49 Advent Calendar Ideas for Families, Kids, and Adults (2024)
Discover a variety of advent calendar ideas that can make each December day feel a little more special.
In our family, these calendars aren’t just about counting down, they’re about creating small moments of joy we can share together.
Whether it’s toys for the kids, fun activities for teens, or sweet treats for adults, there’s a calendar for everyone to enjoy.
They’re also a thoughtful addition to Christmas gifts, adding an extra layer of excitement to the season.
No matter how your family celebrates, these ideas offer a chance to make the holidays even more meaningful.
**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**
Advent countdown ideas
A Christmas countdown isn’t just about marking off days, it’s about turning December into a time of connection and excitement.
With thoughtful Christmas countdown ideas, every family member can enjoy small moments that build anticipation.
Whether you choose an advent calendar filled with activities, sweet treats, or acts of kindness, these traditions bring joy and meaning to the holiday season.
For a free option, you can enjoy our free advent calendar coloring page.
Best advent calendars for families
Advent calendars offer a fun and meaningful way for families to come together throughout December. From puzzles to movie nights and personalized keepsakes, these family-friendly advent calendars turn the countdown to Christmas into a daily celebration.
Whether you’re creating new traditions or adding to old ones, these calendars are designed to bring joy to every member of the household.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The LEGO Spider-Man Advent Calendar for 2024 offers a fun, buildable countdown to the holidays, featuring 24 days of surprises. Each day reveals mini Spider-Man-themed builds, accessories, or characters, allowing fans of all ages to engage with the Marvel universe throughout the season. Perfect for Spider-Man enthusiasts, this set combines festive excitement with creative LEGO building 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.
The Fishing Advent Calendar provides a unique countdown to Christmas for fishing enthusiasts, offering 24 days of exciting fishing gear surprises. Each day reveals a new tool, lure, or accessory, enhancing your fishing kit and adding to the thrill of anticipation. Perfect for hobbyists or avid anglers, this advent calendar blends holiday cheer with practical and fun fishing items, making it an ideal gift for those who love the sport.
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 offers a stylish and interactive way to countdown to Christmas, featuring 24 unique jewelry-making surprises. Each day unveils a different charm, bead, or accessory, allowing you to create personalized bracelets and necklaces throughout the holiday season. Ideal for DIY enthusiasts, this calendar provides a fun and creative gift option that combines the joy of Christmas with the art of crafting custom jewelry.
The Healing Crystal Advent Calendar offers a unique and enchanting way to countdown to Christmas, featuring 24 hidden gemstone surprises. Each day reveals a different crystal, adding a touch of beauty and positivity to the holiday season, perfect for collectors or anyone who appreciates natural minerals. The festive design and the mystery of unwrapping a new gemstone daily make this calendar a delightful and thoughtful gift.
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 27 October 2024 by Clare Brown
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,