20 Fun Activities for Your 25 Days of Christmas Countdown
Looking for 25 days of christmas ideas that include more than opening a little calendar door? Think cookie boxes, colorful lights and a movie night with the Grinch.
These 20 activities give you plenty to mix into your countdown, with a few favorites you might want to repeat.
You can keep things simple or go all out. Save the bigger gatherings for days when you have room for them, then fill a quiet afternoon with a Christmas story or a little ornament painting.
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Christmas Countdown Activities to Try
colorful Christmas lights
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous Christmas lights. I love the red, green and blue branches above the glowing bushes. Even the snow catches all those colors!
Plan an evening walk or drive to look at decorated houses. You don’t need a display this big at home to enjoy it.
a Christmas cookie assortment
How pretty is this cookie box? The white stars, chocolate-drizzled slices and powdered cookies give you so many different shapes to work with.
Pick a few favorite recipes for a baking day, then arrange your finished cookies in little sections like these. I’d keep the red ornaments beside the box rather than tucked among the treats.
a hot chocolate topping station
If you love adding a little of everything to your hot chocolate, this one is for you. There are marshmallows, chocolate chips, striped candy sticks and wafer rolls all lined up in jars.
Set out your favorite toppings with little scoops. The red-and-white ties around the jars are such a cute finishing touch.
Grinch movie night
I am obsessed with this Grinch movie setup. The red lounging spots and green character pillows are so fun, plus those giant striped candy canes beside the fireplace!
You can borrow the theme without recreating the whole room. Choose a Grinch movie, bring out red and green blankets and settle in for the evening.
little bead snowmen
How cute are these little snowmen? Each one has a dotted smile, an orange nose and a red-and-white bow at the neck.
Save a craft afternoon for snowman ornaments inspired by these. I’d keep the tiny bows and give each face a slightly different expression.
gingerbread decorating table
This is such a lovely way to set up a gingerbread decorating day. The plain houses are ready at each place, with bowls of colorful candies down the middle.
Start with assembled houses if you’d rather focus on decorating. Add a little name card beside each one, just like this table.
letters to Santa
Looks like this little elf has a reminder for everyone! The letter board, tiny mailbox and open notebook make such a sweet letter-writing spot.
Set out paper and crayons for your own letters to Santa. A decorated box could stand in for the little mailbox.
skating under string lights
Want to take your countdown outside? An ice-skating outing is a fun change from the craft table.
I love the strings of lights hanging over this outdoor rink.
Check your local rink’s opening times and rental options before heading out.
Christmas pajama night
Don’t want to dress up for a holiday gathering? No problem!
This red, white and dark plaid pajama set is such a cute starting point for a Christmas pajama night.
Try a pajama-themed gift exchange with friends. Agree on a gift budget beforehand so everyone knows what to bring.
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painted tree ornaments
This painted ornament may just be one of my favorite crafts here. I love the loose green branches and all those little colorful dots scattered around the tree.
Try painting your own tree on a plain ornament blank. Keep the white background if you want the bright decorations to stand out like these.
a basket of Christmas stories
If you’re looking for something simple for a quiet evening, go with a Christmas story basket. This red basket holds holiday books with little numbered star markers tucked between them.
Gather books you already have or borrow a few. Let someone choose a story to read together.
a Christmas market visit
I love the greenery and red ornaments along these market stalls. The little lights above the tables make browsing look even more inviting.
If there’s a Christmas market near you, give it a spot on your calendar. You can look for a small gift or simply enjoy the decorated stalls.
white paper cutouts
Don’t want to bring out lots of craft supplies? Try a paper-cutting afternoon.
These white shapes have pointed edges and angled slits, with the dark tabletop showing every cut.
Choose a simple paper decoration pattern to follow. You could display your finished shapes against a dark window or a colorful background.
dinner beneath paper chains
Okay, how fun is this Christmas dinner setup? Red-and-white chains cross the ceiling alongside shiny garlands and hanging stars.
The red checked tablecloth carries the colors right down to the table.
Read also: 30+ Stunning Rustic Christmas Tablescape Ideas Guests Adore
Invite friends over for a festive dinner and borrow one or two of these decorations. Those oversized paper chains would be my first pick.
candy sleigh gifts
The candy fans are going to love this! Stacked sweet boxes sit above red curled runners, with shiny bows and gold-colored stars on top.
Use these little sleigh arrangements as inspiration for a treat-gifting afternoon. Choose the recipient’s favorite packaged sweets rather than trying to match every box.
gingerbread Christmas cards
These gingerbread cards are just too cute. I especially love the dark green design with candy canes, little gingerbread figures and a red ribbon across the front.
Set aside an afternoon to make a few Christmas cards. Try patterned paper with a plain colored border, then leave room inside for a handwritten note.
a smiley snowman picture
No snow outside? Bring the snowman idea to your craft table instead.
This little face has googly eyes, an orange triangle nose and a big dotted smile against a blue background.
For your version, try white craft pom-poms or cotton balls. Keep the twig-shaped arms if you like this cheerful pose.
red and white garland
This is another pretty way to bring red and white into your Christmas crafts. I love the glossy red beads between clusters of little white puffs.
Plan a garland-making session with supplies suited to your chosen pattern. You could hang the finished strand along a shelf rather than on the tree.
cookie boxes ready to give
Remember the cookie assortment above? Here’s a lovely way to turn that idea into a gift.
The windowed box shows off the cookies, with red-and-white string and a little tag on top.
Save another countdown day for packing and delivering treats. Include an ingredient note so the recipient can check for allergens.
a Santa countdown chain
Last but definitely not least, we have this adorable Santa paper chain. I love the smiling face and the little holly detail on his red hat!
Make your own countdown version with a link for each day remaining. You could write an activity inside each loop before joining the chain.
