Advent calendars are a beloved holiday tradition that builds anticipation and joy during the Holiday season. Beyond chocolates and toys, an advent calendar filled with activities can create lasting memories for your family. Whether you’re crafting, baking, or giving back, there are endless opportunities to celebrate the season. Here’s a list of creative advent calendar activity ideas that kids and adults will love, helping you make the countdown to Christmas truly special.

1. Create Christmas Decorations

• Make paper snowflakes: A simple, fun craft that transforms your home into a winter wonderland.

• Design your own ornaments: Use clay, wood, or paper to craft unique ornaments for the Christmas tree.

• Popcorn garlands: String together popcorn and cranberries for a classic and festive decoration.

• Set events and to-dos on your Hearth: Hearth Display makes it easy to schedule crafting days and gather supplies in advance.

2. Plan Festive Family Activities

• Watch a Christmas movie: Classics like The Polar Express or Elf are perfect for cozy nights.

• Sing Christmas carols: Gather around the piano, or head to a local event to sing holiday songs.

• Build a blanket fort: Create a cozy fort and enjoy hot cocoa, holiday books, or a holiday puzzle inside.

• Advent calendar pro tip: Include activity ideas like “build a blanket fort” or “movie night” as daily surprises.

3. Indulge in Holiday Treats

• Bake Holiday cookies: From sugar cookies to gingerbread men, kids love getting involved in baking.

• Make festive pancakes: Start the day with festive pancakes shaped like Christmas trees, candy canes, or stars.

• Enjoy hot chocolate: Customize your cocoa with whipped cream, marshmallows, and peppermint sticks.

• Host a gift-wrapping party: Pair the task of wrapping presents with snacks and holiday music for a fun group activity.

4. Give Back to the Community

• Volunteer at a homeless shelter: Spend a day helping those in need as a family.

• Visit an animal shelter: Bring toys, blankets, or food for the animals and spread holiday cheer.

• Make care packages: Assemble small gifts for neighbors, teachers, or healthcare workers to show appreciation.

5. Embrace Holiday Crafts

• Christmas cards: Handmade holiday cards are a thoughtful way to share the Christmas spirit with friends and family.

• Gingerbread house: Build and decorate a gingerbread house as a fun family activity.

• Holiday traditions: Include crafts like creating personalized stockings or wrapping paper using stamps and paints.

6. Spend Quality Time Together

• Decorate the house: Set aside a day to hang Christmas lights and decorate the tree as a family.

• Ice skating outing: Take the family to a local ice rink for a fun winter activity.

• Read a Christmas story: Share classics like The Night Before Christmas or The Polar Express before bed.

• Family game night: Choose holiday-themed games or puzzles for an evening of laughter and bonding.

7. Surprise with Small Daily Treats

• Candy canes and stocking stuffers: Add small surprises to your advent calendar, such as sweet treats or tiny toys.

• Christmas book of the day: Wrap 24 holiday books and let kids open one each night as part of their bedtime routine.

• Gift one ornament: Each day, add a new ornament to the tree to symbolize the countdown to Christmas.

How to Use Hearth Display for Your Advent Calendar

• Plan your activities: Use Hearth Display to schedule your advent calendar activities so everything is organized and stress-free.

• Share the calendar: Let kids open the calendar each day to discover the surprise activity or treat.

• Stay prepared: Add lists and to-dos to stock up on supplies, plan outings, or bake treats, ensuring you’re ready for every activity.

Create Cherished Memories with Advent Calendar Activities

An activity advent calendar transforms the holiday countdown into a season filled with fun, family, and meaningful traditions. Whether it’s decorating your house, baking cookies, or giving back to the community, these unique ideas will make the Christmas season magical. With the help of Hearth Display, you can organize these activities and enjoy the holidays stress-free.

This year, use your advent calendar to create cherished memories and celebrate the true spirit of the holidays. Happy holiday planning!