120 Festive Activities to Add to Your Ultimate Christmas Bucket List

There is something about this time of the year, the Christmas decorations, the sound of Christmas music playing everywhere, or the snowy days that gets you in the Holiday spirit. Whether you like to stay indoors or play outdoors, we have something on this list for everyone to try this holiday season. We also know that time and money may be tight at this time of year for many of you. So we have a slew of free activities for everyone’s budget.  The old saying goes that it doesn’t take much to love one another and be kind to everyone. The Christmas season is a time for loving and giving!  If you see our list and you like it... Please pass it on and let us know if you and your friends and family tried any of these or most of the activities. I hope this inspires you to get out and try something new. The following is our list of fun, mostly free, family-friendly activities for you to try this holiday and winter season. 

1 Plan a Christmas Movie Marathon with themed snacks

2 Build a snowman

3 Plan a staycation

4 Road trip to see and visit Family or Friends out of town

5 Make your favorite comfort food

6 Make your favorite soup

7 Go bowling

8 Go Ice Skating

9 Go sled riding

10 Go skiing or snowboarding

11 Try a new  sport.... like pickleball

12 Have a snowball fight.

13 Try something crafty

14 Organize a closet or junk drawer

15 Wear some funky socks

16 Participate in a polar bear plunge

17 Spend a day at a museum

18 Try a new restaurant

19 Leave a very generous tip (you will make someone’s day)

20  Watch the snow fall

21 Plan a board game night with a cookie exchange

22 Bake a batch of cookies and share them

23 Spend some time coloring

24 Invite loved ones over for a football or basketball game party

25 Make a snow angel

26 Read a book/magazine by candlelight or by the fireplace

27 Light a Christmas/Winter-scented candle (but don’t forget to blow it out!)

28 Listen to a new podcast

29 Plan a spa day- (self-care is important)

30 Do your own manicure/pedicure.

31 Learn a new language

32 Start a journal

33 Shovel your neighbors' sidewalks/driveways.

34 Put a puzzle together

35 Play a card game... (like Uno)

36 Go Wine Tasting (my mom’s favorite)

37 Exercise at home

38 Go for a walk outdoors (get that fresh air)

39 Take a bubble bath and relax

40 Make a home-cooked meal and dine by candlelight

41 Make a photo album

42 Scrapbook

43 Learn to knit or crochet

44 Cut out  paper snowflakes and hang them up in your windows

45 Catch a snowflake outside  with your hands or tongue

46 Create a new playlist with your favorite songs

47 Make a season-flavored snack mix, puppy chow or trail mix or a festive favorite

48 Drink your favorite beverage by the fireplace

49 Go to the movies

50 Attend a Winter festival or tree lighting ceremony

51 Go to a Christmas tree farm or nursery.

52 Spend the day at an indoor water park

53 Cook something you have never made

54 Take a weekend off social media

55 Wear your PJ’s all day and do a fun photo shoot

56 Make reindeer food and sprinkle it in your yard

57 Take a Snowy nightfall Sleigh or Carriage ride (with blankets and a hot beverage)

58 Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights

59 Clean out closets and donate to a local charity

60 Volunteer to ring the bell at the Salvation Army

61 Volunteer at a homeless shelter or a food pantry

62 Send a letter or a care package to an active duty soldier

63 Donate to your local food pantry/animal shelter/toy drive

64 Support Local Businesses

65 Give a monetary donation to your favorite charity (if your budget allows)

66 Do a random act of kindness 

67 Give a compliment to a stranger and smile. 

68 Go Christmas caroling (not in your neighborhood)

69 Go see a musical or play at your local theater.

70 Go see a live nativity scene

71 Build a living room fort and camp out with sleeping bags 

72 Have a girls' night/guys' night sleepover with your best friends

73 Have a sleepover at your Grandma & Grandpa’s house 

74 Do an Advent Calendar

75 Adopt a Family in need (if your budget allows)

76 Send Christmas Cards to Family & Friends

77 Wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater or wear something festive

78 Host an Ugly Christmas Sweater party 

79 Go to a candlelight Christmas Eve Service at your local church

80  Adults Get a Photo with Santa and your children

81 Wrap Christmas Presents while listening to Christmas Music

82 Take Family Photos  and send out to Friends and family (remember your pets in the photos)

83 Orchestrate a Secret Santa at your workplace

84 Visit your local library

85 make  snow cones with real snow (don’t eat  the yellow snow!)

86 Kiss someone under the mistletoe... (be careful with this one!)

87 Eat a candy cane  or put one in your hot beverage of choice... if you like them

88 Call a friend/family member you haven’t seen or talked to in a while. 

89 Make a homemade gift for someone

90 Blow bubbles outside when it is cold

91 Make and give someone breakfast in bed 

92 Do a Paint and Sip

93 Play hide-and-seek indoors

94 Go Ice-Fishing

95 Make and decorate a  gingerbread house

96  Go to a Retirement Facility and visit with the residents; they need some company

97 Adopt a pet from a local animal shelter  (if you plan on getting a pet)

98 Do something nice for your coworkers. 

(Sometimes you see them more than your own family.)

99 Pay for someone’s food/beverage behind you in a drive-thru line

100 Host a New Year's Eve Party with Hat & Noise Makers and a buffet at midnight.

101 Hide Money in different places in public and watch from a distance (if your budget allows)

102 Family Scavenger Hunt in your town

103 Offer to babysit for Free for New Parents so they can have a date night

104 Visit a Zoo around Christmas Time

105 Donate Money towards a local school for lunches for children (if your budget allows)

106 Go to a local craft show or market

107 Make homemade ornaments or a popcorn garland for your Christmas tree.

108 Handmake your own cards

109 Read  books to children 

110 Play a musical instrument or learn to play an instrument

111 Do something nice for your local Fire Station, police department, Bank Teller, USPS mail carrier, delivery drivers, Hair Stylist, Teachers, babysitter, or Daycare worker

112 Have a Coffee Shop & Bookstore Day

113 Christmas Shopping Day and Lunch Date with your Friends

114 Tackle a DIY Project that you have been been procrastinating on

115 Go to a Children’s Christmas Choir Concert or Band Show

116  Buy Batteries and Check your Smoke Detectors at your House

117 Offer to help an elderly person with a hand, or a ride to an appointment or do something nice 

118 Video Call/FaceTime a loved one out of state so they can see your face

 (if you have the capabilities)

119  Pick up a camera and take photos of anything that strikes your fancy

120 Spread love & kindness everywhere. Sprinkle it like Fairy Dust!

 The World needs it!

By Vanessa McConnell