The Ultimate Christmas Bucket List Ideas That Are FREE or Low Cost.
Fun holiday activities for families to enjoy without breaking their Christmas budget.
The Christmas season can be hard on the budget.
From Christmas shopping for presents, decor, and food, it can be difficult to afford entertainment as well.
So if are you looking for Christmas bucket list ideas that are free and will keep the kids entertained and excited all month long then look no further.
We’ve gathered plenty of fun Christmas activities that the whole family can enjoy.
From making gingerbread houses to going on a Christmas scavenger hunt, there’s something for everyone on this list.
So grab a pen and paper and get ready to check some items off your list!
Or better yet, get our free printable holiday bucket list at the end of this post!
25 Fun Christmas Bucket List Ideas That Are FREE Or Low Cost
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
And what better way to get into the holiday spirit than to start crossing items off your Christmas bucket list?
If you’re looking for some festive fun this season, here are a few ideas to get you started!
Don’t worry if you are having Christmas on a budget.
Most of these Christmas bucket list ideas are free or very low budget!
1. Make A Gingerbread House
There’s something special about making a gingerbread house.
Whether using a kit or making everything from scratch, it’s fun and festive to do with friends or family.
And when you’re done, you have a delicious and adorable decoration for your home.
If you are really running tight on money, you can create a gingerbread house out of cardboard from leftover boxes.
If you’ve never made a gingerbread house before, plenty of resources are available to help you get started.
YouTube is a great place to find step-by-step tutorials, and there are also many cookbooks and websites with gingerbread house recipes.
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, the fun begins!
Let your creativity run wild as you decorate your gingerbread house with candy and frosting.
And don’t forget to take plenty of photos to document your handiwork.
With a little effort, you can create a charming gingerbread house that will be the envy of all your friends and family.
2. Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is one of the most fun Christmas bucket list ideas that the whole family can enjoy.
There are many outdoor ice rinks open during the winter months.
If you don’t know how to skate, lessons are usually available.
Ice skating helps you stay active during the winter months. I
t is also a fun social activity.
You can go ice skating with your friends or family.
Plus, it doubles as exercise!
3. Build A Snowman
Building a snowman is a fun Christmas bucket list for kids and a way to spend time outdoors in the winter.
If you don’t have enough snow, you can always pack snow or make your own snow with water and ice cubes.
To build a snowman, start by rolling a large snowball for the body.
Then, roll another snowball for the head. You can make the head smaller by packing it tightly or rolling it in your hands.
Once you have the two main balls of snow, stack them on top of each other and use sticks or coal for eyes, a carrot for a nose, and anything else you want to use for decorations.
4. Have A Snowball Fight
Once you’ve built your snowman, you can have a snowball fight with the whole family.
A snowball fight is a perfect way to add some excitement to a winter day.
To start, you only need a good supply of fresh snow.
Once you have enough snow, start packing it into balls.
If you want to get really creative, you can even build a fort or obstacle course to use as cover.
When you’re ready to start fighting, aim for your opponents’ heads—it’s the only way to score a point!
Just be sure to keep an eye out for rogue snowballs that might end up hitting you instead.
And when the fight is over, be sure to have some hot cocoa ready to warm up.
5. Go Sledding
There’s something about sledding that brings out the kid in all of us.
Maybe it’s the sense of freedom we feel as we zoom down a hill or the laughter that comes from tumbling down in a snowbank.
Whatever the reason, sledding is a great way to enjoy the winter months.
If you don’t have a sled, don’t worry – you can easily make one out of an old cardboard box.
No need to let these sledding Christmas bucket list ideas go to waste if no sled!
Just be sure to wear warm clothes and gloves to protect yourself from the cold.
And if you’re feeling really adventurous, why not build a sledding course in your backyard?
You’ll be guaranteed hours of fun.
6. Make Homemade Christmas Decorations
One of the best parts of Christmas is decorating your home with festive décor – a fun Christmas bucket list for kids and a favorite pastime for us all!
If you want to add a personal touch to your holiday decorations this year, why not try making some homemade items?
Paper snowflakes are always a classic, and you can string popcorn or cranberries on a garland for a pop of color.
You can also get the kids involved by having them help decorate gingerbread cookies.
Whatever you choose to make, homemade Christmas decorations are sure to bring some extra cheer to your home this holiday season.
Make this easy paper plate snowglobe craft!
7. Listen to Christmas Music
Christmas music is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
There are many different genres of Christmas music, so there’s sure to be something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
From traditional carols to modern pop songs, Christmas music can help to create a festive atmosphere in any home.
In addition, listening to Christmas music can add to your bond with loved ones.
Whether you’re sharing memories of past holidays or just singing along to your favorite songs, listening to Christmas music can help create new traditions and lasting memories.
So this holiday season, make sure to include some festive tunes in your celebrations!
7. Watch Christmas Movies
‘Tis the season for Christmas movies!
There’s nothing like snuggling up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa and watching your favorite holiday film.
From classics like It’s a Wonderful Life to modern hits like Elf, Christmas movies have a way of capturing the spirit of the season.
One fun idea my kids enjoy is to make some Grinch Rice Krispie treats while watching The Grinch movie.
Watching Christmas movies is a good way to spend time with family and friends and can also help get you into the holiday spirit.
So pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and settle in for a festive movie night with your favorite holiday flicks.
Use this list of over 100 Christmas movie favorites to find the perfect Christmas movie for your family!
8. Bake Christmas Cookies
Baking cookies is a fun and festive activity for the whole family.
Whether you bake traditional cookies or get creative with festive shapes and designs, you’ll have a blast making memories together in the kitchen.
The best part about baking cookies is that you can tailor them to your own taste, fitting as tasteful Christmas bucket list ideas!
If you like your cookies soft and chewy, simply add a little less flour to the recipe.
If you prefer them crispy, add a bit more. You can also experiment with different flavors and mix-ins.
For instance, instead of plain chocolate chips, try white chocolate chips and dried cranberries for a flavor combination that’s sure to please.
No matter how you bake them, Christmas cookies are sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
Use this list of 20 easy Christmas cookies to make with kids to get started!
9. Attend A Christmas Pageant
One of the best things about the holidays is all of the festive events that take place.
If you’re looking for a fun and festive activity, consider attending a local Christmas pageant.
You’ll get to see all of the costumes and hear all of the holiday music.
Christmas pageants help get everyone into the holiday spirit, and they’re typically free or very low-cost.
Check your local community calendar to see if there are any pageants happening near you.
Related Post: How To Afford Christmas When You Are Completely Broke
10. Go on a Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas scavenger hunt is a great way to get the whole family involved in the holiday fun.
Hide small gifts and Christmas-themed items around the house or yard and see who can find them all first.
To make it even more challenging, you can give each person a different list of items to find.
For an added twist, you can set a time limit or make it a race to see who can find all of their items the quickest.
Scavenger hunts are a great way to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and add extra excitement to the holiday season.
11. Visit A Live Nativity
Many local churches have live Nativity scenes you can walk through or drive through.
There is something really special about seeing a live Nativity.
It’s a rare and special chance for your family to enjoy and experience what Christmas is all about.
12. Visit The Mall Santa
Years ago, visiting the mall Santa was completely free.
Nowadays, they charge you for pictures.
However, you don’t have to get pictures.
It is still completely free to have a small visit with Santa.
You can just let your children have a moment with Santa and let him know what they are hoping for this Christmas.
13. Go Christmas Caroling
Free Christmas caroling is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Make a list with your kids of all the songs you want to sing.
Talk to your neighbors about joining in and picking a night to go caroling.
There are many reasons why going caroling is a lot of fun.
It gives people an opportunity to sing their favorite Christmas songs in public places, which is something that not many people get to do during the holidays.
Christmas caroling is a great way to connect with your community and create memories that your kids will never forget!
14. Make Homemade Christmas Cards
Chances are you already have plain white or construction paper at home.
Get out the crayons and markers and let the kids make Christmas cards for everyone they know.
15. Go To A Tree Lighting Ceremony
Many local towns hold special tree lighting ceremony event that is completely free.
There will usually be many other festive activities there to enjoy.
16. Drive Around To See The Christmas Lights
One of my favorite memories of Christmas is driving around with my mom and looking at the neighborhood Christmas lights.
You may even have a local Clark Griswald, and there could be some pretty awesome Christmas displays in your neighborhood.
It is a great way to spend quality time with your kids while getting into the holiday spirit!
Don’t forget to download these FREE printable Would You Rather Christmas Edition Cards to take along on the ride.
17. Have A Holiday Pet Food Drive For The Animal Shelter
Help your kids plan a Christmas holiday pet food drive for the local animal shelter.
Contact your neighbors, family, and friends to see if they would like to participate.
Once you have collected enough bags and cans of dog or cat food, take them to the local animal shelter.
It will make your kids feel so good to help out the animals at Christmas time.
18. Create An Advent Calendar
An advent calendar is such a fun way to countdown to Christmas.
There is plenty of store-bought advent calendars, but you can easily make your own.
You just have to be creative.
Follow my tutorial on making an easy homemade advent calendar for kids.
19. Holiday Random Acts Of Kindness
The days of December are the perfect time for your family to participate in a random act of kindness.
You can do plenty of things together as a family to help others.
Use this list of over 100 Random Acts of Kindness For Kids to get ideas.
Spreading kindness is one of the reasons why the holiday season is such a magical time of year.
We are participating in 12 days of Christmas kindness!
In the twelve days leading up to Christmas, we do one random act of kindness a day.
To make it even more fun, I have made a Santa Beard cutting activity about Christmas kindness!
20. Have A Sleepover Next To The Christmas Tree
Grab the sleeping bags and pillows, and have a sleepover with your kids right next to the Christmas tree.
This is an extra fun tradition we do every year!
We read our favorite holiday books, drink hot chocolate, and snuggle up under the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree.
21. Elf On The Shelf Shenanigans
If you already have an Elf On The Shelf, then there are so many fun holiday activities you can do with your elf.
First, be sure to download this FREE Elf on the Shelf letter from Santa.
Then, download these FREE Elf On The Shelf notes to get started with coming up with daily shenanigans for your Elf.
Plus, you can download this FREE Elf On The Shelf toy donation letter to get your kids to declutter and donate some of their toys.
22. Make A Hot Chocolate Bar
Setting up a hot chocolate bar is my kid’s favorite holiday activity.
Plus, it is a great way to introduce kids to new flavors.
They are fun for kids and can also be used as holiday socials with family members.
Make some easy hot chocolate in the crockpot, then set out different toppings.
Let the children mix the ingredients together and enjoy their creation!
23. Participate In A Holiday Food Drive
The holidays are a time to give back and share with those who may not be as lucky.
A Christmas food drive is a great way for kids to learn about giving to others.
So raid your pantry and cabinets and take some cans of food to your local food bank.
24. Make DIY Christmas Gifts
Kids love to give Christmas gifts to their family and friends.
Why not make homemade gifts together?
Not only does it let them join in the season of giving but it creates a fun memory.
If you are running low on money or ideas, download these free DIY Christmas coupon books for your kids to fill out.
25. Read A Christmas Book
Every Christmas Eve, one of our meaningful Christmas traditions is to read one of our favorite Christmas books.
Of course, we read The Night Before Christmas, but we have many other favorites during December.
If you don’t have the book, remember the library has plenty you can borrow for free!
Related Post: The Christmas 4-Gift Rule
Holiday Bucket List Ideas For Kids The Whole Family Will Love
Be sure to download the free holiday bucket list printables from the Resource Library.
Sign up here, and the link and password will be emailed to you shortly.
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and fun.
We hope that this Christmas bucket list for kids has inspired you to create some unforgettable memories with your loved ones this year.
Merry Christmas!