The thing is, after all the holiday shopping is said and done, your checking account probably isn’t feeling that festive. Luckily for you, Orlando Weekly has your back. These cheap date ideas are all under $10 a person and most of them help you take advantage of the dropping degrees in one way or another. So get out of that slump and gear up for cuffing season!
Enjoy the rides and ice skating at Light Up UCF
12777 Gemini Blvd N., 407-882-8600
Where else can you watch two new movies for $6? Gone are the days where you had to park near a speaker, now you can just tune into a radio station and chill in your car with snacks from home. Also, the novelty aspect is bound to up your romantic points.
Photo via rosewrist/ InstagramBrowse free art at Fridays Nights at the Morse
4850 S Pine Ave, Ocala, 352-629-1325
This museum of American Art and Architecture hosts free exhibits on Friday evenings from November and April. During the holidays, there’s even live music! Cuddle up to your date while you analyze what the pieces on the wall mean – all for free.
Photo via aroundwinterpark/ InstagramVisit the state parks for manatee season
Multiple locations
State parks are generally free – with the exception of some cheap attractions and activities at each one – and they’re full of manatees when it’s cold! Your partner will thank you for being such an adventurous date.
Photo viaviniciuspdomingues/InstagramCatch an Orlando Magic game
400 W. Church St., 1-800-253-6500
Unless their rivals have considerable star power, tickets to Magic games go for as low as $10 online. Make this a fun date by making up for ticket price at the concession stand, or in a bar afterwards.
Photo via danielehrencrona45/InstagramWatch a new movie at the Ocala Drive-in
4850 S Pine Ave, Ocala, 352-629-1325
Where else can you watch two new movies for $6? Gone are the days where you had to park near a speaker, now you can just tune into a radio station and chill in your car with snacks from home. Also, the novelty aspect is bound to up your romantic points.
Photo via incazteco/ InstagramEmil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium
100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford, 407-708-2360
Adult tickets tend to go for $6, but with enough free shows to keep you both interested and financially afloat, the darkness of a planetarium is the safest place to test each other’s interest in stuff other than bars.
Photo via lisa_sees_faces/InstagramBuy some fresh produce at the Lake Eola Park Farmer’s Market
20 N. Eola Dr., 407-701-9382
Hosted every sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Eola, this farmer’s market accomplishes many things at once. It allows you to take in sunshine and fresh air during the best weather Florida is bound to get, support local growers and a chance to prove to your partner that you do things like go to farmer’s markets. Deal us in!
Photo via Aileen PerillaTry to ice skate in Winter Park
50 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, 407-599-3203
Through January 8, Central Park West Meadow will be host to an ice skating rink. For $12 a person, you can act like you live somewhere colder. Also, people always need to cuddle after being on frozen water for 40 minutes.
Photo via City of Winter Park Credit: Photo via City of Winter ParkEnjoy a Saturday matinee or a flick in the park by Enzian
1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-629-0054
The Enzian Theater hosts a variety of special programs aimed at enriching Central Florida’s culture through film. The Saturday matinee classics are $8 per person, while the popcorn flicks in the park are free the second Thursday of every month at Central Park.
Photo via Enzian/FacebookGo antiquing at Renniger’s
20651 US-441, Mt Dora, 352-383-8393
This indoor farmer’s and flea market is host to a variety of endearing knick knacks (even if the words flea and farmer’s don’t sound that great together).
Photo via fessey/InstagramRent a Lake Eola swan boat
512 E. Washington St., 407-246-4484
Rent an Orlando icon – a swan-shaped paddle boat for two – for $15 per half hour and indulge in the beautiful downtown scenery surrounding Lake Eola with your significant other. The weather is perfect for snuggling while you paddle, and it sure beats the standard dinner-and-a-movie.
Photo via jacquelyngrubbs/InstagramRent a Juice bike and go on a ride
Multiple locations, 407-930-9414
For $8 per hour per bike, you can take in the city with fresh air. We understand most dates tend to be physically passive, but we really encourage taking advantage of these below-80s while you can.
Photo via Juice Orlando Bike ShopCheck out an Orlando lights displays
Multiple locations
This interactive map features the best holiday light shows and displays in the Orlando area, and even rates them from 1 to 10 for you. You can make this into a fun driving tour, or just stop at one and make that the date!
Photo via my_best_shots/InstagramFeel cultured with 1st Thursdays at the Orlando Museum of Art
2416 N. Mills Ave., 407.896.4231
For $10, you gain admission to the museum’s featured exhibition for the night and access to the bar (not free). Enjoy works of contemporary art from all over the world in the sleek and modern atmosphere of Orlando’s new museum.
Photo via orlandomuseumofart/InstagramGo strawberry picking at Pappy’s Patch U-Pick
501 Florida Ave, Oviedo, 407-366-8512
Strawberry season ranges from Dec. to April. Coincidentally, those are the perfect months to go out and pick anything. Strawberries are only $2.75 a pound, so go crazy.
Photo via Pappy’s Patch/FacebookDinner and a movie at Aloma Cinema and Grill
2155 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, 407-671-4964
All movies before 6 p.m. are $5, but even movies after only rise up $2.50 to $7.50. Dinner and drinks will cost you extra, but for a movie that cheap you can afford to splurge.
Photo via Aloma Cinema and GrillLearn about local art with the SEE Art Orlando Self-Guided Walking Tour
Downtown Orlando
For a self-guided tour, this one checks all the boxes of a worthwhile date. It’s intimate (since you won’t be with a big tour group), it’s cheap, local and full of culture. This tour guides you through eight pieces of contemporary public art in downtown Orlando.
Photo via seeartorlando/InstagramAttend an open mic night at Stardust
1842 Winter Park Rd., 407-623-3393
Stardust offers multiple free live shows, open mics and events to keep you and your date entertained. More than that, it’s a nice ambiance with good coffee. Can’t really go wrong here.
Photo via Stardust/FacebookGain some insight at the Sanford Art Walk
230 E. 1st St., 407-302-2586
Rent an iconic swan paddle boat for two for $15 per half hour and indulge in the beautiful downtown scenery surrounding Lake Eola with your significant other. The weather is perfect for snuggling while you paddle, and it sure beats the standard dinner-and-a-movie.
Photo via thesanfordproject/InstagramHave a stroll or picnic at Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Ave., 407-246-2620
Leu Gardens is a popular destination for birthdays, anniversaries, picnics and all sorts of other events. The intimate, flowery spaces between ballrooms, however, are still charming enough for two. The first Friday of each month, admission is $6 to lay a blanket down and watch a movie.
Photo via yoginictothep/InstagramListen to Christmas music as the sun sets
512 E. Washington St., 407-246-4484
Lake Eola Park has just announced that they will be playing Christmas music every day from noon to 9:30 p.m. in an attempt to get its nearby strollers into the holiday spirit. If that’s your thing, bring over some hot cocoa and a blanket and chill by the lake to some Mariah Carey.
Photo via lakeeola/InstagramGrab a coffee or a boba tea during open mic night at Natura
12078 Collegiate Way., 407-482-8599
A hotspot for the younger crowd, this UCF area coffee shop is known for its open mics. Hosts to everything from jazz players to aspiring comics, Natura’s Thursday and Sunday nights are a meeting of the talents. Drinks go for under $5.
Photo via pat_sly/InstagramCatch a classic at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater
812 E. Rollins St., 407-447-1700
Preview and student prices are generally under $15. Not only will this impress your date, but it will help you understand all those references you’ve spent years being confused by!
Photo via pat_sly/InstagramWatch the snow fall at the Celebration Town Center
610 Sycamore St., Celebration, 407-566-4007
For the month of December, hourly snowfalls will take place every night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to mimic what an actual American winter feels like. An ice skating rink and shops will be open along the way if you get sneezy from the fake snow.
Photo via Town of Celebration
