10 festive holiday activities for kids and adults
The holidays are truly a special part of the year—save the best for last, right? It’s a time for goofy holiday sweaters, fun with loved ones, and savoring the flavors of the season. Whether your holidays are marked by heavy snowfall up North or celebratory sunshine down South, there are plenty of ways for everyone to enjoy those couple of months before the New Year.
From parties and potlucks to gifting and grazing, the list of fun holiday activities is seemingly endless. That said, you might struggle to come up with unique and interesting ways to get in the holiday spirit. But guess what: that’s what we’re here for!
First and foremost, let’s talk about the kids. Holiday activities for children are a great way to bring the family together and rekindle your love for the season. After all, many of these options can be enjoyed by children and parents alike. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some family-friendly activities to ring in the holiday season.
Table of Contents
1. Brunch with Santa
Kids love visiting Santa Claus, but the traditional method of waiting in line at the mall and sitting on St. Nick’s lap can get old fast. Plus, this Christmas activity doesn’t have much to offer for Christmas-loving parents, either.
This year, try doing your Santa visit a little differently. Host a Brunch with Santa event and invite all your friends, family, and their little ones to come along. This can be thrown at home or at an event space—all you need is a Santa costume (plus a willing adult, of course) and some tasty treats.
For your Brunch with Santa menu, try serving some of these classic crowd-pleasers:
- Pancakes – Pancakes are the perfect breakfast food to get the kids excited. You can even mix it up with seasonal flavors, like chocolate peppermint chips or gingerbread.
- Baked goods – Cranberry muffins, sugar cookies, and coconut snowballs are just a few festive baked goods you can serve at your holiday brunch.
- Eggs Benedict – It’s always good to have a savory option on hand, especially for the parents. Eggs Benedict is a classic brunch dish that the adults at your event will love.
- Holiday mimosas – While orange juice and eggnog will be there to satisfy the kids, you may want something stronger for the parents to sip on. Try this easy cranberry mimosa recipe by The Blond Cook for a seasonal twist on a boozy brunch classic—and don’t skimp on the rosemary garnish!
2. Holiday arts and crafts
“Ready Set Bake” by Paperless Post.
Host an arts and crafts party to get the creative juices flowing this holiday season! To prepare for this event, all you’ll need to do is make a quick trip to your local craft store. Stock up on decorative items and any other supplies you need, and you’re ready to go! Some fun, kid-friendly activities you can put together include:
- Decorating sugar cookies
- Making ornaments
- Building gingerbread houses
- Making paper reindeer plates
- Writing letters to Santa (these can be decorated with stickers, glitter, and ribbons for added fun)
3. Movie night
What better way to get in the holiday spirit than with a seasonal movie marathon? Invite the kids and their parents over for a viewing party, complete with holiday snacks like kettle corn, hot chocolate, and peppermint bark.
Some family-friendly holiday movies you can add to your roster may include:
- “Elf”
- “Miracle on 34th Street”
- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
- “A Christmas Story”
- “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”
- “Home Alone”
- “The Muppet Christmas Carol”
Complete your themed party with red and green movie ticket stubs, movie theatre popcorn containers, and festive movie lighting created with string or strip lights.
4. Volunteering
Volunteering is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit—after all, giving is what this time of year is all about. Offer to bring the kids to a local volunteer event, such as:
- A soup kitchen or food drive
- Coat drive
- Toy donation
- Volunteer gift-wrapping
After the volunteering portion is over, you can celebrate your successful day with a holiday lunch at a nearby restaurant.
5. Holiday display viewing
Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or a rural area, there’s bound to be some seasonal display nearby. Options include:
- Taking the kids around the city to spot the different store window displays
- Checking out your local light show
- Taking a walk through the neighborhood to look at each house’s decorations
- Picking out a Christmas tree
- Viewing a festive model train holiday display
For an added layer of fun, try participating in a scavenger hunt game related to the holiday displays. Give each child a piece of paper to tally up the different items they see—e.g. number of reindeer, Santa figurines, different colored lights, etc.
6. Ice skating
“Tree Skate” by kate spade new york for Paperless Post.
For a holiday activity that’s a little more active, take the kids out for a day of ice skating! Once you’ve picked the perfect place, it’s time to make sure you have everything you need before hitting the rink or frozen pond:
- Winter-themed invitations to get everyone together
- Sharpened skates for everyone (most places allow you to rent them)
- Jackets, hats, and mittens
- Proper transportation for the whole crew
- Ice skating game ideas (such as freeze skate or a skating conga line)
- Hot cocoa to warm up afterward
7. Festive treasure hunt
Help the kids find their holiday spirit this season with a festive treasure hunt or scavenger hunt. For a scavenger hunt, you can print off some holiday-themed lists of holiday items for kids to find around home. For a treasure hunt, hide clues around the house leading to a treasure. To make things even more fun, try crafting a little poem by making each clue rhyme. For example:
- “Snow is falling; there’s a chill in the air. You’ll find your next present under a chair.”
- “Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock. You’ll find the next clue where you’d hang up a sock.”
- “Silent night, holy night. Your next clue can be found by the door to your right.”
- “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? You’ll find the next gift where the tea kettle is whistling.”
- For an added touch of festiveness, try wrapping each clue in seasonal wrapping paper. The winner of the game should receive a holiday prize, and everyone can celebrate with hot cocoa at the end.
8. SantaCon
“Kringle Mingle” by Paperless Post.
If you believe the holiday spirit isn’t complete without some spirits, then SantaCon might be the perfect way for you to ring in the season. This activity involves dressing up in your favorite holiday-themed outfits and participating in a local bar crawl. While many cities map out specific spots for SantaCon participants to go to, it’s entirely possible to make up your own itinerary as well.
For those truly dedicated to SantaCon, it’s traditional to arrive decked out in a full Santa Claus costume—but many people forgo this extra step and just grab a hat or their favorite ugly sweater. Either way, you can invite your bar-loving friends to join you in this seasonal celebration with an appropriate card. Wording may look something like this:
Join me in celebrating SantaCon this year
with a night of drinking, dancing, and plenty of walking.
The bar crawl starts at 3:00 p.m. on December 11th, 2021.
*Costumes mandatory.*
9. Holiday Karaoke
“Christmas Carol Karaoke” Flyer by Paperless Post.
If you’ve been waiting all year to belt (or at least boldly attempt) the high notes in Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” then this is the holiday activity for you.
Whether you’re renting out a room at your favorite karaoke bar or setting up a speaker and a microphone in the cozy comfort of your own home, planning a holiday-themed karaoke night is a sing-sensational way to get in the seasonal spirit.
If you’re planning on going out, you’ll want to call the karaoke bar ahead of time and make sure they have the holiday songs you’re looking to sing—and a private room available, if that’s your thing. But if you’re throwing this musical affair at home, you have the freedom to create your own songbook!
Pro tip: Don’t forget to warm up those vocal cords with a hot toddy or two before it’s your turn at the mic.
Invite friends and family to your musical merriment with a karaoke invitation card. Wording may look something like this:
Christmas Carol Karaoke
I’ve made a playlist, and I’m not afraid to use it.
Join me for some holiday fun and good cheer.
Thursday, December 17
8 PM
10. Ski weekend
“Ski Village” by Rifle Paper Co. for Paperless Post.
What better way to truly enjoy the holidays than being in a Winter Wonderland?
There’s nothing more seasonally fun than a wintery ski weekend. If you’re looking for a picturesque getaway that’s perfect for the holidays, invite some close friends for a weekend of skiing, sipping, and sitting by the fire (and hopefully soaking in a hot tub, too!).
Of course, this is a holiday activity that will require a little extra planning. If you already have access to a winter cabin, then all you’ll need to do is give everyone a heads-up and the address. On the other hand, if you’re looking to book a weekend at a ski resort, it’s important to discuss pricing and headcounts with those involved. Using Paperless Post’s online RSVP tracker is a great way to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Wording for your ski weekend invitation may look something like this:
You’re invited to come on over and cozy up
To a holiday ski weekend.
Saturday, December 8th at 8 PM
Big Bear Ski Resort
*RSVPs are required.*
Plan your next holiday celebration with Paperless Post
The holidays always go by faster than you expect, so why depend on snail mail to send out your seasonal invitations? This year, you can skip the trip to the post office and get straight to the party with Paperless Post.
Paperless Post makes it easy to plan your next holiday get-together. With thousands of festive online card designs, customizable wording, and online RSVP tracking and guest messaging included, Paperless Post is your one-stop-shop for all your holiday party needs.
Invite guests to mix and a-mingle with festive designs you can email, text, or share.
