1. Buy a Frog
Leap Day is the perfect day to add a new member to your family, and what better than a frog! Gary’s Pet Jungle (2857 S Howell Ave.) has a wide variety of froggy friends to choose from.
2. Play Leapfrog
When was the last time you played leapfrog? Leapfrog is not only a fun way to let your inner child shine, but it also trains agility, and improves your teamwork skills and trust. So, grab a group of friends or family and play a few rounds.
3. Figure Out Your Leap Day Age
This one’s super easy. Take your current age and divide it by 4, that’s how old you’d be if you were born on Leap Day.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
4. Take a Dance Class
This Leap Day, you can learn to leap! Fred Astaire Dance Studios offers dance classes all week long for all ages and abilities.
5. Celebrate Your Favorite Holiday (Again!)
Use your extra day this year to celebrate your favorite holiday for a second time. Who needs Christmas in July when you can have Christmas on Feb. 29?
6. Make an Origami Frog
Make an origami jumping frog as a cute and recyclable craft. There are hundreds of written and video tutorials available online, and Broadway Paper in the Historic Third Ward has a plethora of fun papers to choose from.
7. Write a Letter to Yourself For the Next Leap Day
A lot can happen in four years. Write yourself a letter about where you’re at right now and where you hope you’ll be by the next time Feb. 29 rolls around.
8. Make a Time Capsule to Open on the Next Leap Day
Making a time capsule is simple: grab a vessel (could be a shoe box, old suitcase, or an empty jar), fill it will a few memories (photos, notes, drawings, etc), write a description of the contents of the box, seal it and don’t touch it until the time has passed.
9. Go to a Trampoline Park
Get some energy out this Leap Day by spending it at a trampoline park. Rockin’ Jump, located in Brown Deer, has general admission from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Leap Day this year.
10. Watch the Movie Leap Year
Throw a watch party for the 2010 romcom Leap Year. It’s available to rent through Prime Video. Who doesn’t love Amy Adams?
11. Finalize a Big Life Decision
It’s all about taking that leap of faith. If you’re thinking about quitting your job or moving across the country, why not finalize your decision on Leap Day?
12. Make a Four-year Plan
This one is pretty self explanatory. Determine your goals, figure out your values, plan your process, and go get ’em. Then check back in on the next Leap Day.
13. Spend $29 at Your Favorite Store
Challenge yourself to spend no more than $29 at your favorite store. You can go under, but don’t go over!
14. Start a New Hobby
Use your extra day this year to start a new hobby. You could learn to cultivate houseplants, trim Bonsai trees, or craft jewelry out of polymer clay! The world (or maybe just Leap Day) is your oyster.
15. Deep Clean Your House
If you feel like you never have enough days in the month, it’s your lucky year. Use the extra day to jumpstart your spring cleaning.
16. Take a Self-Care Day
Take the day off and pamper yourself. Maybe you need to float around in a sensory deprivation tank, or get your nails done. Use Feb. 29 to book yourself a self-care day.
17. Take a 29 Mile Road Trip
Who doesn’t love a little road trip? Mukwonago, Racine and Delafield are a few cities that are 29 miles away from Milwaukee. Take a trip and try a new restaurant or support a new small business.
18. Go to a Leap Day Party
Leap Day just so happens to fall on a Thursday this year – a thirsty Thursday? Third Space Brewing is throwing a 30 Rock-themed party and in honor of the extra day they are releasing a bonus beer.
19. Celebrate a Birthday
Who cares if it’s not actually your birthday? Theme the party around your leap year age (see number three), get a group of friends together to celebrate an extra birthday for everyone.
20. Do Something that Brings You Good Luck
In some cultures – like Greek, Ukrainian and Taiwanese – Leap Day means bad luck of some kind. Counteract any bad luck by doing your favorite good luck ritual a little harder on the 29th.
21. Try a New Recipe
An extra day means a whole bonus day of meals, so try out a new recipe! If you’re looking for a little inspiration, check out our guide to cooking classes in Milwaukee.
22. Propose on Leap Day
In Ireland, there’s an old tradition for women to propose on Leap Day. Ladies, you can propose whenever you want, but why not make it a little extra fun and propose on the mystical disappearing day?
23. Read 29 Pages of a Book
Check out our list of five Wisconsin books to read this winter and pick one up for your Leap Day reading.
24. Eat Frog Legs
Crawdaddy’s on Greenfield has “frogs on a mound” – for $14, you get a 1/2 lb. of frog legs over shoestring onion rings.
25. Leap From Rock to Rock
Go rock climbing on Leap Day and try leaping from rock to rock. Adventure Rock has day passes and climbing gear available to rent so you can climb away.
26. Create a Leap Day Playlist With 29 Songs
Throw together a playlist of your 29 top favorite songs. Bonus points if you share the playlist with 29 friends!
27. Have a “Hoppy” Leap Day
Branch out and try some craft beer this leap day. Lakefront Brewery has a “Hop Gods” DDH Imperial IPA available right now.
28. Go on a Frog Hunt
Spend some time outdoors this leap day and go searching for frogs. The Wehr Nature Center has five miles of trails through woodlands, wetlands, prairie and oak savanna. With a little leg work, you’re bound to find a froggy friend.
29. Go to the Zoo and Count 29 Animals
The Milwaukee County Zoo is open for visitors all week long. Take a trip with friends or family and try to count 29 animals. Maybe you’ll even find some frogs!
