It’s the most romantic time of the year, but as the days get colder and darker, it sometimes feels like going out to dinner is the only option for date night. We love a good dinner date — and there are so many incredible restaurants in Hudson County — but it’s fun to mix it up every now and then, too. Want to add some holiday spice to your next date night in Hudson County? Keep reading for festive holiday date night ideas in Hoboken or Jersey City.
Sip Christmas Cocktails
If you want to kick off a holiday date night with a drink, there’s nothing better than enjoying a festive cocktail at one of the many bars in Jersey City + Hoboken. The Miracle on Mercer pop-up bar has taken over Franklin Social again this season and it’s the perfect spot to cozy up with a glass of spiked eggnog. Sleighs + Leis at Cellar 335 in Jersey City is another one of our favorites and the Christmas tiki drinks are always delicious.
Go Ice Skating at Newport Skates
View this post on Instagram
This outdoor ice rink is close to the Jersey City waterfront and only costs $7 per person. You can impress your date with your ice skating skills or sign up for lessons together. To complete the Hallmark-movie-inspired date, order a warm drink at bwè kafe or Gregory’s Coffee and take a stroll through the Newport parks to check out all of the festive decorations.
Read More: These Hoboken + Jersey City Restaurants Have the Best Holiday Decor
Play Holiday-Themed Trivia in Hoboken
Trivia A.D. hosts trivia nights in Hoboken throughout the year but the themes become more festive during the holiday season. Keep an eye on Trivia A.D.’s schedule to find out about Elf or other holiday trivia nights in Hoboken.
Attend The Jersey City Nutcracker
View this post on Instagram
This beloved holiday tradition makes for a fun date night. Audience members will quickly recognize that this adaptation is set in Jersey City, making for a fun twist on the classic holiday story. The Jersey City Nutcracker runs on select nights from December 6th to December 22nd at the Nimbus Arts Center and tickets can be purchased online.
Paint a Holiday Masterpiece
ArteVino in Hoboken has holiday-inspired painting classes. Couples can paint snowy scenes while enjoying drinks and snacks. It’s a BYOB experience so pick up your favorite beverages ahead of time. Bring your painting home to remember the fun date night you and your partner shared. View the schedule here.
Make Holiday Candles Together
ReWax + UnWine puts on a unique date night experience where you can make your own candle — while sipping wine of course. There are so many scents to choose from and you and your date could make a festive candle to keep or this could be a chance to get ahead on holiday gifting. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy slow jams while you work on your candle. The first Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the month are designated date nights, plus they have other classes throughout the entire month. View the schedule here.
Tie-Dye a Holiday Sweatshirt
For a twist on the ugly Christmas sweater, you and your date can tie-dye sweatshirts at Tipsy Tie Dye in Hoboken. Get creative with it and pick holiday colors if you want your shirt to feel more festive. This spot sometimes has special tie-dye and cocktail-making classes so you can sip festive drinks while working on your DIY creations. View the schedule here.
Decorate a Gingerbread House
For a fun kid-friendly activity, Hudson Table in Hoboken is hosting a a family gingerbread decorating house on Sunday, December 15th. The spot will provide the house, icing, and all the decorations you can think of. More info can be found on the website.
Take a Walk to Look at Holiday Lights
There’s something so romantic about Christmas lights. One of the best holiday dates is also simple — and free. Take your date for a stroll through Jersey City or Hoboken to admire all of the twinkling lights and decorations. It’s even better if you make some hot chocolate to sip along the way. Locals can also attend town tree lightings to get in the spirit while gathering with the community.
Hot Chocolate Tour
If you’re looking for more than your typical cup of Swiss Miss, Hoboken and Jersey City have plenty of homemade options. There’s no arguing that a nice cup of hot chocolate always does the trick to warm you up and feel a little more festive. We rounded up some of the best places to get a cup of hot chocolate in Hoboken and Jersey City here.
Visit a Holiday Pop-Up Market
Its’s never too early to celebrate the holiday season. That’s why The Hoboken Girl has curated a list of festive pop-up events happening all around New Jersey, including various holiday markets and Miracle pop-ups, where restaurants + bars turn their space into a Christmas wonderland for a few months out of the year.
See More: The Best Office Holiday Party Venues in Essex County
Volunteer
While the act of giving never goes out of style, this time of year always sets the scene to give some extra love to the community. With upcoming holidays and events galore, it’s important to take a moment to hone in on the needs of those around us. That’s why we’ve created a growing list of volunteer opportunities and toy drives in Hoboken in Jersey City here.
Make a Gift in a Pottery Class
If you’re stumped on what to get a friend or family member this holiday season, consider DIY-ing it. Hoboken and Jersey City are home to several interactive pottery-making classes such as Ivy Mane, Blue Skies Pottery, Betty’s Ceramics Club, The Clay Studio, and more.
Guttenberg Resident Joins Pilots to the Rescue for an Animal Rescue Mission
Everyone loves a heartwarming story and here at The Hoboken Girl, we love to share them as much as we love to hear about them. On February 2nd, Maria Morgana, a resident of Guttenberg, joined Pilots to the Rescue — a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare — to embark on a mission to save 28 dogs and seven cats in Virginia from euthanasia. Maria flew from New Jersey to Virginia to Massachusetts then back to New Jersey to help Pilots to the Rescue give these animals a second chance. Keep reading for all the details about this inspiring local story.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
Maria's Journey
While Essex County locals were waiting to hear from Punxsutawney Phil (or Lady Edwina of Essex, IYKYK) on Sunday, February 2nd, Maria Morgana of @HudsonStaysGolden was flying across the East Coast to help save animals at risk of euthanasia. Joining two volunteer pilots from Pilots to the Rescue, whose mission is to "prevent at-risk animals from being euthanized by transporting them via air and ground transportation," as per its website, they flew from Essex County Airport to Virginia to relocate 28 dogs and seven cats from overcrowded shelters.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
Read More: Meet the Local Resident Behind Hoboken’s Decorative Tree Stump
In Virginia, they were met by many shelter volunteers who helped the animals prepare for their travels. "Their dedication was evident as they worked quickly and efficiently to ensure the animals were given lots of love and [comfort] for their journey ahead," Maria told The Hoboken Girl.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
From the lover state, Maria and Pilots to the Rescue flew to Massachusetts where the animals were taken to Wings of Freedom Animal Rescue, Live and Let Live Farm, and A Second Chance for Ziva Rescue to find their new homes. The group then flew back to New Jersey and took a special friend with them, Pesto, whose forever family was waiting for him in the Garden State. "By the time we landed back in New Jersey, the animals weren’t just passengers—they were starting new chapters of their lives," Maria said.
Maria shared with HG that this trip paid homage to Seuk Kim, a pilot who died in a plane crash in the Catskill Mountains while on an animal rescue mission on November 24th, 2024. Seuk Kim was rescuing four dogs that day. One was dropped off in Maryland and the other three were to be taken to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley in New York, according to Times Union. Two of the dogs involved survived the crash and one by the name of the Whiskey was adopted this past week. In honor of Seuk Kim, the nonprofit Seuk's Army was founded. This organization was also in attendance during Pilots to the Rescue's mission on February 2nd.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
"The real heart of this mission was the incredible work of the volunteers, the pilots, and the shelter workers who all came together to save these animals," Maria told The Hoboken Girl. "It’s truly amazing to see the power of community come together for a cause like this."
For Maria, this mission was more than just doing a good deed. "It was a reminder that, even in the face of tragedy, there is always room for hope, love, and new beginnings."
About Pilots to the Rescue
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
After learning about a group of abandoned puppies in rural North Carolina who were scheduled for euthanasia due to the lack of space at the local shelter, Michael Schneider and fellow pilot Brian Orter flew to North Carolina for their first rescue mission in 2015. A year later, Michael founded Pilots To The Rescue.
Since its establishment, this organization has completed 283 missions, flown 312,066 miles, and saved 3,768 animals. In 2025 alone, Pilots To The Rescue has embarked on nine separate missions across the East Coast and Mid-West.
See More: All of the Candidates Running for New Jersey Governor in 2025
See here to donate to Pilots to the Rescue. "Even the smallest donation directly contributes to our operations and helps us spare more dogs and cats from suffering in overcrowded shelters," as per the organization's website.
Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok to stay in the know with all of the local news, sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and check out our events calendar.
