Budget Friendly Holiday Plans

By Jailyn Ragland
Spectrum Staff Writer

“A holiday isn’t a holiday without plenty of freedom and fun,” says Louisa May Alcott. The holidays are right around the corner which means the fall semester is coming to an end. During the holiday break, there will be plenty of opportunities to get together with family and friends to celebrate. For college students holiday plans can get expensive and right now, we all could benefit from holiday plans that won’t hurt our pockets. Here are a budget friendly holiday plans to enjoy during the holiday season:

Book a Tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
If you are looking to learn more about the culture during the holidays this one is for you. “The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is a state-of-the-art building that addresses nearly every aspect of the African American experience, covering the arts, slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, athletics and much more,” according to Washington.org. To book your free entry passes, go to https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/plan-your-visit. There you will be able to book up to six free passes or if you are going with a large group, you can book group passes for available times.

Visit the Festival of Lights at Watkins Park
Every winter, Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, hosts a Festival of Lights which is a drive-through experience of many different Christmas lights. This experience is a great budget friendly plan for some holiday cheer. Tickets are now available online for ten dollars and $15 at the gate. For bigger groups, vans and limos are $20 and buses are $30, according to Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Host a Make-Your-Own Ugly Sweater Party
If you’re familiar with Cliff Huxtable’s ugly sweaters and the movie National Lampoon’s "Christmas Vacation," then you may know where the ugly Christmas sweater parties originated. A good ugly Christmas sweater may cost a pretty penny; however, you can still have an ugly Christmas sweater on a budget. You and your friends can plan a make-your-own ugly Christmas sweater party and either make them on your own or make them during the party. All you need is some old sweaters, leftover craft supplies and good friends.

Christmas-Movie Night
For some people returning home right away may not be in your plans for the holiday season. If that is you, you may want to consider hosting a Christmas-movie night on campus. You could also add your own twist and make it a pajama Christmas-movie night or serve hot chocolate and candy canes. So, whether you decide to watch "This Christmas" or "The Polar Express," don’t forget to bring cozy blankets and your favorite movie snacks.

These inexpensive holiday plan ideas are sure to bring you, your family, and your friends joy for the holiday season.