Christmas Bucket List for the Family (Free Printable)

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Don’t you just love the holiday season? As a wife and mom of five, I just love this time of year. The twinkling Christmas lights, the messy Christmas cookie bake session, a stack of well-loved Christmas books we grab off the bookshelves as soon as Thanksgiving is over, and the cozy glow of the living room Christmas tree, it’s all pure magic. I’m convinced there’s no better way to celebrate the season than by slowing down as a whole family and making room for the simple joys. Whether it’s building a gingerbread house, sipping hot cocoa, or turning up the Christmas music, this season offers all the fun activities that help us savor the wonder of it all. And because my kids love good ideas and lists, we have a Christmas bucket list every year.

A simple collection of things we want to do together before we reach Christmas morning. It’s become a beloved family tradition, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite things about the Christmas season. So today I’m sharing our very best family Christmas bucket list ideas. Think cozy, simple, meaningful, and incredibly fun things that fill this Christmas season with so much joy! So if you’re looking to start a new tradition, need some easy ways to celebrate with little kids, or fill in your holiday bucket list, there is plenty of inspiration here!

Why Create a Christmas Bucket List?

You don’t have to have a Christmas bucket list, of course, but the more kids we’ve added to our family, the more it seems like we need a little bit of a plan. That way, everyone in our family gets to do at least one of their favorite things because let’s be honest, this season can really fly by faster than we expect it to. With Christmas party invites, cookie exchanges, big dinners with family or coworkers, well, it’s easy to blink and realize there were so many fun things we wanted to do—but didn’t get around to. So creating a Christmas bucket list is a great way to build anticipation, stay intentional, and make space for the things you truly want to experience as a family. But remember, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Actually, I find the best ways to celebrate are often the simplest.

30+ Christmas Bucket List Ideas for the Whole Family

Here are our very favorite Christmas activities! These are the moments that have shaped our season and created memories I’ll carry forever.

Read the Christmas Story

Keeping the reason for the season at the center of our home during this season is so important to us. So we make sure to pull out our Bible and read about the birth of Jesus throughout December. It’s the perfect way to center our hearts. This year, I put together a Charlotte Mason-inspired Advent Study to keep my kids and I focused on Jesus. Check out the full Advent study, Awaiting the Light.

Bake Christmas Cookies

Baking together is always so much fun. And yes, very messy too. But try to embrace it. Bake any of your family’s favorite treats, sugar cookies. gingerbread men, whatever it may be. Fill the kitchen with sweetness and tons of sprinkles!

Build a Gingerbread House

Buy the store-bought or make your own! For the past couple of years, we have used House of Nash Eats. I was honestly surprised how well they’ve turned out, and even if it collapses, it’s a great activity that always ends in giggles.

Visit a Local Christmas Tree Farm

After numerous failures with a live tree, we opted for an artificial Christmas tree. But we still love to grab a cup of hot cocoa and walk through the pine trees on a cold winter day!

Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

We have so many favorite movies we watch as soon as the weather starts turning cold here. So grab your favorite blankets, make popcorn and hot cider or cocoa, and rotate through your favorite holiday movies. It’s a Wonderful Life is truly a classic! The kids know this is for sure on the list every year!

Create Paper Snowflakes

Literally the easiest, cheapest craft, and it makes any space feel absolutely magical!

Make Homemade Gifts

Trying to bring this back to the holidays. I love making homemade gifts for my family and friends, and I’m getting my kids on board. So make some ornaments, baked treats, or watercolor Christmas cards. Any homemade gift is always a great idea for anyone who’s on your list.

Send Christmas Cards

Sending Christmas cards is such a sweet and meaningful idea to add to your bucket list, especially these days when snail mail is a thing of the past. Make a whole afternoon out of it! Festive tablecloth, warm drinks, Christmas music playing in the background, sweet treats on the table, paper, watercolors, markers, crayons, stamps, get it all out! Don’t forget those who aren’t able to get out of their homes. I know for a fact, they appreciate these cards the most.

Do Random Acts of Kindness

Another one of those simple, easy, and teaches meaningful lessons about spreading love to everyone. Try leaving candy canes on cars, taping quarters to toy machines, or dropping treats at the local food bank.

Drive Around to Look at Christmas Lights

This is always one of the kids’ favorites. Put on pajamas, pack the hot cocoa in festive cups, blast Christmas songs, and take off to see those Christmas lights!

Read Christmas Books Together

Another one of our most treasured holiday traditions! Grabbing all those long-awaited Christmas books off the bookshelf to display! We have them spread all over the house, and we read at least one every day!

Host a Cookie Exchange

These are so fun! Years ago, my mom’s family used to get together and bake cookies and now I have all those sweet memories of my loved ones who have since passed. But a couple of years ago, I decided to start hosting this and inviting my mom’s cousins. It’s so much fun. And now my kids are getting to make these memories too! So don’t overthink it, invite your family or even just a few friends, bake the cookies and trade them!

Make a Hot Chocolate Bar

This one is a the top of the list as one of my kids’ favorite traditions! When fall officially hits, we get all of our mugs, spoons, sprinkles, hot cocoa, and marshmallows out. We keep this small hot cocoa bar out all fall and winter long. Yes, I even have themed mugs I trade out for the seasons!

Do a Christmas Craft

Kids love simple crafts and moms love that the kids are entertained, am I right? Make some paper chains, wreaths, snowflakes, or paint ornaments.

Attend a Christmas Eve Service

There is something so special about Christmas Eve services. 10/10 recommend! 

Go Ice Skating

We’re determined to get to this; it’s been on our list for a few years. I think we finally found somewhere we can go and the toddler is old enough to join in!

Start a New Tradition

This could be anything! Just pick something as a family, maybe some matching pajamas, a special breakfast, or a yearly photo by the tree.

Have a Family Game Night

Get out that favorite board game, make a snack tray, and enjoy the cozy chaos.

Create an Advent Calendar

You can buy one or let the kids make their own! Fill it with Scripture cards, small treats, or acts of kindness.

Take a Winter Nature Walk

Bundle up and soak in the stillness of the season. Go in the snow sometime if you can, it’s so beautiful!

Make a Christmas Playlist

Let everyone add their favorite hymns and classic Christmas songs to enjoy the whole season!

Wrap Gifts Together

Let the kids help. I know it’s probably going to be a hot mess, but let them help. Assign everyone a task, wrapper, taper, writer, and go!

Pick a Family Read-Aloud for the Season

Choose a chapter book to read all season long. This year we’re reading The Christmas Pig by JK Rowling. Kids are loving it so far and never want me to stop reading.

Hang Christmas Decorations Together

Turn it into a mini celebration! Blast the music, dance away, and eat some sweet treats.

Make Snow Cream

If you get snow, you have to make snow cream. As soon as my kids see one flake outside, they’re praying there will be enough snow for snow cream! We’ve already had our first snow of the season! 

Visit a Festive Local Event

We stumbled upon one of the best events locally, and now we go every year! There are food trucks, a live band, small shop vendors, a parade, the Grinch reads the story, and a countdown to light up the city! One year, it snowed on us the entire time, and I was pretty sure we were in a Hallmark movie! So find a tree lighting, parade, or choir performance to attend! 

Make a Christmas Countdown

There are tons of ways to count down to Christmas! If you need a printable for thi,s I created 5 Free Printable Christmas Countdown Calendars!

Make Snowman Pancakes

Pancakes are a hit around here and I get bonus points when I make fun shapes like snowmen! Such a fun activity for Christmas morning breakfast, too!

Work a Puzzle Together

The kids were gifted with a sweet Advent puzzle last year and they’re using it again this year. Every day for Advent they open 1 box and put together that part of the puzzle. By Christmas, they have one large puzzle done. They look forward to this every day!

Build a Fort

My kids love building forts. So get those Christmas pajamas on and build a fort! Perfect time for your read-aloud aloud too!

Make Homemade Peppermint Playdough

Okay, it doesn’t have to be peppermint, but it’s very festive. 

String a Popcorn Garland or Dried Orange Garland

Dried orange garland is my personal favorite. We make a mini orange garland to decorate a small tree in our main bathroom.

How to Use These Christmas Bucket List Ideas

You can create a simple list with pen and paper, make a printable, or add these to your Advent calendar. To make it even easier, I’ve already made a free printable for you and a blank option is included! I have our Christmas bucket list printed and hung on our fridge. The kids love crossing out each box as we complete it. Such a sweet tradition that helps us stay focused, intentional, and brings us together to connect and create memories. It makes the holiday season feel full yet peaceful. Drop your email below and the PDF will be sent directly to your inbox.

Making Christmas Meaningful, Not Overwhelming

Remember, you don’t have to do everything. Pick what fits your family for this year for the season you’re in. Some years we accomplish almost all the items on our holiday bucket list and sometimes an item stays on the list year after year, like the ice skating. The beauty of a family Christmas bucket list is not in perfection; it’s in the fun you have along the way, laughing, making messes, building relationships, and enjoying those tiny moments of wonder.

A Season to Savor

The Christmas season isn’t about doing more; it’s about noticing more and taking it in. More snuggles, more laughter, more memory-making, and most importantly, more time together during this beautiful time of year. No matter what is on your family’s Christmas bucket list, this season is full of opportunities to slow down and soak in the beauty of this festive season! So gather your crew, pour something warm, and dive into your very own Christmas bucket list. Here’s to traditions old and new, cozy winter nights, and celebrating the season as a family! Merry Christmas from my family to yours!