60+ Fun Advent Calendar Activities for Families to Enjoy Together

If you loved the idea of our DIY Advent Calendar Fillers, why not take it one step further with an activity-based Advent calendar? Instead of opening a physical small gift each day, your family unwraps a new activity, outing, or act of kindness to enjoy together.

Activity calendars take a bit of planning but create memories that outlast any trinket. You can mix activity cards alongside small gifts from your filler calendar or create a stand-alone “family fun” version. Either way, it’s a wonderful way to slow down, reconnect, and savor the magic of December — one small moment at a time.

No time to make it now? Save these ideas to Pinterest for later!

Family Advent Activities (for all ages)

These are activities the whole family can enjoy together — simple ideas that bring laughter, creativity, or cozy connection to your evenings. From movie marathons to baking marathons, these moments are what make the countdown truly special.

• Watch a classic Christmas movie together
• Bake and decorate cookies
• Decorate the Christmas tree as a family
• Make a hot cocoa bar night
• Go on a neighborhood Christmas lights walk
• Build a gingerbread house together
• Have a Christmas karaoke or sing-along night
• Read a holiday-themed book aloud
• Take a family holiday photo for a card
• Make handmade ornaments for the tree
• Listen to a Christmas music playlist while crafting
• Have a festive pajama night with popcorn
• Drive to see local holiday decorations
• Create a DIY advent wreath together
• Make a holiday-themed scavenger hunt in the house

Activities for Little Kids (Under 8)

Young children delight in hands-on fun and the build-up to Christmas Day. Keep things short, sensory, and engaging — think crafts, baking, or cozy family time. Little ones love to repeat familiar traditions, so it’s okay to reuse favorite ideas across the calendar.

• Make paper snowflakes and hang them up
• Read a Christmas bedtime story
• Decorate simple paper ornaments
• Sing Christmas songs together
• Create a Santa mailbox or letters to Santa
• Decorate gingerbread men or cookies
• Color holiday-themed coloring pages
• Do a simple Christmas craft (e.g., salt dough ornaments)
• Play with holiday-themed sensory bins (rice, fake snow)
• Go on a “treasure hunt” for small wrapped treats around the house
• Make reindeer food for the garden
• Watch a kid-friendly Christmas movie
• Build a snowman if there’s snow, or a cotton-ball version indoors
• Wrap a small toy or treat for a friend or sibling
• Make handprint or footprint holiday crafts

Activities for Older Kids & Teens (8–18)

Tweens and teens might act cool about Christmas, but they still love shared rituals — especially when you involve them in planning. Include creative projects, movie nights, and activities that let them take the lead. A few low-effort nights (like “pick the Christmas playlist”) help balance busier days.

• Decorate cookies or cupcakes
• Make DIY Christmas cards for friends/family
• Plan a family Christmas playlist and dance party
• Create personalized gift tags or wrapping paper
• Have a mini holiday photo booth night
• Volunteer together at a local charity or food bank
• Plan a festive game night (board games, charades, Christmas trivia)
• Make paper lanterns or luminaries for the house
• DIY holiday crafts (beaded ornaments, painted mason jars)
• Make a small holiday gift for a neighbor or friend
• Watch a more advanced Christmas movie or musical
• Organize a mini scavenger hunt for holiday items
• Write letters or cards to extended family members
• Make a Christmas playlist for each family member
• Bake holiday treats to gift to friends or neighbors

Acts of Kindness & Community Ideas

December is a perfect time to teach generosity and gratitude. Sprinkle a few kindness prompts into your calendar for everyone to share — things like giving, helping, or creating small surprises for others. These meaningful moments remind kids (and adults!) that joy grows when it’s shared.

• Donate gently used toys or clothes
• Write thank-you notes to teachers, neighbors, or postal workers
• Leave a surprise gift or treat for someone in the neighborhood
• Make cards for a local nursing home or hospital
• Volunteer at a local food bank or charity
• Donate books to a library or school
• Collect coins for a local charity
• Bake treats to share with a friend or family member
• Shovel snow or rake leaves for a neighbor
• Make a handmade ornament to give as a surprise gift
• Pack a care bag for someone in need
• Leave kind notes around the house or neighborhood
• Create a “helpful coupon” book for family members
• Record a holiday greeting video for distant relatives
• Make a festive donation jar and let kids choose the charity

Should an advent calendar have 12 doors or 24? We explore the differnece and what they symbolize

How to Mix Activities and Gifts in One Calendar

You don’t need to choose between an activity-based or gift-based Advent calendar — the best approach is often a mix. Pair a few fun fillers (see our DIY Advent Calendar Fillers for All the Family post) with small daily activities, alternating between the two.

For example, one day might bring a small treat, while the next invites the family to bake cookies or go for a holiday lights walk. This balance keeps the calendar exciting but manageable during a busy season.

Tips for Creating an Activity-Based Advent Calendar

• Plan ahead: Map out your month so bigger outings fall on weekends and you have time to make any neccessary bookings!
• Use what you have: Many activities are free or can be done with things already at home.
• Print or handwrite cards: Slip each activity into numbered envelopes or pockets of a reusable Advent calendar – we have some DIY coupon cards for this coming soon to our party printables shop!
• Be flexible: Swap or skip a day if plans change — it’s about the joy, not perfection (cashable ‘coupons’ can work better than a fixed schedule per day).
• Keep it simple: You don’t need 25 elaborate events. Even small gestures, like a Christmas story or cocoa night, make an impact.