20 Things to Do When It’s Cold Outside

Cold weather forces a decision every single day: either bundle up and push through it or stay inside and make peace with 4 walls.

I've landed on both answers depending on the week, which is why this list of things to do when it's cold outside splits evenly.

Whichever way the day goes, here's what actually holds up against real winter boredom, tested through plenty of gray afternoons.

Quick list: 20 things to do when it's cold outside

Indoors: host a game night, build an indoor fort, run a science experiment, make winter-themed art, host a family trivia night, start a winter baking marathon, host a themed potluck, deliver meals to neighbors, learn a new skill, get moving with an indoor workout.

Outdoors (bundled up): build a snow fort, go on a winter hike, play street hockey, host a backyard bonfire, try sledding where it's allowed, go animal-track hunting, build a snowman, try snow painting, go ice skating, take a brisk neighborhood walk.

Best things to do indoors when it's cold outside

These are the ones I reach for when going outside just isn't worth it.

1. Host a game night

Instead of another round of the same board game, Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune on the Weekend turns a quiet night into instant energy that the whole room can join in on.

How to do it: Open the Weekend Games app on your smart TV, pick a title everyone knows, and shout answers using the remote or a paired phone.

Best for: Groups of mixed ages who want to play something together.

{{cta-fortune}}

2. Build an indoor fort

Old sheets and a pile of couch cushions turn the living room into a hideout the kids will defend like actual territory.

How to do it: Drape sheets over chairs and the couch, anchor the corners with books, and leave the front open as the door.

Best for: Kids with energy to burn and no snow to burn it in yet.

3. Run a science experiment 

Blocks of ice, salt, sugar, and baking soda turn into a melting race with a real winner and a real prize.

How to do it: Set out identical ice cubes, sprinkle a different substance on each, and time how long each takes to melt.

Best for: Curious kids who like a contest with a clear result.

4. Make winter-themed art

A quiet sketch of snow outside the window or a family snowman drawing contest turns a gray morning into a genuinely playful time.

How to do it: Hand out paper and whatever's in the drawer, set a theme like "best snowman," and vote on a winner.

Best for: A slow morning when everyone needs something calm to focus on.

5. Host a family trivia night

Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Song Quiz on Weekend keep every age shouting out answers using the TV remote or paired phone as the mic. 

How to do it: Launch the Weekend Games app, split into teams, and rotate games so trivia buffs and music fans both get a round.

Best for: A mixed-age crowd that gets competitive fast.

{{cta-jeopardy}}

6. Start a winter baking marathon

When it's too cold to step outside, a baking marathon puts the whole afternoon to good use and warms up the kitchen while it's at it. Snowball cookies are the classic cold-weather payoff.

How to do it: Cream the butter and sugar, mix in the rest, roll into balls, bake at 350°F until set, then roll the warm cookies in more powdered sugar.

Best for: A long afternoon indoors with people who'll happily eat the results.

7. Host a themed potluck

Assigning everyone a cuisine or comfort food turns one cold night into a family gathering nobody could pull off alone.

How to do it: Choose a theme, have each person claim a dish so nothing doubles up, and let everyone cook at home before they arrive.

Best for: A bigger group that wants a full spread without all the cooking falling on the host.

8. Deliver meals to neighbors

Bundling up just long enough to drop off something warm for a neighbor cures winter boredom faster than almost anything else on this list.

How to do it: Cook a little extra, box it up while it's hot, and walk it over to someone who'd welcome the company.

Best for: Anyone who feels better after doing something for someone else.

9. Learn a new skill

Picking up knitting, sourdough, or a new Jeopardy! strategy gives a slow week a real sense of progress, the same fix that works for boredom on any ordinary weeknight.

How to do it: Pick a small skill to start, find a beginner video, and give it 20 minutes a day until it sticks.

Best for: The person who gets restless when the week has no shape.

10. Get moving with an indoor workout

A dance-off to whatever's on the speaker turns a day that started with everyone glued to the couch into something with actual energy.

How to do it: Clear a space, queue a playlist, and take turns picking songs so everyone has to move.

Best for: Antsy kids and adults who can't get to the gym.

{{cta-karaoke}}

Best things to do outdoors when it's cold outside

Bundled up right, cold air turns into its own kind of activity, one worth stepping into rather than waiting out.

11. Build a snow fort

Packed snow bricks stacked into walls deliver the same collaborative joy as an indoor fort, just colder.

How to do it: Pack snow into a bin to mold bricks, stack them into walls, and smooth the gaps with loose snow.

Best for: Kids and adults who want to build something with their hands.

12. Go on a winter hike

A brisk walk through frost-covered trails turns a familiar park into something worth photographing.

How to do it: Layer up, pick a trail you already know, and turn back before anyone's fingers get cold.

Best for: A free afternoon with time for a longer route and a few photos.

13. Play street hockey

Bundled-up neighborhood games burn energy fast and rarely need more than a stick and a ball.

How to do it: Set up a goal at each end, split into teams, and keep the game moving so nobody stands around getting cold.

Best for: A group of kids the indoors can't contain.

14. Host a backyard bonfire

Marshmallow toasting and layered blankets turn a short gathering with friends into one worth braving the cold for. Take the same setup down to just the 2 of you, and it becomes one of the better cold-weather date nights around.

How to do it: Check local fire rules first, build the fire in a pit well clear of the house, keep water nearby, and bring more blankets than you think you need.

Best for: Friends who don't mind the cold, or a couple after the kids are down.

15. Try sledding where it's allowed

Local rules on sledding vary by city, so check before heading to a hill.

How to do it: Find an approved hill with a clear runout, keep the bottom clear between runs, and steer away from trees and roads.

Best for: Families with a good hill nearby and a free afternoon.

{{cta-witsend}}

16. Go animal-track hunting

Fresh snow turns a backyard into a map of who passed through overnight.

How to do it: Head out after a fresh snowfall, look for prints near fences and trees, and try to guess what left them.

Best for: Kids who love a bit of detective work.

17. Build a snowman

The classic build still delivers real family bonding once the weather cooperates enough to try.

How to do it: Roll a base, a middle, and a head from wet, packable snow, stack them largest to smallest, and raid the kitchen for a face.

Best for: The family that can't look at fresh snow without doing something.

18. Try snow painting

Spray bottles filled with colored water turn a plain snowbank into a canvas kids keep adding to.

How to do it: Mix water with a few drops of food coloring in spray bottles, then let kids paint the snow.

Best for: Younger kids who want to make a mess somewhere that cleans itself up.

19. Go ice skating

A local rink or a frozen pond, if it's safe, turns cold air into a real reason to leave the house.

How to do it: Stick to a supervised rink or a pond confirmed safe by local authorities, and keep first-timers near the rail.

Best for: First-timers and anyone who likes a little glide with their winter exercise.

20. Take a brisk neighborhood walk

Even 10 minutes outside resets a day that's started to feel stir-crazy indoors.

How to do it: Bundle up, pick a loop close to home, and go before you talk yourself out of it.

Best for: Anyone stuck in their own head after too long inside.

{{cta-questions}}

Why cold weather doesn't have to mean boredom

Cold weather genuinely narrows what feels possible, and staying stuck on the couch scrolling makes the season drag even longer.

Having a real list ready turns an ordinary week into something worth looking forward to.

Cold days now feel less like something to survive and more like a built-in excuse to slow down, get creative, or finally try the thing that's been on the list for months.

When rainy days show up before the first real cold snap, the same trick works, just with different weather outside.

Weekend warms up the room when it's freezing out

Nothing settles an argument or starts one faster than a house full of people yelling answers at the TV, which is exactly why things to do when it's cold outside almost always end with Weekend on.

Every round gives the whole house one screen to fight over, and that's usually all it takes to forget the frozen tundra waiting for you outside.

Our lineup includes:

• Jeopardy! runs the real TV show format on your screen, same clues, same buzzer-style pace, same rounds.
• Wheel of Fortune has teams calling out letters together, racing to solve the puzzle before the other side catches on.
• Song Quiz plays a quick clip from any decade or genre, and whoever shouts the song and artist first banks the points.
• Karaoke (on Roku) grades pitch alongside lyrics, so the person who actually sang well walks away with real bragging rights.
• Guess the Emoji turns strings of emoji into movie titles, phrases, and pop culture references the room has to crack together.
• Sketchy AF reveals a drawing one stroke at a time, rewarding whoever guesses the fastest with the most points.
• Spot On drops the group into locations around the globe and turns guessing landmarks into a friendly geography brawl.
• 20 Questions (on Roku) keeps the guessing going until someone in the room finally nails the mystery answer.
• Wit’s End turns your TV into a chaotically fun fantasy adventure with an AI game master that builds entire stories around your choices. 
• Meme Supreme fills the downtime between games with a meme-matching round the whole room ends up voting on.

Getting these games up and running only takes a 7-day free trial and the smart TV already sitting in your living room.

FAQs

What are the best games to beat winter boredom?

The best games to beat winter boredom keep everyone active and laughing rather than just staring at a screen. Trivia games like Jeopardy!, Song Quiz, and Wheel of Fortune turn an ordinary evening into a competition everyone remembers.

Can I play these games with my family on a cold day?

Yes, playing on a smart TV with the whole family works whenever the room needs to warm up. Voice-powered games let everyone join in without a console controller or complicated setup.

What do I need to start playing Weekend indoors?

Getting started only takes a smart TV with Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, or LG. Your remote or smartphone acts as a microphone, and setting up an account once the app is installed takes a few minutes.

Which Weekend titles are the most fun for cold-day gatherings?

Jeopardy!, Song Quiz, and Karaoke stand out most for cold-day gatherings. Each one keeps every age entertained, whether it's trivia recall or singing for a high score.