The Big Christmas Bucket List Of Fun Activities For Families
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.
Wonderful Christmas Bucket List Ideas
Cherry-pick from the ideas on this list to create your own bucket list of ideas to help make Christmas memorable for you and your family.
Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
Take a family trip to a local Christmas tree farm to pick out the perfect tree. Kids will love the adventure of choosing their own tree.
Decorate Gingerbread Houses
Gather the family around the table to decorate gingerbread houses. The disasters are almost as much fun as the successes!
Write Letters To Santa
This is a lovely tradition to instil in your children. It’s also a great way to get them practising their handwriting!!
Have a Christmas Movie Marathon
I’m not suggesting you do the whole marathon at once. But how about you put together a Christmas Movie Marathon list and work your way through it over the festive season.
Make Tree Ornaments
Spend an afternoon crafting homemade ornaments that will become family heirlooms (of sorts!). It makes decorating the tree extra special each year.
Go Ice Skating
Visit a local ice skating rink for some festive fun and then sip on hot chocolate afterwards.
Bake Christmas Cookies
Set aside an afternoon to bake Christmas cookies together, then let the kids loose decorating them. Bag them up and give them to friends and neighbours as early Christmas treats.
Visit Santa Claus
There are only so many years that kids will want to visit Santa Claus, so make sure you make the most of every single one of them.
Set Up A Hot Chocolate Bar
Set up a hot chocolate bar with different toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, and candy canes. Let the kids create their own custom hot chocolate drinks.
Read Christmas Stories
Gather a collection of Christmas books and read a different story each night before bed. This can become a cherished holiday tradition that kids look forward to each year. Remember to save "The Night Before Christmas" for Christmas Eve!
Visit A Crazy Christmas Lights House
Every town, city or neighbourhood has one, sometimes they even do it as a way to raise money for charity. Seek out the zaniest house covered in Christmas lights.
Go Carolling
Organise a carolling outing with friends or family. Singing Christmas carols door-to-door is a fun way to spread holiday cheer and get the kids involved in the community.
Have a Family Game Night
Dedicate an evening to playing board games or card games with the family. Mix in some classic board games with fun Christmas themed games like those from our Christmas Games Bundle of 22 fun games.
Make Christmas Cards
Create handmade Christmas cards to give to family and friends. Older relatives especially appreciate them.
Host a Christmas Craft Day
Set up a crafting station with holiday-themed projects. Kids can make decorations, gifts, or even their own wrapping paper and cards. It’s a great way for everyone to relax and be creative for a few hours.
Have a Pyjama Day
The days between Christmas and New Year are perfect for a family pyjama day. Watch movies, read books, drink hot chocolate, eat comfort food, and stay in your PJs all day long!
Go on a Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt with holiday-themed clues and items to find. This can be done indoors or outdoors and keeps kids active and engaged.
Go To A Christmas Show Or Pantomime
Look for local performances of holiday concerts, plays (like "A Christmas Carol"), or a pantomime and book seats early. It’s a great way to soak up the magic of Christmas.
Make Reindeer Food
Mix oats and glitter to create ‘reindeer food’ that kids can sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve. This fun little tradition adds extra excitement to Christmas Eve.
Also read: 12 Super Fun Christmas Party Games For Kids
Donate Toys to Charity
Teach kids the joy of giving by having them pick out toys to donate to a local charity or toy drive. It's a meaningful way to share the holiday spirit and also helps declutter before the next influx of gifts.
Have a Cookie Exchange Party
Host a cookie exchange party where each guest brings a batch of their favourite cookies to share. Have mulled wine ready for adults and hot chocolate for the kids.
Make A Christmas Eve Box
Consider putting together a Christmas Eve box with a few fun items to keep kids from bursting with excitement on Christmas Day.
Go on a Winter Nature Walk
Bundle up and take a walk through a local park, nature reserve, or even a wintry beach. Look for signs of winter and enjoy the crisp air. Bring along a thermos of hot chocolate to keep warm.
Have a Christmas-Themed Photoshoot
Set up a mini photoshoot with festive props and backgrounds. Even if you don’t send out photo cards, it’s fun to create photos you can look back on for years to come.
Make a Holiday Scrapbook
Encourage kids to create a holiday scrapbook filled with photos, ticket stubs, and other mementos from your family’s activities. It’s a great way to preserve memories and spark creativity.
Host a Family Talent Show
Organise a family talent show where everyone can showcase their skills—singing, dancing, storytelling. It’s especially fun if you have a big family gathering.
Have a Christmas Puzzle Challenge
Choose a challenging puzzle to work on over the festive season. It’s a fun, ongoing family activity, although rivalry may heat up when the puzzle nears completion!
Create a Christmas Memory Jar
Ask everyone to write down special holiday moments and place them in a jar. On New Year's Eve, read them together and reminisce about the festive fun.
Make a Christmas Quilt
If your family is crafty, work together on a simple quilt project. Each person can contribute a square with their own design, creating a cosy keepsake.
Make a Christmas Countdown Chain
Create a paper chain countdown to Christmas. Remove one link each day to build excitement as the big day approaches.
Put Together A Christmas Playlist
Compile a Christmas playlist of your family's favourite songs. Encourage everyone to add their favourites, then play it on Christmas Day.
Visit a Christmas Market
Explore a local Christmas market and stock up on artisanal gifts, decorations, and festive food.
Make Christmas Crackers
Create your own Christmas crackers filled with small toys, jokes, and candy. Use them to decorate the Christmas Day table.
Make a Christmas Piñata
Craft a Christmas-themed piñata filled with candy and treats. It’s a fun addition for kids to enjoy after the gifts have been opened on Christmas Day.
Make a Christmas Bird Feeder
Create a bird feeder using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Hang it outside to help the birds during the winter. Encourage kids to log which birds visit.
Make a Christmas Garland
String together popcorn, cranberries, paper chains, or felt shapes. The kids can help and then you can hang it around the house for a festive touch.
Also read: 16 Awesome Christmas Games For Teens
Have a Christmas Book Exchange
Host a book exchange party where each guest brings a wrapped book they’ve loved. It’s a great way to discover new stories.
Have a Christmas Karaoke Night
Set up a karaoke machine or use an app to sing along to popular Christmas songs. It doesn’t matter if you can’t sing like a pro—just have fun!
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.
Pin to save:
