Christmas Bucket List for Teens
Look, we all know those fancy advent calendars are tempting (hi, Sephora), but let’s be real—do we actually need 25 mini lip glosses? Probably not. Instead, let’s swap the overpriced countdowns for something that’s actually fun: Christmas activities that bring teens and parents together without the credit card panic.
Teen Advent Calendar Ideas
Sure, getting stuff is cool, but you know what’s cooler? Laughing your way through a DIY project that totally flops or starting a new holiday tradition you’ll actually want to keep. Let’s make this holiday season about moments that stick—no batteries required.
Ready to ditch the store bought countdowns? Let’s make this year actually fun. Mix and match the teen Christmas activity ideas below to make your ideal Christmas Bucket List. Use these ideas to make a bucket list or create a personalized advent calendar you’ll never forget!
Christmas Activities with Friends and Family
All holidays are better when you spend them with friends or family and the Christmas Bucket Ideas below are perfect ideas to do with people you love.
1. Holiday Karaoke Night
Sing along to your favorite carols or holiday pop hits.
2. Christmas Light Tour
Take a walking or driving tour of the best light displays in your town. Or hop on your bikes and ride around your neighborhood together.
3. Gingerbread House Competition
Have a contest to see who can create the most creative or wacky design. You could use different kinds of candy or cookies to help build different walls to a house. Really you are only limited by your imagination.
4. 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!
5. DIY Hot Cocoa Bar Night
A DIY cocoa station with an arsenal of toppings: whipped cream mountains, mini marshmallows, crushed peppermint, chocolate shavings, caramel drizzle, and even a sprinkle of edible glitter (yes, it’s a thing). To make this even more fun, create a spinner wheel with the different toppings listed out and each person spins to get their hot cocoa add-ins.
6. 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).
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).
7. DIY Holiday Photo Booth
Use props and a festive backdrop for goofy group photos. To get that instant hit, use a polaroid camera and fight your friends over the printed photos.
Community Service Ideas
I know, I know… not always the most fun ideas, but you will feel amazing finding 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:
8. Organize a Clothing or Toy Drive
Collect donations for a shelter or community center. Do you really need that closetful of clothes? I bet there is some stuff that someone else would be so grateful to have.
9. Make Care Packages for the Homeless
Fill bags with toiletries, socks, snacks, and holiday treats.
10. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Food Bank
Help serve meals or sort donations. They can always use help but not just during the holidays!
11. Send Holiday Cards to Seniors or Soldiers
Write heartfelt messages to brighten someone’s day. If that feels too daunting because let’s face it telling a random stranger things can feel hard, tell them jokes! Get a joke book and write out some of your favorites.
12. Create Treat Bags for Pets
Donate homemade pet treats to animal shelters. If you’re feeling extra you could make your own dog treats or toys!
13. Adopt a Family for the Holidays
Raise funds to buy gifts or essentials for a family in need. Other ways to help a family out could be with babysitting, making them a homecooked meal, mowing the grass, etc. This also should apply to senior citizens!
Teen Bucket List Holiday Ideas
Some of the most popular tried and true ideas that are easy to do this holiday season!
14. Make a Holiday Song Playlist
Curate the ultimate holiday jam session with friends or create the funniest holiday karaoke playlist party night!
15. 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.
16. Plan a Day of Baking
Make cookies, gingerbread, and other treats to share. Decorate cookies to look like Pinterest masterpieces, but whoever makes the most hilarious fail wins.
17. Have a Cozy Pajama Day
Spend a day relaxing in PJs while drinking cocoa and reading holiday books. Or host a Holiday PJ Walk-Off: Best themed outfit, most creative sleepwear, or funniest ensemble gets a prize.
18. 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.
19. Go Ice Skating
Visit a local rink or create a winter atmosphere at home. Fastest lap, best spin, or most epic wipeout (safe ones, of course) wins. Play skating tag or see who can successfully conga line without falling.
20. 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 as a holiday character—Santa, the Grinch, a candy cane—and the winner is voted on by random bystanders.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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)
24. 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 (think: your dog in antlers or Dad awkwardly holding a giant candy cane). Bonus points for printing them on cards and sending them to Grandma. Or, if you want holiday photos that are both funny and frame-worthy, let me help! I specialize in making photo shoots fun—and a little awkward if that’s your vibe.
Teen Holiday Bucket List Ideas for Christmas
This bucket list is here to save you from scrolling your life away and actually make things fun—yes, fun. Whether you’re whipping up cookies that probably won’t win awards, rocking the ugliest sweater known to humankind, or forcing your friends into ridiculous photo ops, there’s something here to keep the season festive and maybe even a little chaotic. So, go on—embrace the holiday madness and make some memories worth laughing about later.
