Wrapping Up the Year: 10 Ways to End 2018 Over Winter Break

Looking for ways to wrap up the end of 2018? Search no farther, this is Central DeWitt’s very own guide to what to do over winter break! This includes activities throughout break in the Quad Cities and DeWitt.

1. Spend time with family and get crafty!

Start your break off right and take some time to see your family. Some of the best ways to incorporate family into your free time is to bake! You could start with your grandma’s famous cookies or create a beautiful gingerbread house (a recipe can be found here). If baking’s not your thing, then maybe you could try a craft. Putting snowflakes in your window is a great way to brighten up your holiday spirit (you can find out how here).

2. Check out some amazing light shows!

Keep the holiday spirit going with a light show. Check out houses and parks decked out in strings of lights and lots of twinkling cheer. The best of the best in the Quad Cities are: The Kall Christmas lights, The Brown’s Christmas Light Extravaganza, Eagle point park, and Winter Nights Winter Lights at the QC Botanical Center.

3. Find something to warm your soul through this chilly break.

Some of the most likely candidates are Atomic, Coffee Revolution, Blondie’s, The 392º Cafe, Lagomarcino’s, Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, Dead Poet’s Espresso, Red Band, or maybe Rozz Tox.

4. Next, chill out at a QC Storm Game

A great way to revel in your break from school is to head to the Taxslayer Center and watch our new hockey team. Their schedule can be found here.

5. Countdown the days until the 25th!

Iowa’s biggest advent calendar is very close to home. If you’re getting anxious for Christmas to be here, try calming your excitement by checking out out the German Heritage Center’s windows in Davenport for a countdown to the 25th.

6. Try dinner and a show

Need something different to do? Go see a show at Circa ‘21, which is showing Pinocchio and Annie (the dates can be found here). If that’s not your thing, the IMAX will be showing the Polar Express, and even closer to home, the DeWitt Opera House is showing Wreck it Ralph.

7. Stretch those legs!

Attempt to get active with a winter sport! Ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding are all viable options. If you’re worried about there not being enough snow, stop fretting, because Andalusia, Galena, and Dubuque have your back. Don’t be afraid to try that ski lift just for the fun of it- you probably won’t fall off!

8. Get lit with a fire playlist

Spotify has all kinds of music, sounds, and podcasts for people just like you! There are plenty of options to choose from and I’m sure that all will help amp up your holiday hangout with friends. Some of the best I’ve found are: Christmas Hits, Happy Holidays, and New Year’s 2018.

9. Watch a Christmas movie!

If going to a movie away from home isn’t your thing, watch one at home on your own screen. The top five highest grossing Christmas movies of all time (according to Forbes.com) are: Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, The Polar Express, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Some of your favorites may not be on this list, but there seems to be endless options. My personal favorite is Elf and I would never go a Winter Break without seeing it!

10. Last, but not least, sleep!

Finally, take advantage of your break. Catch up on some sleep and much needed rest time so you can come back and finish the semester strong!

I hope that everyone’s break is fantastic! Whether you try a few of these things, all of them, or none of them, you will have a great time! I know that every DeWitt student needs a break, so enjoy every moment of it! And to you- band kids, have a wonderful time in Florida!

- Grace Pfeifle