Side Quests: The Most Offbeat Things To Do Across India Before 2025 Ends
From immersive photo walks to interactive dining experiences, these are the coolest events to bookmark this month
As we reach the last leg of the rollercoaster that was 2025, it’s understandable if you want to lounge around in your pajamas and doomscroll your remaining days into oblivion. With the year-ender blues setting in, the ghost of annual regret, ranging from incomplete bucket lists, secret Santa gift-wrapping shenanigans, and failed vision boards, may haunt you. But it’s during these moments of bleakness that you pick yourself up again and create your own magic, step by step. As the countdown to 2026 begins, embrace the stillness, indulge in merriment, and bask in tomfoolery with these Side Quests — Rolling Stone India’s series spotlighting the most uniquely curated events around the country.
The Indian Christmas Table, New Delhi
Taking “breaking bread” to a multisensorial level, Indicā’s “Indian Christmas Table” promises to serve you the best of the regional delights straight from the recipe books of the Indian Christian community. Curated by Chef Kartikeya Sinha, the menu boasts of homegrown realness, from lip-smacking pork sorpotel to string hoppers and vegetable stew, topped with a side of mulled wine.
When: Dec. 24, 2025
Where: Indicā, New Delhi
Get tickets here
Christmas Delights: Photo Walks Across Mumbai
For the photographers and meanderers who love a good saunter, this is your chance to explore the bylanes of your own city through a touristy lens. From the quaint, picturesque East-Indian villages of Matharpacady, Mazagaon, to the historic churches of Bandra, experience Christmas without the social media filters. Along with getting some cinematic shots, soak in the cultural anecdotes, witness intimate traditions, and experience the warmth of festive joy in the most authentic way possible.
When: Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, 2025
Where: Bandra, Matharpacady, Mumbai
Get tickets here
Wild Voices Choir, Mumbai
What better way to celebrate Christmas Eve than good ol’ fashioned carol singing? With the grand Afghan church acting as the backdrop, Wild Voices Choir, an Indian ensemble, is set to bring a slew of unique choral renditions of X’mas classics, along with a dedicated candlelight service. As the clock strikes twelve, take a moment to savor the present as strangers sing together in perfect harmony.
When: Dec. 24, 2025, 10:30 PM onwards
Where: Afghan Church, Colaba
Entry: Free for all
Comedy Pop-Up, Mumbai
Goodbye secret societies, hello elusive comedy lineups. Ever attended a stand-up show without knowing the comic onstage? Khar Comedy Club promises to heighten the spontaneity quotient with their path-breaking “Comedy Pop-Up”. Bringing an eclectic mix of stand-up bigwigs and rising underdogs, this one’s for those who’d rather binge comedy specials than Christmas movies. Catch your favorite, or better yet, go back as a fan.
When: Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026
Where: Khar Comedy Club, Mumbai
Get tickets here
‘Home Alone‘ Immersive Dining Experience, Gurugram
As they say, “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal!” For all the Home Alone gustatory enthusiasts, here’s your chance to get a taste of Kevin’s life, quite literally. “Taste Cinemas” is taking movie nights to a whole new level, or dare we say palate. Crafting dinner menus inspired by famous movies, the immersive dining showcase invites people to get a taste of cult classics, straight from the screen to the dining plate. The eight-course thematic dining experience encompasses everything from Kevin’s famous “Mac and Cheese” and the “OG Margherita Pizza” to the delectable “Santa Brownies.”
When: Dec. 27, 2025
Where: Moets Palm Villa, Gurugram
Get tickets here
Boards and Banter, Mumbai
If you spiritually identify as Abed from Community and are your friend group’s living, breathing rule book, then prepare to embark on the side quest of your dreams. Nestled inside the streets of Kandivali, “Boards and Banter” transforms into a one-stop hub, where seasoned professionals and amateurs alike bond over their shared passion for both classic and modern games. Over multiple rounds, strangers turn into potential competitors and eventually, cherished acquaintances. With “IRL” (In Real Life) being a core sentiment that defined this year, ditch that digital brainrot for some end-of-year shenanigans, one dice roll at a time.
When: Dec. 27, 2025
Where: Anita Road, Kandivali
Get tickets here
Pitch A Friend
It’s time to channel your inner startup bro and “Pitch” a friend. Your mission? Introduce your pal to a room full of strangers in the most whack way possible. Be it using gaudy props or creating unhinged PowerPoint slides, the world is your oyster. Indulge wholeheartedly in the “New Year, New Me” character development arc and take your “power-of-friendship” to new, unadulterated heights.
When: Dec.27, 2025 to Jan. 18, 2026
Where: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune
Sunset Cinema Club: Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwaani
Want to end your year on a Bollywood-coded note with your YJHD-core friend group? Then be prepared to block your calendars, as Sunset Cinema Club is bringing a pan-India, New Year’s Eve special rooftop screening of Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwaani. Place dibs on your beanbag of choice, grab a bucket of popcorn, and gear up to welcome 2026 with open arms, quintessential Bunny style.
When: Dec. 27, 2025 to Dec. 28, 2025
Where: Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Goa (Dates dependent on city of choice)
Get tickets here
