The Big Christmas Bucket List Of Fun Activities For Families

If the holidays tend to fly by in a blur, this simple Christmas Bucket List is an easy way to slow things down and enjoy more of the good bits with your family.

Then pick a handful of ideas that fit your family this year and let the rest be inspiration for future holidays.

Why I Love A Bucket List At Christmas

The build-up to Christmas gets more intense every year… and then Christmas Day is over in a flash. So why not spread out the festive fun by creating a Christmas Bucket List for your family?

A bucket list is a brilliant way to make the most of every day during the festive season, to keep kids from simmering over in anticipation of the big day and to help you savour spending quality family time together.

Quick Picks For A Cozy December Night

• Take a Christmas lights walk with warm drinks in hand.
• Build an easy hot chocolate toppings bar for a fun after-dinner treat.
• Have a Christmas book and blanket night with everyone choosing a favorite story.
• Host a tiny cinema night with floor cushions, fairy lights and popcorn.
• Make a festive red and green snack board for a low-effort movie or game night.

Free Printable Christmas Bucket List

Don't forget to grab the free printable bucket list PDF at the end of the post. It turns this post into a one-page checklist you can use all season long.

Family Christmas bucket list ideas

Go on a Christmas lights walk

Wrap up warm, grab takeaway hot drinks and wander your neighbourhood or local streets spotting the most magical Christmas lights. If you want more ideas that make December feel special, you may enjoy Simple Ways To Make Christmas Memorable For All The Family.

Build a hot chocolate toppings bar

Set out mugs, hot chocolate (see our roundup of delicious hot chocolate recipes), whipped cream and bowls of toppings so everyone can build their own over the top festive drink.

Have a cosy Christmas book and blanket night

Pile up blankets and cushions, choose a stack of Christmas picture books or chapter books and take turns reading aloud.

Make DIY dried orange and cinnamon garlands

Slice oranges, dry them in a low oven then string them with cinnamon sticks and twine to make simple, gorgeous smelling decorations.

Decorate kids bedrooms with fairy lights

Add battery powered fairy lights, mini trees or paper stars to the kids rooms so they get their own little slice of Christmas magic.

Have everyone handmake a gift for someone in the family

Pick names from a hat and have each person create a small handmade gift or card for their person to open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Have a family Christmas songs playlist night

Build a shared playlist where everyone adds their favourite Christmas songs, then play it loud while you dance around the living room.

Bake and decorate over the top Christmas cookies

Use festive cutters, icing and sprinkles to create the most extra Christmas cookies you can imagine, then taste test them together.

Host a family Christmas karaoke session

Set up karaoke on the TV or tablet and take turns belting out Christmas hits, from classics to modern favourites. If you have older kids or teens joining in, you might also like 16 Awesome Group Games For A Teen Christmas Party.

Create a family Christmas TikTok or Reels dance

Choreograph a simple festive dance, practise it together and film a silly family video you can keep private or share if you want to.

Create your own Christmas mocktail or hot drink recipe

Experiment with juices, spices and fizz or different flavoured hot chocolates until you come up with a signature family Christmas drink.

Text an old friend to say Merry Christmas

Encourage everyone to message someone they have not spoken to in a while with a quick Merry Christmas and a little catch up.

Make a time capsule of this Christmas to open in a few years

Fill a box with small photos, notes, ticket stubs and drawings from this year, seal it and choose a future Christmas to open it.

Host a cosy cinema night with floor cushions and fairy lights

Turn the living room into a home cinema with mattresses or floor cushions, bowls of popcorn and fairy lights, then vote on a Christmas film.

Do a festive snack board with red and green treats

Put together a grazing board filled with red and green fruit, veggies and treats for an easy, fun Christmas movie or game night snack.

Fill a box for a local food bank or shelter

Shop together for shelf stable food or toiletries, talk about why it matters and drop the box at your local collection point.

Have a Christmas around the world dinner night

Choose a few simple festive dishes from different countries, look up the traditions and enjoy trying them together.

Have a no tech Christmas game night

Put phones and tablets away and dig out board games, card games and simple party games for an old school family night. If you want a few easy ideas to get started, you might like 12 Super Fun Christmas Party Games For Kids.

Have a Christmas craft afternoon

Set up a table with paper, glue, stickers and simple supplies so everyone can make cards, decorations or small gifts. If you love hands-on family traditions, you might also enjoy Fun Christmas Eve Activities For All The Family.

Drop surprise treat plates to neighbours or friends

Bake or buy a few treats, arrange them on plates, then deliver them secretly to neighbours or friends with a little note.

Go ice skating or roller skating in Santa hats

Head to an ice rink or clear space for roller skating, add Santa hats and see who can stay upright the longest.

Create DIY gift wrap with stamps, doodles and kraft paper

Use plain kraft paper, pens, potato stamps or stickers so kids can design their own personalised wrapping paper.

Visit a local Christmas market or light trail

Spend an evening wandering a Christmas market or light trail, trying snacks and taking photos of your favourite displays.

Make natural decorations with pinecones and foraged greenery

Collect pinecones, twigs and greenery on a walk, then use them to fill bowls, jars or make simple wreaths.

Create a family gratitude list for the year

Sit together and list out things big and small you are grateful for from this year, then keep the list with your Christmas decorations to reread next year.

Before you go...

The Big 22 Game Christmas Games Bundle

Our big 22 game Christmas bundle is the perfect set of games if you are hosting a family or friends get together. There are games to suit all ages, from the very young to the.... not so young!

Games include the Christmas Candy Dice Game, Christmas Movie Trivia Quiz, Pin the Nose on Rudolph, Christmas Scattergories, Christmas Billboard No.1 or Not game and a big bunch of other super fun games. 

Grab: The Big Christmas Games Bundle

Other top Christmas inspiration:

16 Awesome Group Games For A Teen Christmas Party. You might also like the Christmas Movie Bucket List, Quick Fire Christmas Would You Rather Questions, Simple Ways To Make Christmas Memorable For All The Family, Fun Christmas Eve Activities For All The Family, Free Printable Christmas Bingo Game, and 12 Super Fun Christmas Party Games For Kids.

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