of gift-giving ideas for Christmas. Why not start now?

Make a list of all of the people you buy for, and start writing down ideas of what you might want to get them – or what you think they might like.

Starting early on your gift giving list affords you three benefits:

You can start saving for the gifts early
There’s a chance you can find some items on sale or clearance
You’ll have time to make some homemade items if you wish

14. Binge Watch Your Favorite TV or Movie Series

Do you have a favorite TV show or movie series? How about taking an evening to binge watch it? It’s always fun to revisit favorite big (and little) screen gems.

Think about popular series’ such as Breaking Bad or The Goldbergs, or movie multiples such as Indiana Jones or Chronicles of Narnia.

You even could invite loved ones to join you and serve up some snacks for extra fun.

If you don’t have Netflix, Hulu or Sling TV to watch your favorite shows, see if a friend might have DVD versions you can borrow.

15. Learn a New Skill

Free evenings are the perfect time to learn a new skill! Besides, you can use your new talent to bring some extra cash into your life.

For instance, you could learn about graphic design or website design and start an online business. Or you could learn about SEO, brush up on your writing skills and start your own blog.

Did you know you can have a blog started and running in less than 10 minutes?

Write down a list of skills you’d like to learn solely to know more. Or learn so you can start earning cash with your ability. Then get to work learning how to do it.

16. Learn a New Hobby

Not interested in taking on more work? Why not learn a new hobby? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit or become a master BBQ expert.

Or you could try bird watching, geocaching or rock collecting. Some other hobby ideas include:

Researching your ancestry
Learning to play an instrument
Writing or drawing
Reading books
Learning a new language (check your local library for resources)
Cooking or baking

The hobby ideas that exist are nearly endless. Search for hobby ideas online or revisit your favorite childhood hobbies. It’s never too late to start a new hobby!

17. Visit a Friend or Family Member

When I was a kid, it was commonplace to stop over and visit family and friends regularly. We seem to have lost some of that spontaneity these days.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make visiting family or friends a regular practice in your life. Call ahead if you feel like you should, or just stop by and hang out for a while.

18. Create Some Freezer Meals

How about using an evening to put a little organization and time savings into your life? You’re going to spend money on groceries anyway. So how about putting freezer meals on your grocery list?

Then spend an evening making large batches of freezer friendly meals and having dinners ready to go. Some ideas for freezer friendly meals include:

Soups and stews
Pasta dishes like lasagna or beef stroganoff
Breakfast meals like breakfast burritos
Meat dishes like Meatloaf or Meatballs (freeze them uncooked)

By stocking up on some freezer meals, you avoid the “There’s nothing for dinner” conundrum. Bonus: you can just put something in the freezer or microwave and won’t have to actually cook!

19. Get Your Finances In Order

As a personal finance nerd, I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than getting your finances in order. Creating some order in my finances has changed my life in so many ways.

It’s brought peace to my life that is hard to explain until you experience it. No more living paycheck to paycheck. No more worrying when unexpected expenses come up.

If you’re interested in getting your finances in order, here’s a summary of tips:

Start by assessing your situation. Write down your assets, debts, income and monthly expenses.
Make a list of your financial goals. Include everything from debt freedom, to housing to retirement and non-retirement savings.
Create an organized plan for your income. Empower will help you do this for free. They’ll help you track your income, spending assets and even your net worth.

Consider spending an evening getting your money in order. I have a feeling you’ll be glad you did.

20. Go Reminiscing

Ever think about spending an evening reminiscing? You can do this in your own house by looking at pictures, watching videos or talking about memories.

Or you can reminisce right in your neighborhood or town by walking around and visiting places that hold special memories.

21. Volunteer

How about spending an evening volunteering? It always feels good to help someone in need.

Here are some evening volunteer ideas:

Collect donations and serve a meal to the homeless in your area
Volunteer at a crisis nursery
Spend the evening with someone who is elderly or housebound
Help out at a local hospital that offers volunteer opportunities
Serve dinner at a homeless shelter
Hold a food or clothing drive at your house for local food shelves or other organizations

There are always people and organizations that could use your help. Do an internet search for “volunteer opportunities near me” to find some.

22. Play an Outdoor Game

Here’s an idea: gather some friends and play an outdoor game. You could put up a volleyball net and play nighttime volleyball or play basketball at a local park that has lights at night.

Or why not revisit your childhood and play Ghost in the Graveyard or Hide and Seek? Get creative and think up some fun outdoor games to add some adventure to your evenings.

23. Visit a Bookstore

There’s almost nothing as relaxing as hanging out at your local bookstore browsing through books. Many stores – especially chain bookstores – are open until 9 or 10 in the evening.

Go and visit, browsing through the offerings to see what kinds of fun stuff you can read at the store. How about reading a book on U.S. History or reading the latest biographical release?

Choose a genre that interests you and spend your evening reading.

Most communities publish a community calendar that lists free and paid-for events. Scroll through your community calendar and find free evening events near you. Consider visiting community calendars from nearby cities and towns as well.

You’ll likely find a long list of free events you can attend during the evening hours. Just recently, a neighboring community calendar where I live shared an opportunity to attend a free admission night at a local racetrack. See what kinds of free events you can find in your city.

25. Read a Good Book from the Library

Instead of visiting a bookstore, you could always choose to go to a library and check out books to read at home. Plus, libraries have a variety of books on CDs and DVDs you can rent out for free.

Also, most libraries usually have one or two days a week in which they’re open during evening hours. Mark those days on your calendar and use them to take advantage of library offerings.

Bonus: Many libraries have free classes and workshops they offer too. Check with your local library for details.

26. Put Together a Puzzle

If you’re looking for hours of entertainment, why not put together a large 500-piece or more puzzle? You can put puzzles together alone or with loved ones.

There’s something that can be very relaxing about putting together puzzles. Try it and see for yourself.

27. Go for a Walk

If you live in a safe neighborhood, how about going for an evening stroll? Enjoy the cool weather under the moon with chirping frogs and crickets, all while getting some exercise.

Make sure to wear reflective gear when you walk at night so drivers and others can see you. Another idea: Take a nighttime bike ride on local bike paths.

28. Organize a Room

How about using a free evening to get some organizing done? You can organize a room that really needs some spatial help or some small spaces like drawers and cupboards.

Your local library likely has some great books and DVDs on organization help. Or you could search online for websites that share organization tips.

#1 Organizational Tip: A place for everything, and everything in its place. Remember to organize in the way that works best for you and your lifestyle.

For instance, if you like to pay bills at the kitchen table, keep your bill paying supplies in the kitchen, not in the office.

29. Rearrange a Room

Rearranging a room is another way to spice up a free evening. There’s something about rearranging the furniture that almost makes it feel as if you’ve got a new room or house.

Try some different furniture and accessory layouts you rearrange to find your favorite look in each room. Plus, you can do an online search for layout ideas as well.

30. Do Some Decluttering

Decluttering is different from organizing as it involves getting rid of all of that “stuff” you never use. One great tip for decluttering is to make three piles: a throw-away pile, a sell pile and a donate pile.

Hint: You can make some money from your cleaning spree by selling CDs, DVDs and other items to Decluttr.

Summary

Having fun does not have to be expensive. With a little creativity, some friends, and good ideas, your evenings can be a blast.

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do at night without breaking the bank. It’s all about getting creative and searching out ideas.

98
shares

Places that work in Moscow at night



3

 700
mix” data-ping-position=”1″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/luchshie-kontsertyi-festivali-msk/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/luchshie-kontsertyi-festivali-msk/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


4

 13594
mix” data-ping-position=”1″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/place/bar-trinity/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/place/bar-trinity/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


2

 68
mix” data-ping-position=”2″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/polyotyi-ot-aero-region-training/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/polyotyi-ot-aero-region-training/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


9

 2490
mix” data-ping-position=”2″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/do-1500-rub/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/do-1500-rub/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


5

 36392
mix” data-ping-position=”3″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/teatr-le-prince-andr-knyaz-andrej-bolkonskij/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/teatr-le-prince-andr-knyaz-andrej-bolkonskij/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


1

 27
mix” data-ping-position=”3″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/gde-v-moskve-priobresti-biletyi/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/gde-v-moskve-priobresti-biletyi/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


4

 14383

Photo: shutterstock.com

Unusual concerts in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. 12+

Jazz, medieval and classical music on the organ. Advertising. IP Romanenko Oleg Ivanovich. TIN 771471613250

See schedule

Night out to a restaurant

18+

If you don’t mind a hearty dinner in the night, the restaurant “Lado” on Fridays and Saturdays is ready to accept night gluttons until two in the morning. The establishment is distinguished by a special minimalist and stylish interior, as well as a large bar list. We recommend Italian wine and a set of cheeses with jam. Even more cafes and restaurants that work around the clock – in our selection.

 trans. Krivokolenny, 9/2

Play board game

12+

According to KudaGo

If in the middle of the day only an hour is allotted for fun, then at night you can spend much more time on games, entertainment and easy communication. Especially in a place where time is the equivalent of currency. Anticafe “Green Door” always has something interesting going on: they play board games, arrange detective games, practice foreign languages, conduct acting lessons, meet with a friendly Mafia and discuss books in a literary club. And this anti-cafe is open around the clock.

 trans. Milyutinsky, 19/4 building 1

Buy a custom gift

12+

A place where everything is there – music, books and opportunities for communication

In Respublika on the first floor of Tverskaya there is a bookstore and a marketplace with various interesting things, among which you can find an original themed gift for relatives or friends. The store is open around the clock.

 st. 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya, 10

To watch a movie

18+

by KudaGo

Watching a movie at night is especially pleasant because there will be fewer noisy neighbors nearby. And if you are lucky, then the entire cinema hall may be at your disposal. Grab some popcorn and go on a nighttime tour of movie theaters open after sunset.

See mystical Moscow

12+

On the night from Saturday to Sunday, lovers of the other world get into a comfortable bus or put on comfortable shoes (from May to September) and go to study Moscow ghosts and anomalous phenomena. The tour is called “Mystical Moscow, or the territory of ghosts” and runs from one in the morning until six in the morning. Details on site

 st. Bolshaya Sadovaya, 10

Swim in the pool

Lack of time during the day is no longer a good reason not to exercise. You can go to the Swim Fitness Club even in the middle of the night and swim in the pool. The club is open from 07:00 to midnight. Specify conditions by phone: +7 (495) 220-27-67.

 trans. Stolyarny, d. 3, building. 2

bring beauty

A team of stylists, make-up artists, hairdressers and barbers is waiting for you around the clock in the Red. Territory of beauty” near the metro station “Taganskaya”. Here you can freshen up your haircut or radically change your image, do styling, make-up, manicure and pedicure, visit a beautician and sunbathe in the solarium.

 st. Marksistskaya, d. 1, bldg. 1

Help a four-legged friend

There are several round-the-clock veterinary clinics in Moscow ready to help your pet at any time of the day or night. The network of VetMir clinics operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dogs, cats, birds and rodents are treated here. Your pet will be able to get qualified help from veterinarians at any time, even late at night.

 st. Generala Belova, 5  st.

Kerchenskaya, 1b  blvd. Autumn, d. 5, building. 1

dance in the club

18+

What else is there to do at night in the big capital, if not go to parties, dance and meet people? Almost all clubs in Moscow invite guests until at least five in the morning. We suggest where you will definitely be expected in our list.

To meet friends

18+

You can party not only during the day, but also at night. This will be proved and shown in the Svoboda winery. The institution is open until one in the morning, and on some days – until four in the morning. This is a record time for a hearty snack and a very early breakfast. We advise you to try a roast beef sandwich and something from the cocktail menu.

 trans. Krivokolenny, 14, building 1

Eat shawarma in the park

Moscow is especially beautiful at night, take a walk in the Zaryadye park (it works around the clock), walk around the neighborhood without feeling the ever-pressing Moscow pace. With the feeling of hunger, you can fight the simplest and most reliable method – shawarma. In many places of the capital, this hearty delicacy is cooked until late at night or even 24 hours a day.

 st. Varvarka, d. 6, building 1

If you find a typo or error, highlight the text containing it and press Ctrl + ↵

Select mailing list:

By clicking on the “Subscribe” button, you agree to the transfer and processing of the provided
personal information in accordance with the terms of the Privacy Policy.

Subscribed

Thank you!

Picturesque places of night Moscow

mix” data-ping-position=”1″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/place/bar-trinity/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/place/bar-trinity/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


2

 121
mix” data-ping-position=”1″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/luchshie-kontsertyi-festivali-msk/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/luchshie-kontsertyi-festivali-msk/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


4

 13701
mix” data-ping-position=”1″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/news/prilozhenie-inparty-pomozhet-najti/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/news/prilozhenie-inparty-pomozhet-najti/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


3

 765
mix” data-ping-position=”2″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/do-1500-rub/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/do-1500-rub/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


5

 36421
mix” data-ping-position=”2″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/polyotyi-ot-aero-region-training/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/polyotyi-ot-aero-region-training/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


9

 2526
mix” data-ping-position=”3″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/teatr-le-prince-andr-knyaz-andrej-bolkonskij/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/event/teatr-le-prince-andr-knyaz-andrej-bolkonskij/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


1

 143
mix” data-ping-position=”3″ data-featured-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/gde-v-moskve-priobresti-biletyi/” data-item-url=”https://kudago.com/msk/list/gde-v-moskve-priobresti-biletyi/” data-featured-path=”/msk/best/”>


4

 14399

Arc de Triomphe

Photo:

blogspot. com

Patriarch’s Ponds

Photo:

strana.ru

Frunzenskaya embankment

Photo:

tourister.ru

Tsaritsyno

Photo:

blogspot.com

VDNH

Photo:

blogspot.ru

Unusual concerts in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. 12+

Jazz, medieval and classical music on the organ. Advertising. IP Romanenko Oleg Ivanovich. TIN 771471613250

See schedule

Chistye Prudy

0+

This place is popular even at night. When evening lights are lit in the square, lovers, lovers of walks and companies of Moscow rake meet on Chistye Prudy. Here you can sit in a restaurant on the water, relax on a bench, admire the water surface or listen to music performed by street musicians.

 Chistye Prudy

Tsvetnoy boulevard

Tsvetnoy Boulevard became a favorite place for walking in the 19th century and has retained this status to this day. At night, when the bustle subsides in the quarter, you can walk around the square or relax among the flower beds, admiring the fountain in front of the Yuri Nikulin Circus.

 Blvd. Color

Hermitage Garden

0+

The Hermitage is a place where lovers and romantics who decide to go to the night promenade will like it. Here you will find flowering lawns, fountains and a silver heart with bells inside, which is worth walking through and making a wish.

 st. Karetny Ryad, 3

Tverskoy boulevard

0+

The first and main in the capital, the longest, widest and liveliest. Warmly loved by Marina Tsvetaeva, sung by her in verse … All this is about him – Tverskoy Boulevard. Come here at night and feel the spirit of the history that was made in these places.

 Blvd. Tverskoy

Patriarch’s Ponds

0+

The aura of mysticism was attached to the Patriarchs long before Mikhail Bulgakov immortalized this place in his famous novel. And when evening lights are lit over the water surface, a mysterious mood is transmitted to everyone without exception.

 st. Malaya Bronnaya

Old Arbat

0+

The legendary Arbat is full of life at any time of the day: the most beautiful and brightest pedestrian street in Moscow is never empty even at night. Bohemian flavor is given to it by idle walkers, street musicians and artists.

 st. Old Arbat

Bolotnaya embankment

0+

If you expect fun from the night promenade, start your journey with a walk along the Vodootvodny Canal embankment. This is one of the centers of Moscow nightlife: on both sides of Bolotnaya Embankment there are numerous bars and clubs where you can spend the evening.

 set Bolotnaya

Luzhkov bridge

0+

Everything here breathes love: there are several art objects for couples on the bridge. On the “Trees of Love”, the number of which is growing year by year, the newlyweds hang padlocks, and the “Bench of Reconciliation” makes amends for past grievances. Needless to say, at night it is even more romantic than in the daylight.

 Luzhkov bridge

Frunzenskaya embankment

0+

All the splendor of Stalinist architecture is concentrated here, emphasized by night illumination. The embankment offers a wonderful view of the massive bridges. The landscape is enlivened by motor ships and boats passing by, decorated with bright evening illumination.

 set Frunzenskaya

Boring Garden

0+

This place is familiar even to those who have never been to the capital: everyone’s favorite film “Pokrovsky Gates” was filmed here, and members of the “What? Where? When?”. At night, familiar landscapes, alleys, a pond and a marina change as if by magic and become even more mysterious.

 Ave. Leninsky, d. 32A

Sparrow Hills

0+

A stunning view of the city, which opens from the observation deck, beckons walkers to Vorobyovy Gory. Perhaps this is the best observation point in all of Moscow. From here you can see the Luzhniki Stadium, the Ukraine Hotel, the Ostankino TV Tower and one of Stalin’s skyscrapers (the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

 Leninskiye Gory, ow. 1

Poklonnaya Gora

0+

Directly at the exit from the Park Pobedy metro station, you have a view of the Arc de Triomphe sparkling with night lights. Behind her, the arrow of the Victory Monument soars up. The path to it lies through a row of fountains, which at night are transformed in the lights of colorful illumination.

 st. Brothers Fonchenko, 7

Park Kolomenskoye

0+

After sunset, there are almost no people here, so you can safely wander among the houses in the original Russian style, admire the bell tower of St. George and the domes of the Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery, which can be seen on the opposite bank.

 Ave. Andropova, 39

VDNH

0+

At night, the front buildings of VDNKh are lit up with bright lights that transform everything around. The colorful illumination of the Friendship of Peoples fountain changes several times within an hour. In general, there are more than two dozen fountains here, so you can enjoy the spectacle at least all night long.

 Ave. Mira, 119

Museum-Reserve “Tsaritsyno”

0+

With the onset of darkness, all manor buildings flash with colorful illumination. The first violin is played, of course, by the fabulous palace of Catherine II.