Christmas Bucket List: 25 Fun, Festive, and Classic Ideas

Here’s the only Christmas bucket list you’ll need to make this special holiday more fun, festive, and fancy.

Christmas is the one time of the year when everyone is in a good mood. The air is somehow magical, soft, and warm (even if it’s freezing outside).

The twinkling lights, the smell of cookies in the oven, the sound of carols in the background. What’s there not to love, right?

I love stepping outside and seeing the bustling activities in my local market. And I even love staying indoors, surrounded by the twinkling lights that I put up every year.

But still, I feel like there’s more that I could do, which is why I’m whipping up a Christmas bucket list.

I’ve added 25 fun, festive, and classic ideas to it, which anyone would really enjoy, even if they’re spending it with family, kids, friends, or alone.

You can also treat this as your Christmas checklist for the season.

It’ll help you make sure everything gets done in time, and also tick off the little joyful activities that make this holiday one of its kind.

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Ready for the best Christmas ever? Let’s dive in!

25 Fun Christmas Bucket List Ideas

1. Decorate a Christmas Tree

First things first, if you haven’t done it already, you need to put up a Christmas tree and decorate it the way you want it.

No matter how big or small your tree is, decorating it is one of the best ways to set the holiday mood.

You can go with a theme, like all gold ornaments or rustic wooden accents, or just let it be a mix of everything you love.

But don’t forget the final touch — a star, angel, or quirky topper that makes it yours!

2. Bake Christmas Cookies

I am not much of a baker, but the day December kicks in, I start baking as if I’ve been doing it my whole life.

Nothing says Christmas like a warm kitchen filled with the smell of cookies.

So, make sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and festive cupcakes. Experiment with seasonal treats, such as peppermint brownies.

If you make extra (which you should), pack it up and give it to your neighbours and friends. It is the season of joy and giving, after all.

3. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

Pick a night, get into your PJs, and line up your favorite holiday classics.

Elf, Home Alone, The Holiday, and Love Actually are always hits, but you could also mix in some new Netflix originals for variety.

Make loads of popcorn and hot chocolate (of course), and you’ll be set for the perfect movie marathon night of the season.

4. Sip Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows

Hot chocolate with marshmallows can turn any cold night into a holiday moment.

Make your hot drink more fun by adding whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and a drizzle of caramel.

That’s loads of sweet things, I know, but it’s Christmas! If not now, then when, right?

5. Spend an Afternoon Wrapping Gifts

Half the fun of gifting is the wrapping, if you do it right, that is. I say make a cozy afternoon of the whole process.

Play Christmas music, pour yourself a festive drink, and wrap your gifts with pretty ribbons, brown paper, and some DIY tags.

The more love and care you put into packing your gifts, the more fun it is to give them away.

6. Drive Around to See Christmas Lights

Bundle up, grab a thermos of cocoa, and take a little drive around your neighborhood to admire the lights.

Some towns even have specific streets known for going all out, and if you can access something like that, you’re so lucky. It would be totally worth the trip.

And if driving isn’t for you, then just walk around your neighborhood with a hot drink in hand.

It’s a perfect way to absorb the spectacular views and slow down your mind as well.

7. Make a Gingerbread House

I know making gingerbread houses can be messy, but that’s what makes this Christmas activity so fun.

You can buy a kit or make it from scratch (if you have time and energy for it).

And if you wanna do it with someone, then invite your friends or family and turn it into a decorating contest.

The effort would be worth it for the laughs and the Instagram-worthy final product (even if it’s a little lopsided).

8. Host a Christmas Game Night

Game night and Christmas. Need I say more?

It’s a cozy and classic way to bring people together without needing a big event.

You can host Holiday trivia, Christmas charades, or just the good old board games (but with a festive twist).

Add some Christmas snacks and baked treats, and you’ll have a perfect evening with your people.

9. Start an Advent Calendar

An Advent calendar counts down to Christmas with daily surprises from December 1st to 24th.

You can buy a pre-made calendar filled with chocolate, beauty products, or tea, or create your own DIY version with small gifts, holiday activities, or simple kind notes to yourself.

Every day leading up to Christmas will be a mini celebration. Definitely something you should try at least once.

10. Wear Matching Christmas Pajamas

Okay, I know this is a little corny, but so adorable too!

You can do this with your family, your partner, or your besties. It makes for cute pictures and lots of laughs.

And if you’re celebrating the holiday alone, then just buy a festive matching set for yourself and wear it on Christmas.

11. Try a Christmas Craft

Even if you’re not a craft-loving person, Christmas calls for making things with your hands.

Get creative with DIY ornaments, wreaths, or handmade cards. Look up online for some out-of-the-box ideas.

Not only is this a fun way to spend an afternoon, but you’ll also have personalized decorations that tell your story.

12. Have a Snow Day (Even If You Fake It)

If you’re lucky enough to get snow, spend the day building a snowman, making snow angels, or having a snowball fight.

And if there’s no snow in your area, then treat it like a snow day inside. Stay in pajamas, drink cocoa, and play games like you’re snowed in. Make-believe is fun even as adults, you know.

Bookmark now: 25 Things To Do On A Snowy Day To Enjoy The Magic

13. Read a Christmas Book

Take a break from the usual chaos and curl up with a Christmas book.

It’s something so peaceful about reading by the Christmas tree lights, and you won’t get this setup again for the rest of the year.

You can go for a classic like A Christmas Carol, a cozy holiday romance, or any book that captures the spirit of the season.

14. Volunteer or Donate

Christmas isn’t just about receiving. It’s also about giving back to the world.

Donate blankets, food, or toys to a local shelter, or spend time volunteering at local shelters and kitchens.

It will just be a few hours of your life, but it’ll make someone’s season brighter and give you the kind of joy that can only come from giving.

15. Take Festive Photos

Take pictures in front of the tree, at a Christmas market, under fairy lights, and also capture aesthetic shots of the food, books, and hot drinks you prepare.

You can also include your pets in matching sweaters.

These photos will become treasured memories you’ll love looking back on for years to come.

16. Light a Christmas-Scented Candle

Christmas without burning a scented candle is just not possible for me.

Pick a scent that makes you feel like you’re living inside a Hallmark movie — pine, cinnamon, vanilla, or whatever you like.

Light it while you’re reading or winding down at night, or while you’re doing your Christmas prep and cooking.

It’ll add instant coziness to your space and make everything more pleasant.

This Merry Cookie scented candle from Bath & Body Works is the best one I’ve found to date. It really does smell like cookie in a jar.

I turned the empty jar into a fairy light lamp, and it looks super cute on my nightstand. Gotta love pretty Christmas things.

17. Have a Christmas Breakfast or Brunch

You have the whole year to whip up healthy breakfasts and smoothies. But on Christmas, it should be mandatory to start your day with something special.

You can have cinnamon rolls, holiday pancakes, or a waffle bar with toppings. The more colorful and sweet it is, the merrier your Christmas morning will be.

18. Send Christmas Cards and Letters

In a world of texts and DMs, a handwritten note is the way to tell your loved ones how special they are to you.

Even if it’s just a short message, send cards and let people know you’re thinking of them. It’ll also give your mind a rest from the chat box for a change.

19. Visit a Christmas Market or Festival

Explore local holiday markets filled with handmade crafts, warm treats, and festive atmosphere.

Even if your town doesn’t have a traditional German-style Christmas market, look for holiday craft fairs, tree lighting ceremonies, and seasonal festivals happening around.

It will be a pure magical experience, trust me. And even doing solo, this would make your soul very happy.

20. Do a Random Act of Kindness

Pay for someone’s coffee, leave a sweet note on a coworker’s desk, or surprise a neighbor with cookies.

Whatever your idea of a random act of kindness is, do it and be happy for it. Little gestures can add up to big holiday joy.

21. Create a Holiday Playlist

Make a holiday playlist and add some Christmasy songs to it that you’ll want to keep playing all season long.

Mix the classics (like All I Want for Christmas Is You) with some indie and acoustic Holiday songs so that you don’t get bored.

You could also create different playlists for different moods, like upbeat songs for cleaning and gentle carols for wrapping gifts.

This will romanticize even mundane tasks like laundry and make Christmas-related tasks even more fun.

22. Go Ice Skating

There have been loads of indoor activities in this bucket list, which makes sense in the spirit of Christmas, but we gotta step out a little too.

Ice skating is the best way to capture the winter magic and get moving, too.

See if you can find an outdoor rink surrounded by Christmas lights or an indoor rink playing holiday music.

Don’t worry if you’re wobbly on the ice. I sure am, but the joy is in the experience, not the skill.

Follow up with hot chocolate to warm up afterward, and it’ll be a day to remember.

23. Host a Cookie Swap

Invite friends or family to bake a batch of their favorite cookies, then everyone shares and goes home with a mix.

It’s like multiplying your baking efforts without all the extra work.

Plus, you’ll also get to socialize, which is always good during the holidays.

24. Spend Christmas Eve in Full Cozy Mode

Slow down, light some candles, put on your favorite PJs, and spend your Christmas Eve in full cozy mode.

You can read a book, then watch a movie or TV show, and sip hot cocoa wrapped in a blanket while talking to someone over the phone.

This will help you get into a calm zone before the beautiful chaos of Christmas morning.

25. End Your Christmas With a Journaling Session

Once the rush of Christmas has calmed down, it’s nice to gather your thoughts in your journal.

You can reflect on the best moments of your year, write about your Christmas day, and make a long list of things you’re feeling grateful for.

It’s a grounding way to end Christmas and get ready for the end of the year.

Have a Magical Christmas!

This Christmas season, I challenge you to pick at least five activities from this list.

Write them down, put them on your calendar, and give yourself permission to embrace the joy of Christmas.

Have a good time, you! I will see you in the next post.

And oh, yes, Merry merry Christmas! I hope it’s a good one for you.

Which of these Christmas bucket list ideas are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comment box, and also share your own holiday traditions that I could try.