49 Best Advent Calendar Ideas for the Whole Family in 2023
Discover a world of exciting advent calendar ideas that will make your holiday season truly special and memorable.
Advent calendars have become a popular holiday tradition for families. They’re not just about waiting for Christmas anymore; they make each day in December special for everyone in the family.
Whether it’s kids finding toys and chocolates, teenagers enjoying messages or treats, parents having small surprises, or grandparents recalling the past, there’s an advent calendar for all ages.
These calendars bring joy, excitement, and togetherness, making December even more fun. They also remind us of the spirit of giving and bonding during the holiday season. So, let’s explore different advent calendar ideas that suit every family member and make the days until Christmas extra special.
These advent calendar ideas are perfect for families of all sizes and backgrounds, and they can be a great addition to your holiday gift guides.
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Advent countdown ideas
The holiday season is the perfect time to create cherished memories with your loved ones, and Christmas countdown ideas offer a delightful way to infuse each day with festive cheer.
For a creative and personalized touch to your holiday preparations, consider using a free printable advent calendar to color. These DIY calendars allow you to add your unique artistic flair while counting down the days until Christmas.
Have fun with the older kids with our favorite advent activities for teens.
Make the holiday season even more special by incorporating daily acts of kindness into your Christmas countdown. Whether it’s donating to a local charity or simply spreading joy with a smile, these small gestures create a warm and giving atmosphere.
Create a storytime advent calendar where each day unveils a new holiday storybook to read together as a family. This tradition fosters togetherness and the joy of shared storytelling.
Explore the culinary world with a holiday recipe countdown. Each day, prepare a festive dish or treat together, building anticipation for a delicious Christmas feast.
Tailor your Christmas countdown to your family’s interests with thematic advent activities. Whether it’s crafting, gardening, or outdoor adventures, these daily surprises ensure that the lead-up to Christmas is filled with excitement and joy.
Or treat the kids, or your other half to an advent calendar, check out our favorites below.
Family Advent Calendar 2023
Family advent calendars have become a heartwarming tradition that brings loved ones together to share the excitement of the holiday season.
These calendars are thoughtfully designed to include something for everyone in the family, fostering togetherness and creating unforgettable memories.
From activities and treats to games and puzzles, family advent calendars make counting down to Christmas a joyful experience that unites generations and reinforces the spirit of love and giving during this special time of year.
This personalized advent calendar house is a cherished Christmas keepsake. Each day, open a tiny door to reveal a surprise, creating joyful anticipation for the whole family throughout December.
This family-friendly advent calendar offers a unique at-home escape room experience over 24 days. Solve riddles together to uncover the mystery of the Golden Book, suitable for ages 10 and up.
Enjoy 24 of the best-ever family games all in one box, making it the perfect screen-free bonding experience for kids aged 6 and up. This calendar includes a step-by-step picture guide, ensuring hours of fun for the entire family.
Make this December unforgettable with this Christmas movie advent calendar printable!
Every day unveils a heartwarming Christmas film, transforming each night into a cherished tradition.
Handpicked classics and family-friendly favorites ensure a month of festive movie nights. Start the magic now!
These Christmas activity tokens offers a creative way for families to count down to the big day. Each day reveals a unique holiday activity that the whole family can enjoy together, adding excitement and memorable moments to the season.
Features a set of family-friendly activity cards to be enjoyed year after year. Count down to Christmas by pulling out a card each day, and engage in various holiday-themed activities to create lasting memories with your loved ones.
Best advent calendars for kids
The holiday season is a time of wonder and excitement, and there's nothing quite like the joyous anticipation that comes with opening each door or drawer on an Advent calendar.
Designed especially for kids, these calendars combine the magic of Christmas with daily surprises that make the countdown to the big day even more special. From toys and treats to interactive experiences, these Advent calendars for kids offer a delightful way to bring the spirit of the season to life and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
These are the best advent calendars for kids:
This Christmas toy playset features 24 pieces, including articulated character figures like JJ and Cody, making it an exciting gift for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids to enjoy imaginative play throughout the holiday season.
This wooden advent calendar features a magnetic tree and 25 magnets for children to decorate the tree daily, adding a festive touch to their anticipation of Christmas morning.
Kids can count down to Christmas with this LEGO set, which includes 24 collectible surprises, including mini-dolls and pet figures, providing a fun building experience and imaginative play.
This advent calendar offers kids the opportunity to create their own Santa's Workshop scene with 24 daily surprises, fostering imaginative play during the holiday season.
This educational advent calendar for kids includes 24 gemstones, minerals, and fossils, offering a unique and educational way to explore the world of geology during the Christmas countdown.
This is also featured in our favorite advent calendars for teen girls.
This jumbo advent calendar contains 24 science experiments, rocks, fossils, and a mini gemstone dig kit, making it a captivating and educational way for kids to discover the wonders of science.
This Amazon exclusive advent calendar features never-before-seen Santa Mario, Snowman Mario, and Luigi figures, delighting Super Mario fans as they count down to Christmas.
Kids can enjoy building Pokemon-themed surprises every day with this advent calendar, which includes 24 holiday-inspired Pokemon figures and accessories.
This advent calendar includes 24 Pocket Pop! Figures featuring beloved Pokemon characters, making it a fantastic gift for Pokemon enthusiasts and collectors.
With this advent calendar, kids can immerse themselves in the world of Novelmore and discover 24 daily surprises, fostering imaginative storytelling and play.
This magical mermaid-themed advent calendar is perfect for kids aged 4 and up, offering daily surprises that bring underwater adventures to life.
Join the pirate treasure hunt with this Playmobil advent calendar, where kids can uncover daily treasures and embark on a swashbuckling adventure.
Count down to the holiday season with this LEGO City advent calendar, featuring daily collectible surprises that inspire adventure and creativity.
This advent calendar is filled with over 25 surprises, including a collectible doll with mix-and-match outfits, making it a fantastic holiday gift for kids who love L.O.L. Surprise!
Kids aged 3 and up can enjoy daily surprises with this Play-Doh advent calendar, complete with accessories, playmats, and 24 cans of non-toxic Play-Doh in assorted colors.
Dive into the magical world of Disney with this advent calendar, featuring 24 Disney storybooks that bring beloved characters and tales to life throughout December.
Perfect for young scientists, this calendar includes 24 exciting science tricks and experiments, providing hours of educational and fun-filled activities for ages 8 to 99.
This jumbo advent calendar combines magic tricks and science experiments, offering a captivating and educational way for kids to count down to Christmas.
This jewelry-themed advent calendar includes 24 days of surprises, with a bracelet, necklace, earrings, and DIY charms, making it a delightful gift for kids.
Star Wars fans can enjoy 25 days of surprises, including booklets, trinkets, and more, with this official Star Wars advent calendar, adding a touch of the Force to their holiday countdown.
Celebrate the holiday season with this Star Wars-themed advent calendar featuring 24 unique, festive Funko Pop! vinyl figures, making it a must-have for Star Wars fans of all ages.
This is also featured in our advent calendar for teen boys.
This exclusive advent calendar offers Star Wars enthusiasts 24 unique enamel pins to collect and display throughout the holiday season.
This advent calendar includes Hasbro Micro Force figures for kids to discover and collect daily, adding to their Star Wars micro universe.
With this LEGO advent calendar, fans can enjoy daily surprises featuring 9 Star Wars characters and 15 mini building toys, creating a memorable holiday countdown.
Harry Potter fans can test their knowledge with this trivia advent calendar, complete with 6.7 oz of jelly beans for a sweet treat during the countdown.
This advent calendar offers 24 magical gifts and surprise toys, making it a perfect Christmas countdown for kids aged 6 and up.
Dive into the magical world of Harry Potter with this advent calendar featuring creatures from the wizarding world, providing a unique and enchanting holiday experience.
This pop-up advent calendar includes 25 days of surprises, with ornaments featuring Hogwarts houses, making it a delightful holiday gift set for Harry Potter fans of all ages.
Count down to Christmas with this LEGO set featuring 18 Hogsmeade Village mini builds and 6 minifigures, allowing kids to discover new experiences in the wizarding world.
Designed for preschool kids ages 3 and up, this advent calendar offers 24 figures and accessories for imaginative play and holiday fun.
Marvel fans can celebrate 80 years of iconic superheroes with this Funko Pop! advent calendar featuring 24 pocket-sized vinyl figures.
This holiday countdown playset includes daily collectible surprises and 7 Super Hero minifigures, such as Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Iron Man, for exciting Marvel-themed fun.
This advent calendar features a collection of Marvel storybooks to entertain and engage young fans throughout the holiday season.
DC Comics enthusiasts can enjoy 24 pocket-sized Funko Pop! vinyl figures of their favorite superheroes and villains with this advent calendar.
Best advent calendars for adults
The holiday season is a time of joy, anticipation, and tradition, and one cherished tradition that's enjoyed by people of all ages is the Advent calendar. While these calendars are often associated with children, there's a delightful world of Advent calendars designed specifically for adults.
This unique advent calendar is a treat for fishing enthusiasts, offering 25 days of surprises with various fishing tackle items, making each day leading up to Christmas a catch of its own.
Tea lovers can savor the anticipation of Christmas with this delightful "Green Puzzle" tea advent calendar from English Tea Shop, featuring 25 distinct tea flavors hidden behind each box, creating a daily ritual of warmth and relaxation.
Coffee connoisseurs can enjoy a daily caffeine fix with this K Cup advent calendar, which includes coffee pods for a delicious brew throughout the holiday season, making mornings merrier one cup at a time.
Designed to help men feel good and look great during the festive season, this toiletry advent calendar by Technic's MAN'STUFF offers daily grooming surprises, ensuring they're ready to shine throughout the holidays.
This jewelry advent calendar is perfect for women and girls, offering 24 days of countdown to Christmas with necklace, bracelet, and earring-making kits, allowing for the creation of unique and festive jewelry pieces.
Add a touch of sparkle to the holiday season with this gemstone advent calendar. Each day reveals a beautiful crystal or gemstone, providing a daily dose of natural beauty and positive energy as Christmas approaches.
Fill your own advent calendar ideas
Advent calendars have evolved beyond the traditional store-bought chocolates and small trinkets. For those seeking a more personalized and thoughtful approach to counting down the days until Christmas, "Fill Your Own Advent Calendar" ideas offer an exciting and creative way to celebrate the holiday season.
From customizable boxes and bags to charming felt calendars and even specialized liquor-themed options, these ideas allow individuals of all ages to curate their own daily surprises, making each December day leading to Christmas uniquely memorable.
These charming advent bags are a DIY enthusiast's dream, allowing you to create a customized countdown to Christmas. Fill the numbered bags with your choice of treats, gifts, or messages to make each day leading up to Christmas extra special for adults, kids, or anyone on your gift list.
These fillable cardboard boxes are a fantastic way to craft your own advent calendar, perfect for adults, kids, teens, and everyone in between. Create a personalized holiday countdown by filling these boxes with candies, small gifts, or heartfelt notes, making it a fun and festive decoration for the holiday season.
Hang this reusable felt Santa advent calendar on your wall to create a festive holiday atmosphere. With 24 pockets, it allows you to fill them with your chosen surprises, creating a charming and decorative Christmas countdown for your home.
This personalized liquor advent calendar lets adults create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience. Fill the tree-shaped compartments with your favorite spirits or liqueurs to enjoy a daily dose of holiday cheer in the lead-up to Christmas.
What are your favorite advent calendar ideas? Let me know in the comments below.
Last Updated on 6 November 2023 by homeschoolof1
Never mind the kids, I want that Lego Harry Potter advent calendar. I think my fella would want the Star Wars one too. lol
There are some truly creative advent calendars out there. It seems that everyone will have a favourite.
I simply can not believe I didn’t know so many awesome calendars existed!!!! I would love the Molton Brown one,