Fun Christmas Advent Calendar Ideas {Printable}

I mentioned last week that nostalgia is back in a big way this season, and nothing is sweeter than the holiday family tradition of filling an advent calendar with little treats, coins, or activities. It makes the countdown to Christmas feel so special!

Holiday Advent Calendars

We created two holiday advent calendars for our Pottery Barn Kids collection, and both of them are based in that vintage collectible feeling. We wanted these to feel like heirloom pieces that have been passed down from family to family. The 3-D Advent Calendar was created with little drawers so you can add a little token, charm, piece of candy, manger pieces, ornament, or activity note. I could picture this on a mantle (if your kids are really little) or a side table that older kids can open each day.

Hanging advent calendar with colorful pockets in dark red, green, and toile filled with presents

Chris Loves Julia Advent Calendar | Kids Anywhere Chair | Vintage Toy Ornaments | Aged Oak Dresser

And then our wall-hanging Advent Calendar has pockets that are generous enough for larger gifts or activity notes that come with a present. When we were on set with Pottery Barn Kids to photograph the collection, we stuffed that one with candy canes and wrapped presents. This can hang anywhere, the side of the fridge, on the wall, on the back of the door…it’s easy to fold up and store too after the season ends. I love that we took all of the different patterns that are present in our collection and made the pockets out of those. You can personalize both of them too for just $15 each! These make a really fun gift.

A little glass box with a note that says "Go to the BIltmore" next to the green wooden advent calendar

Start a Tradition of Christmas Activities

I just love the idea of writing down a bucket list of Christmas activities to do and adding them to the advent calendar. They don’t have to be expensive or extravagant—one of ours last year was to do a Christmas puzzle together. A couple of years ago we made a faux gingerbread house that was a BIG hit with my sisters. And 11 years ago (!!!) I created a family holiday activity list that I put in my dressed-up handmade advent calendar.

A girl opening a door of a wooden advent calendar — Look at little Greta!

Sometimes this season can be a LOT. Who has time to come up with a bunch of fun ideas in the midst of planning gatherings, attending kids’ fall school events, and shopping for presents?? To give you a head start, we created a printable advent calendar of holiday family activities that you can cut out and tuck into your advent calendar on the days that you like!