31 Days of Christmas Activities to Make Your December Even More Festive

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day is one filled with wonder. Twinkling lights, holiday cheer, glittering parties, cookie swaps, and more add joy to the season until the day Santa arrives—and often, even all the way until New Year's Eve. There is no shortage of things to do during the days and weeks leading up to the big day itself, but if you find yourself at a loss for how to celebrate the holiday season and revel in some festive cheer, consider this list of holiday activities that will lift your spirits all month long.

Make an Advent Calendar

Count down the days until Santa arrives with a DIY Advent calendar. There are so many variations, and they are all a little more special than a store-bought version. From using shoe organizers to peg boards, you'll find there are plenty of creative ways to celebrate each day until Christmas.

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm

Many families make an annual tradition out of traveling to their local Christmas tree farm, choosing the perfect tannenbaum, and cutting it down to bring home. Make sure you follow these tips for choosing the right Christmas tree so that it stays vibrant and festive all season long.

Host a Holiday Movie Marathon

With so many classic movies to choose from, a night snuggled under blankets with a good cup of hot cocoa is a ritual during the holiday season. Go for a vintage theme with movies like White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life—or watch more contemporary classics like Home Alone or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. "Make it a Christmas weekend family tradition where everyone gets to choose a festive movie to watch," says Brian Jones, co-founder of Best in Edmonton. "You just need to prepare hot chocolate, select some candies from a selection box, and find a position on the couch."

Organize a Christmas-Themed Scavenger Hunt

Perfect for little ones, hide holiday-themed items either inside or outside your home and have the children race to find them all. The winner with the most items gets a special surprise.

Write a Letter to Santa

Sit down with your family and write your letters to Santa. Make a night of it with hot cocoa and marshmallows, a holiday movie, and twinkling lights as you list what you'd like from the North Pole.

Plan a Craft Night

Gather your best crafty friends and get to work crafting holiday decor, gifts, and more. All you need are some craft supplies, plenty of glue, and glitter. "We spend an afternoon creating DIY ornaments, homemade wreaths, or personalized greeting cards," says Smirna Kulenovic, design expert at Next Luxury. "It's not only a fun activity but also a great way to create meaningful gifts for loved ones."

Host a Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest

What better way to spend a day than baking delicious cookies with your loved ones? Turn it into a contest when you get to the decorating stage to add a bit more fun. "One of my favorite traditions is getting together with friends and family for a baking extravaganza," says Saya Nagori, CEO and founder of WanderDC. "Transforming my kitchen into a sugary fairytale, concocting batches of gingerbread cookies, and constructing gingerbread houses, each one more whimsical than the last. Decorating these festive treats is an art form in itself, from gumdrops and sprinkles to colorful frosting; there are so many choices."

Deliver Cookies to Neighbors

Package some of your freshly baked cookies and deliver them to your neighbors as a holiday treat. "As a child, we baked Christmas cookies every year on Christmas Eve Day and delivered them to our elderly neighbors who didn't have family in town," says Kirsten Horton of House of Horton Designs. "My little brother and I would load up a wagon and go up and down our street with plastic-wrapped paper plates of hand-decorated sugar cookies. As a mom, this is a tradition that I've carried on with my own children. It is so sweet to see the joy that it brings to the faces of the recipients!"

Plan a Cookie Swap

Invite your friends and family over for a cookie swap. Make sure to have quests bake enough for a dozen cookies for each person at the party, but scaling up or down works too. Set out festive packaging like pretty tins and paper bags for guests to bring their cookies home.

Visit Santa

A classic! What would the holiday season be without a visit to Santa for your little ones? Many communities host Santa meet and greets alongside local businesses. Bring the children to a Santa storytelling hour, and snap some holiday photos while you're at it.

Shop at a Holiday Market

Many cities and towns host holiday markets that are perfect for shopping from local, independent sellers. You're also more likely to find more unique gifts from a local seller as opposed to a larger retailer. "Christmas markets are not just markets but a cavalcade of sensations," says Duy Vo, founder of Sandjest. "The aroma of mulled wine, the texture of handcrafted gifts, and the sound of carolers are a symphony for the senses. One personal anecdote that stands out was visiting a Christmas market in York. I stumbled upon a small stall selling hand-painted ornaments. Each one told a story, and it struck me how personal touches turn simple activities into lifelong memories."

Make Your Own Christmas Cards

The easiest route for sending holiday cards is to purchase a box or order a set with family photos. But there's something even more special about making your own cards, writing a heartfelt holiday message to the recipient, and sending it on its way.

Take a Holiday Light Tour

Go for a drive with the family after dinner to see all of the holiday lights and decorations in your neighborhood. Or, if it's not too cold, go for a walk. "We gather a group, bundle up, and take a walk or a slow drive around our neighborhood to admire the festive lights and decorations," says Kulenovic. "Sometimes, we turn it into a friendly competition, rating each house's display and awarding a homemade trophy to the winner."

Host a Gift-Wrapping Session

Wrapping a mountain of gifts can sometimes feel overwhelming, but doing it with a group is sure to make the time fly by. "In the middle of the aromatic whirlwind of freshly baked treats, we also organize a lively gift-wrapping session," says Nagori. "The air is filled with joy and laughter as we compete to see who can wrap the presents in the most festive and creative way. Ribbons, bows, and colorful sparkling paper fill the room, transforming each gift into a work of art."

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Plan a gingerbread house decorating night. It's easy to find kits available in stores, but you can also embellish them with your own candies, frostings, and trinkets. "One year, my mom made individual gingerbread houses, including all of the candies and frostings, for me and each of my friends to decorate as a birthday party activity," says Will Hatton, founder and CEO at The Broke Backpacker. "These were the days before you could go to Target or the grocery store to purchase a ready-made house. The activity was so fun, and even as I got older, this tradition has stuck and become a fun thing we did every year, either with my friends or as a family."

Have a Family Holiday Slumber Party by the Christmas Tree

Of course, you could all sleep in your own beds, but what's the fun in that? "Another favorite Christmas activity is a family sleepover in the living room. We put down cushions and blankets all over the living room, snuggle up in our Christmas PJs, and spend the night in the living room under the glow of the Christmas tree," says Emily Ver Lee, founder of Fox Farm Home. "My kids anticipate this night every year as it is sweet, quality time together. You can binge-watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music, or read the Christmas story and just enjoy being together."

Craft Ornaments

Making DIY ornaments is a fun holiday activity for the whole family. Craft ornaments for your own tree or to give as gifts to friends and family. "Create ornaments using salt dough or clay," says Donna Paul, a former Montessori elementary teacher. "Allow children to shape, mold, and decorate these ornaments into festive shapes, encouraging creativity and fine motor skills."

Make Wreaths

Wreath making is a beautiful way to use greenery from around your yard. Craft them from either craft wire framing or wood. "You can use either a circular wooden frame or you could weave together thin wooden strips," says Forrest McCall, co-owner of Mama Needs a Project. "Then you can decorate them with greenery, pinecones, berries, or the ornaments you crafted for a unique and personal look."

Attend Your Town's Christmas Tree Lighting

Most municipalities host a holiday tree lighting ceremony, complete with caroling and sometimes a special visit from Santa. And if yours doesn't, a neighboring town or city probably does. "The week after Thanksgiving, you can often find Christmas tree lightings around your town!" says Horton. "These events are geared toward the whole family and often include things like hot chocolate, games, and Christmas carols. It's a great way to get out in your town, meet new friends, and feel a sense of community."

Read a Christmas Book

The season is ripe with Christmas stories—choose a classic like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or a more contemporary holiday novel like Midnight at the Christmas Shop by Jenny Colgan. Tuck into your book surrounded by cozy blankets, a glowing Christmas tree, and a warm beverage.

Go Carol Singing

A traditional holiday activity, spend an evening caroling around your neighborhood—it's a wonderful way to build holiday spirit and have some fun. "In my neighborhood back in Memphis, all of the kids used to get together and go up and down the street singing Christmas carols on the front porches," Horton says. "They were bundled up in their festive attire while parents stood behind with to-go cups filled with hot cocoa and big smiles."

Have a Stocking Stuffing Party

Stockings can sometimes get overlooked in the gift exchange process, but that doesn't make them any less important. "This one is mostly for the moms! Even though they are pretty nice all year long, Santa might overlook their stockings," says Horton. "If you're a mom noticing that this happens at your house, think about hosting a stocking-stuffing party for your mom friends. You each bring your stocking and some small goodies that you think your friends would like. Over charcuterie boards and Champagne, you can secretly fill one another's stockings so that your mom friends get a Christmas morning surprise, too!"

Give Back With a Charity Drive

Don't forget to give back during the holiday season. It's a fulfilling way to celebrate the season and ensure that everyone around you has a beautiful holiday. Consider adopting a family or donating to a toy drive. "Participating in a charity drive or volunteer activity has become a fulfilling tradition for us," says Kulenovic. "Whether it’s donating to a local shelter or helping at a community event, it’s a beautiful way to spread the spirit of giving and kindness during the holidays."

Create Ornament Time Capsules

During your ornament crafting session, create a mini ornament time capsule to be opened the following year (or a year determined by you). "Each year, have everyone write a note or message and store it away as a mini time capsule," says Morgan Jackson, founder of Light56. "Whether included in an ornament or hidden in a stocking, it's like sending a heartfelt message to your future self. Rediscovering it the following year makes for a lovely gift."

Take a Winter Hike

Get out in nature and enjoy the serenity that comes with the winter season. "One of my favorite holiday memories was hiking in a local park the day after Christmas," says Amy Kleppinger, founder of The Home Green Design. "Everyone we passed was in a cheerful holiday spirit and it felt exhilarating to get out and stretch our legs after all of the sedentary feasting!"

Grow a Holiday Amaryllis

Who says gardening activities have to stop in the early fall? Try this winter garden activity with a holiday twist. "Christmas decorations of the plant variety are both beautiful and eco-friendly," Kleppinger says. "There’s something so nice about watching the bulb grow into a beautiful bloom as everything outside is going dormant. They also make great holiday gifts!"

Host a Game Night

With family home for the holidays, thinking of something to do with everyone besides eating and drinking can be daunting—so pull out your board games and engage in a friendly holiday game night. "Playing a game (or several) with your family is a must at Christmas. Competitive people could like board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue," says Jack Williams, the founder of Handyman Reviewed. "Try Charades, Pictionary, or trivia if you enjoy playing team games."

Take to the Ice Rink

Skate your heart out during the holidays; it's easy enough to rent a pair of skates if you don't own some yourself. "One of the nicest ways to get outside and move during the winter is to go ice skating," says Jones. "There are rinks built up in the downtown of many cities, and frozen lakes can be skated on in other places. Bring over some hot cocoa or hot beverages in a thermos, and enjoy an enjoyable evening of working out while honing your ice skating spins and feats."

Contribute to a 'Jar of Awesome'

Make this an annual tradition with your family. "Throughout the holiday season, jot down memorable moments or achievements on small notes and collect them in a 'Jar of Awesome,'" says Jackson. "Select a special day to open the jar and read each note to relive these moments. Reading these notes is a great activity for the winter solstice, New Year’s Day, Christmas or Boxing Day."

Have an Eggnog Tasting

Eggnog has its champions and detractors, for sure. You either really love eggnog, or you really ... don't. Those who do, though, generally have their own way of making it, from the base eggnog recipe to the add-ins like bourbon and rum. Gather your eggnog-loving friends and host an eggnog tasting, and decide once and for all the best way to make this boozy libation.

Build a Snowman

If you're lucky enough to live in a region that sees snow towards the end of December, spend some time outside doing the ultimate winter activity: building snowmen! Bring out your favorite cold weather accessories to dress him (hat, scarves, etc.), and don't forget a carrot for his nose!