Spending time inside coffee shops and attending shows will help students avoid weathering the weather
Although some people don’t mind doing polar bear practices for sports on the quad or studying outside while bundled up under 16 layers of clothing, most would rather spend the misery that is Midwest weather indoors.
With the onslaught of exams and early graduation for some, the winter season at college calls for a bit of stress-free relaxation from time to time. However, since it’s getting colder and colder outside each day, it would seem a student’s activity options would be numbered.
Luckily, campus and the surrounding Peoria area boast a plethora of winter-friendly activities, most of which take place out of the reach of winter’s freezing fingers.
If you are looking for a low-cost and close-to-home activity, a popular winter-weather pastime is gathering up a group of friends either at a coffee shop or at home in front of a fireplace.
Junior theatre production major Sarah Hoeferlin said the winter season is one that makes hanging out with friends a bit more intimate and memorable.
“I think that hanging out at home with friends is more fun during the winter because you end up doing all sorts of different crazy things like baking tons of cookies and decorating,” she said. “I can’t wait to decorate for Christmas at my apartment this year, because it just makes it so much more pretty.”
Whether you spend the time studying or hanging out watching movies and drinking hot cocoa, time spent with friends during the holiday season is a fun way to make the time pass a little faster and to celebrate the spirit of the season.
Perhaps you need to get out of the house for a bit and stretch those chilled muscles. All sorts of activities have been planned in the Peoria area to bring out the best of the season in spite of the coldsnap.
The Peoria Parks District, with the help of the local Luthy Conservatory, offers a holiday Poinsettia Show Nov.. 21 through Dec. 31. Blending these plants in with the tropical plants at the conservatory, with added Christmas trees decorated in different themes, the conservatory is sure to awaken the holiday spirit in anyone.
At night, the conservatory offers this same sort of tour of the facility with the added appeal of viewing the whole exhibit under genuine candlelight. With live musical performances and a waived fee for attendance, anyone can enjoy the seasonal scent of the Poinsettias.
If seeing a holiday show is more up your avenue, Peoria Players Theatre is running its third annual holiday show “Christmas In The City” in mid-December. Set in New York City, the show sings and dances its way through Christmas classics.
Junior dietetics major Megan Bowen, who is in “Christmas In The City,” said she thinks a show like this is just what people need in order to get charged up for the season.
With shows like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Civic Center this Monday and Tuesday, along with Peoria’s Annual Jingle Bell Run Dec. 6 at the RiverPlex, Peoria offers a wide range of activities for those people who aren’t ready to face the sleet and snow of the season.
