Teen Advent Calendar Ideas That Make December Actually Fun
Look, we all know those fancy advent calendars are tempting (hi, Sephora), but let’s be honest… do we actually need 25 mini lip glosses? Probably not. Instead, I challenge you to swap the overpriced countdowns for something that’s actually fun: Christmas activities that bring teens and parents together without the credit card.
These Advent calendar ideas for teens work for high schoolers, college kids home for break, and pretty much anyone who wants December to feel festive without feeling forced. Just write them on my printable Advent cards and boom… you’ve got a Christmas countdown that actually stands a chance with a teenager
1. Gingerbread House Demolition Derby
Build gingerbread houses… THEN judge structural integrity by ramming them with remote-controlled cars. Winner = the least amount of crumbs. But someone should definitely get the award for worst built house as well. You will probably want to create some rules or boundaries to keep everyone on track like a time limit or certain spending limit or that it has to be edible, etc.
2. Christmas Carol Lip-Sync Fight
Pick the most dramatic Christmas song. Perform it like your life depends on it. Kind of like Pictionary or charades.
3. Christmas Conspiracy Night
You have one day to make up the most unhinged theory about how Santa actually gets the job done every year and turn it into a slideshow presentation. 5 minutes or less in length.
4. Hot Cocoa Chug Race
Everyone crafts their most over-the-top mug of hot cocoa with items like whipped cream, candy cane stir sticks, and sprinkles. (You might have a timer set for this part too!) Then everyone lines up and on the count of three: CHUG! Whoever wins gets to pick the Christmas movie for that night!
5. Drive Around Judging Christmas Lights Like Critics
Pile into the car, grab hot cocoa, and cruise around to look at neighborhood lights.Your job: judge each house like you’re on a wildly underfunded HGTV holiday special. Don’t forget to bring a mic with you and everyone has to take a turn!
Categories:
- Best use of inflatables
- Most confusing theme
- Most likely to be haunted, but festive
- Clark Griswold Award
6. Holiday Karaoke Night
Sing along to your favorite carols or holiday pop hits. Don’t forget to record the person that gets stuck with that high pitched Mariah Carey song!
7. Host a White Elephant Gift Exchange
Forget the “anything goes” rule that ends with someone unwrapping a half-melted candle. Pick a theme you’ll actually care about, like:
1. Retro Finds: Scour thrift stores for the weirdest or coolest vintage items (think: old records, funky sunglasses, or 90s nostalgia).
2. DIY Only: Everyone has to bring something homemade—whether it’s a meme on a t-shirt, a duct tape wallet, or a jar of questionable hot chocolate mix. Bonus points for creativity (or ridiculousness).
3. The $5 Challenge: Gifts have to cost $5 or less, so it’s all about creativity. Hello, dollar store treasures!
You can also make it spicy by adding rules for anyone that wants to steal or trade gifts. Thy sky is the limit!
8. Holiday Movie Marathon
Watching movies is great and all, but let’s level up the holiday movie marathon into an actual event. Make it a pajama party, ugly sweater event, or even cosplay as your favorite characters (yes, someone needs to show up as Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation). Whoever stays up the latest can draw
You could also create movie bingo cards with holiday movie tropes like “someone falls in love in a snowstorm,” “awkward family dinner,” or “surprise makeover montage.” Mark them off as you watch, and whoever gets bingo wins a prize (like they can pick the next movie or a framed photo of a random holiday movie character like Kevin McCallister from Home Alone).
9. DIY Holiday Photo Booth
Use props and a festive backdrop for goofy group photos. To get that instant hit, use a polaroid camera and turn each photo into a fake Christmas album cover where you all have to vote on the title. Put the title on each image to remember forever!
10. Make a Holiday Song Playlist
Curate the ultimate holiday jam session with friends or create the funniest holiday karaoke playlist party night!
11. Community Service Ideas
I know, I know… not always the most fun ideas, but you will feel amazing when you find ways to help others. It’s scientifically proven… go on… google it if you don’t believe me! Enlist your friends or family if you’re unsure about doing it on your own. This is a great way to give back during a time that’s so focused on getting things. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
12. Visit Santa at a Local Store
Take funny or ironic photos with Santa at places like Bass Pro Shops or the mall. Who can get Santa to join them in a funny pose? Think “Santa flexing his muscles” or holding antlers over someone’s head.
13. Have a Cozy Pajama Day
Spend a day relaxing in PJs while drinking cocoa and reading holiday books. Or host a Holiday PJ Runway Contest: Best themed outfit, most creative sleepwear, or funniest ensemble gets a prize.
14. Attend a Holiday Festival or Parade
Check out local events for caroling, lights, and festive fun. You could turn this into a scavenger hunt but you gotta be creative here. It might be about finding something other than Santa.
15. Go Ice Skating
Visit a local ice rink and see who has the fastest lap, best spin, or most falls.
16. Plan a Day of Baking
Make cookies, gingerbread, and other treats to share. Give some to neighbors or friends or make it a holiday dessert exchange party!
17. Participate in a Holiday Run or Walk
Dress in festive gear and join a charity run. To turn it up a notch everyone has to dress in holiday spirit like Santa, the Grinch, or a candy cane!
18. Plan a Snow Day (Real or Fake)
If you don’t get snow, make paper snowflakes and have an indoor snowball fight with pom-poms.
19. Take a Holiday Day Trip
Visit a nearby town with a holiday market or seasonal attractions. Make it a challenge by giving everyone $10 and a time limit to find the weirdest holiday gift.
20. Awkward Holiday Family Photos
Who says family photos have to be perfect? Embrace the cringe with terrible sweaters, overly dramatic poses, and hilariously bad props. Bonus points for printing them on cards and sending them out for holiday cards. If you want holiday photos that are both funny and frame-worthy, let me help! See more awkward family holiday photos here!
21. Christmas Traditions from Around the World
Choose one country each year to learn about and incorporate one of their unique Christmas traditions. Research fun facts or quirky details about the country’s holiday customs. Then turn it into a trivia night with prizes (or just bragging rights).
Example questions:
“What animal delivers presents in Finland?” (A: A Yule Goat)
“What’s the most popular Christmas dish in Venezuela?” (A: Hallacas)
Making December Meaningful with Teen Advent Activities
At the end of the day, teens don’t need a perfect holiday… they just want moments that feel real, fun, and a little unexpected. Whether you use these ideas or mix them with some of the classic traditions on my family Advent activity list, you can write them onto the printable Advent cards and build an experience-based calendar that actually gets your teen excited for December again. One tiny moment at a time is all it takes to make the month feel like something special.
