These Christmas Activities Need to Be on Your Holiday Bucket List (2024)

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.

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.

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.

Queue up George Ballantine's classic film (featuring a young Macaulay Culkin!) or scoop tickets to a local ballet production near you.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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).