64 Fun and Festive Christmas Activities To Enjoy Last Minute
Gather friends and family for a holiday full of Christmas cheer.
Christmas is here, and by now you've likely filled your calendar with parties and special events. But we like to make the most of the season and fill every last minute with a Christmas activity, even if it's something quiet like watching a movie or working on holiday crafts. Gather your friends, family, or kids and plan a few last-minute activities for the month.
Yes, the classics are all here: Watch The Nutcracker, build a snowman, start an advent calendar, construct a gingerbread house, etc. But there’s also some new and unusual Christmas activity ideas that might surprise you! Have you considered feeding your tree to goats, or making salt dough Christmas ornaments, for example? For those with adventurous spirits, we urge you to shake up your scenery and head to one of our favorite Christmas towns across the U.S. for the holiday. And if you love to bake, you simply must try one (or several!) scrumptious recipes from our Christmas cookies roundup. (More savory-oriented chefs shouldn’t miss our guide to Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas.)
No matter what activity you choose, kids and adults alike are sure to get in the Christmas spirit together. So strap on those ice skates, fill those thermoses with hot chocolate (or eggnog!), and set off in the direction of the nearest Christmas tree farm. Whomever you spend your holidays with, these 60 wonderful Christmas activities are sure to make the experience all the more enjoyable.
Host a caroling party.
From the songbooks to the spread to the decorations, we have everything you need to host a special caroling party for friends.
Play Christmas movie bingo.
Download our bingo cards, and gather your family for a Christmas movie marathon. Mark each square with a peppermint when you see it on screen, and have prizes ready for the winners.
Related: Best Christmas Movies of All Time
Make button ornaments.
Raid the craft closet for this truly last-minute gift or present topper. To make, cut a 14-inch-long piece of craft wire and bend in the middle to create a U-shape. Thread both ends of the wire through button holes, starting with the brown buttons for the stump, then moving on to the body of the tree in largest-to-smallest order. Top with a yellow wooden craft bead, then use needle-nose pliers to twist the remaining wire into a loop. Thread a ribbon
through the loop to hang.
Host a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
Gather your loved ones and serve this traditional Christmas Eve meal. Find out everything you need to know and plan your meal with our Feast of the Seven Fishes guide.
Watch the Nutcracker.
Queue up George Ballantine's classic film (featuring a young Macaulay Culkin!) or scoop tickets to a local ballet production near you.
Visit a small town.
Whether you head into the nearby countryside or hop on a plane, the U.S. is dotted with amazing Christmas towns worth a visit this holiday season.
Try a new Elf on the Shelf.
This classic Christmas tradition is fun for both parents that create the display and the children who seek it.
Wear matching pajamas.
It makes for extra-sweet photos as you open presents! Shop for a set for the whole family with our roundup of the best affordable matching family Christmas pajamas.
Let a goat eat your tree.
Organizations like the Philly Goat Project give a sustainably minded second life to Christmas trees by turning them into goat food after the holidays. If a similar operation exists near you, it's the perfect way to extend the magic of the holidays and spend some quality time with farm animals.
Host an ice-skating social.
Gather your friends for some winter revelry. Embrace the cold weather and serve up some Hot Buttered Rum with Vanilla Ice Cream Balls and your favorite Christmas cookies for an ice-skating party. No snow? No problem. Throw on a scarf and make it a porch party.
Make your own garland.
While you can certainly make your own strands of Christmas garland from faux pine or other greenery, why not step outside of the box this holiday season? There are tons of ideas for creative garlands, such as popcorn garland, dried fruit garland, or garland made out of mittens!
Build a snowman.
You don't need a lot of snow to sculpt a charming design with classic elements like a carrot nose and eyes made from coal or stones. If it isn't a white Christmas where you live, you can make an easy snowman craft or snowman ornament instead.
Cross-stitch some Christmas merriment.
While you're watching Hallmark Christmas movies, try stitching a sweet something for a friend, teacher, or relative. These 4" cross-stitch patterns make gifts that sleigh. (Sorry, not sorry!)
Try a non-tree tree.
Not into a fresh Fraser fir or a pre-lit flocked beauty? No worries. Think outside the tree by creating a tree shape out of items you already have, or, arrange holiday photos and cards in a tree shape on a blank wall. Check out more alternative tree ideas here.
Go on a winter scavenger hunt.
Arrange a winter scavenger hunt for kids by having them find animals and plants they are likely to see outside. You can also collect items to repurpose (like these pine cone crafts).
Add cheer to your front door.
Doors aren't just for wreaths! Try a pair of vintage ice skates packed with fresh greenery from around your yard. Bonus: you can leave it up through February without the neighbors talking!
Decorate a tabletop tree.
Add a tree to a small space by plopping a 3" variety on the table. Sprinkle on a few ornaments and garland, and you're done!
Hold a neighborhood cookie swap.
With all that beautiful Christmas cookie decorating you've been toiling away at all month, you should show off your cookie skills by hosting a cookie swap with your neighbors. Share recipes and ideas and taste the delicious batches of cookies your neighbors have whipped up!
Hang stockings by the fireplace.
No holiday decor is complete without Christmas mantel decorations, especially stockings hung by the chimney with care. Whether you purchase some personalized holiday stockings for the family or make your own crochet Christmas stockings, your fireplace will look totally festive and ready for Santa.
Play secret Santa.
If you have a large family or group of friends, Secret Santa is a perfect way for gift giving that doesn't break the bank. Most games set a spending limit so that you can find cheap Christmas gifts or DIY Christmas gifts that are thoughtful and tailored to the person whose name you picked. Dress up solid paper with colorful yarn pom poms!
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