Advent calendar activities for adventurous families
It’s time to start the countdown. Maybe it’s about being mindful…or counting your blessings…or preempting your kids asking, “HOW MANY DAYS?!?” But part of the fun of December is building the anticipation for Christmas day, and this year we decided to put the “Advent” in “adventure.” We hope you’ll enjoy these twists on Advent calendar activities.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
Two ways to use these Advent calendar activities
Super random and highly adventurous
Print out our Advent-ure Calendar Activities, cut them into squares, and drop them in a box or bowl. When your family is looking for something fun to do, pull one out.
Organized and only slightly less adventurous
Print the Advent-ure Calendar Activities, cut them into squares, and add the ones you’d like to try to whatever countdown calendar your family uses. That way you can incorporate our activities seamlessly into busy holiday plans.
We’ve provided a long list below—there are way more than 25 and some extra details about the ones we featured. Just in case you want more advent-ures! (We can’t stop saying that.)
And now, on to the advent-ures
For many of us, the holiday season is a time for honoring traditions and revisiting the meaningful holiday family activities we’ve always enjoyed. But it can also be the perfect season to try something new and different—maybe even something downright adventurous.
If your family isn’t afraid to try, taste, learn and mix it up—or even if you simply aspire to be more like that—then why not approach the holidays with a spirit of “advent-ure”?
We’ve brainstormed a list of twists on traditional holiday family fun, making sure to include a range of big and small, as well as free and inexpensive activities. We invite you to try one every day as you count down to your big holiday celebration.
Who knows? You may even find a few things you want to make a permanent part of your holidays. Hey, traditions have to start somewhere, right?
Advent-ures in food
- Pull out that cookie recipe you thought looked too complicated and give it a try. (We believe in you!)
- Have a cookout in the cold…then go inside to enjoy the hot food.
- Invent a snack your favorite holiday character would like. Santa Sub? Grinch Chow? Tiny tater tots with their eyes all aglow?
- Make Reindeer Crunch for Santa’s reindeer. Eat it yourselves. Don’t tell Santa.
- Decorate a designated cookie plate for Santa with food-safe markers.
- Instead of sipping plain old hot cocoa, try some spicy Mexican hot chocolate. You can find Ibarra or Abuelita hot chocolate in many grocery stores.
- Or whip up some white hot cocoa, honey hot chocolate or set up a whole hot chocolate bar.
- Learn about Hanukkah and try your hand at making latkes.
- Or try a traditional holiday food from another culture: lutefisk, tamales and mince pies are just a few of the endless options.
Cultural advent-ures
- ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is great, but it’s not the only read-aloud option. Try The Best Christmas Pageant Ever or another holiday classic instead.
- See The Nutcracker in whatever genre you vibe with—ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz or contemporary.
- Put some oompah in your holidays with a Tuba Christmas performance.
- Skip the usual holiday pop, and relax or work together with Medieval or Renaissance Christmas music.
- Catch a handbell choir in action—live or online.
- Learn a carol from another language or culture. And while you’re enjoying a favorite holiday song, take a minute to learn about its history.
Connecting advent-ures
- Instead of a cookie exchange, have friends and their dogs over for a treat exchange.
- Take a holiday from holiday busy-ness and institute a family do-nothing day: Don’t shop, don’t wrap, don’t cook, don’t clean, don’t get out of your jammies…you get the idea.
- Add a signature touch: Gather around the table and add handwritten notes and family signatures to your holiday cards.
- Schedule a video call with someone special you won’t see in person this holiday season.
- Make up new, funny lyrics for a familiar holiday song. Record yourselves singing it and share for all to enjoy.
- Write and deliver a thank-you to your favorite barista, supermarket checker or someone else who brightens your day throughout the year.
- Plan a holiday scavenger hunt—around the house, around the neighborhood, or around the whole town!
- Use geography puzzles to help kids learn about states and countries Santa will visit, and follow Santa on NORAD.
- Have a tiny snowball fight with mini marshmallows. (Take the showdown outside if you’re worried about the mess.)
- Some homes have an elf who lurks around in December. Give yours something a little different: Penguin in the Pantry? Mouse in the House? Gingerbread Boy in the John? Doll on the Wall? Use your imagination!
Faith and spiritual advent-ures
- Attend a service at a different church or temple than you usually go to—or at a place of worship from a different faith tradition.
- Gratitude—it’s not just for Thanksgiving! Keep a holiday-season gratitude journal or post a “daily grateful” on social media.
- Take time out to pray for, or send good thoughts to, the people who mean the most to you.
- Meditate for ten minutes. (We all could use a little more holiday peace, right?)
- Instead of re-gifting, try “pre-gifting”: Buy something you love, then give it away. (Or donate the money you would have spent on it.)
- Choose meaningful stories, prayers or poems to read at family dinners in December.
- Light a candle for someone you find difficult. Say a prayer for them and think about their good qualities.
• Light a candle in honor of someone you’ve lost. Talk about what made that person special.
• Brainstorm together to make a wish list for the world and humankind.
• Send an out-of-the-blue card to your pastor or spiritual leader, thanking them for their dedication—especially at this busy time of year.
Advent-ures in creativity
- Make a paper-chain garland and write a wish for the coming year on each link. Or string a garland with something more than just popcorn or cranberries—pom-poms, decorated spools, corks (you’ll have to drill holes first), beads or a little of everything.
- Create a nativity scene using stuffed animals, action figures or candy. Post the results on social media so your friends can see.
- Instead of movie-watching night, how about movie-making night? Recreate a favorite scene or film or write (or improvise!) your own. Everyone gets a part. (Yes, even pets!)
- Build gingerbread-style houses out of graham crackers, using royal icing and candy.
Advent-ures in caring and kindness
- Choose a local charity to learn about. Make a commitment to volunteer there if you feel called to do so.
- Visit a care home and spend time talking, playing games, reading, decorating, writing letters or doing puzzles with residents.
- Make arrangements to host an international student who can’t go home for the holidays at your celebration.
- Caring challenge: Everyone pick five possessions to give away and go donate them together.
- Smile at, wave to or hug five people today. (Make sure the hugs are okay with them first.)
- Shop for a food bank while doing your family grocery shopping.
- Pick out a good cause to support with a monthly donation. Put your heads together to plan how you will budget for (or earn) the monthly amount.
- Start a kindness journal.
Nature and outdoor advent-ures
- Download a stargazing app and take a look at Mother Nature’s holiday lights.
- Dress warm and go for a winter hike on a nearby trail. Make it as short or as long as you want, depending on the weather and everyone’s energy levels.
- Exercise your winter green thumb: Plant an Amaryllis or paperwhite bulb.
- Run or volunteer together at a holiday-themed 5K race.
- Visit a state or national forest to see some Christmas trees in their natural, wintry state.
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Christmas 50+ Christmas gift ideas for friends
I’m known for quite a few things in my friend group, including random outbursts, spontaneous solo karaoke sessions an...
-
Baby Inspire giggles with a wobbly Winnie the Pooh
The Disney Winnie the Pooh Wobble and Chime plush rocks, wobbles and makes sounds—it's the perfect addition to a Winn...
-
Spring What Is Jewish American Heritage Month?
What Is Jewish American Heritage Month?
-
Dessert Special delivery: Snowman sugar cookies
Make show-stopping snowman sugar cookies based on Hallmark’s 2018 singing snowmen.
-
Fall What Is Hispanic Heritage Month?
What Is Hispanic Heritage Month? Learn more about this occasion during September and October.
-
DIY spring wreath
Tired of Old Man Winter? Show him the door with a delightful homemade spring wreath you can make in an afternoon. Thi...
-
Dessert Snowman cupcakes
These snowman cupcakes are fun to make and even more fun to eat. And you don’t have to bundle up to decorate them.
-
Spring What is Purim?
What is Purim? Learn more about this one-day Jewish festival.
-
Card Ideas What to write in a Boss’s Day card
The “job” of what to write in a Boss's Day card will be much easier with these tips from Hallmark writers on what you...
-
Wedding What to write in a bridal shower thank-you note
Find tips for what to write in a bridal shower thank-you note from the experts at Hallmark.
-
Father's Day Father’s Day DIY gift: Put Dad in the headlines with a newspaper craft
This Father's Day DIY gift is the perfect way for him to know he's the best dad around.
-
Christmas How to make the holidays your own
Hallmark writer Melvina Young speaks of her unique view on the holidays and gives tips on how to make the holidays yo...
-
How to make paper poppies
Nothing says “Spring is here!” like a burst of bright blooms. In this short video tutorial, Hallmark designer Em Bron...
-
Kids Teaching kids gratitude
I think most parents are like me—we don’t want our kids to grow up with a sense of entitlement. Teaching kids gratitu...
-
Penalty flag football goodie bags
This fun and easy football craft makes 20 DIY penalty flag football goodie bags—perfect for your next game day gather...
-
Spring What is Passover?
Passover commemorates the Israelites’ journey out of slavery in Egypt, as recorded in the Torah and in the Bible (...
-
Thanksgiving Thanksgiving traditions: Start a tradition of thankfulness
This year, count your blessings and give thanks with these fun and meaningful Thanksgiving traditions—they just might...
-
4th of July 4th of July wreath
Express your patriotic pride this Independence Day with this eye-catching, star-spangled 4th of July wreath and porch...
-
Birthday How to take birthday photos like a pro: Tips from a Hallmark photo stylist
Learn how to take birthday photos that capture the best birthday memories.
-
Tiara centerpieces
Learn how to make our fun tiara centerpieces.