Yes! It is finally that time of year again. The holiday season has arrived, and I am so stoked! Time to grab a mug of peppermint hot chocolate, watch all the holiday parades, dance in the snow, and decorate your home to your hearts content. But, how do you know you won’t miss a fun, festive thing this season? Well, make a holiday bucket list, of course! Today, we are going to go over my personal holiday bucket list in the hopes you can create your very own as well. Ready to get started? Let the festivities begin!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.
Why Should You Create a Holiday Bucket List?
I am so glad you’ve asked! There are so many great benefits to creating and following a holiday bucket list. First, it is completely free. All you need is a pen and paper (maybe some fun stickers too) and you’re on your way! If you want to get really fancy, you can grab my holiday bucket list or my seasonal bucket list bundle to easily add to your planner, binder, tablet, etc. Next, following a holiday bucket list will ensure you don’t miss a single, fun event this year and fill your weekends with festivities you’ll never forget.
Pin this post for later!
The Ultimate Holiday Bucket List
Now that you’ve got an ideas of why creating a holiday bucket list can be so great, let take a look at some fun events to fill up your list, shall we?
Find and Decorate a Tree for Your Home
First up on the holiday bucket list is finding and decorating a holiday tree! We prefer to go out and chop down our own tree (helps the environment, is SUPER fun, much more satisfying, and is MUCH cheaper). We get our permits through the US Forest Service and head to our nearest designated area to get a tree. But you could just as easily head to your nearest tree farm or stand to get your own!
Eat a Candy Cane
You’ve got to eat at least one candy cane this season, right? Why not add it to your morning coffee for a change up? Or slip one into your lunch sometime.
Donate to a Good Cause
During the holidays, you will often see many charities and other great causes looking for donations of toys, food, blankets, money, etc. Try to contribute, even in a small way this year.
Go on a Drive to See the Holiday Lights
Spend an evening on the road with your loved ones and a steaming mug of hot cocoa to see the dazzling lights of your local neighborhoods.
Host or Attend an Ugly Sweater Party
Organize a fun night filled with ugly sweaters, games, and more. Need an ugly sweater to impress everyone? This one and this one cannot be beat!
Drink Peppermint Hot Chocolate by the Tree
Be sure to take some time to enjoy the little things. Fill up your favorite festive mug (I just got myself this one, how cute is it?!) and sit by the tree to slow down for a minute and just enjoy the season.
Celebrate the Holidays with Family
Plan, host, or attend a great holiday event filled with presents, a wonderful dinner, games, and laughter.
Try out a New Holiday Recipe
Be adventurous this year and test out a great new recipe. I love getting creative with peppermint, cranberries, oranges, or mulled spices to make great food for my loved ones this time of year.
Watch a Fun Holiday Film
Immerse yourself in holiday season by watching a fun holiday film! Some of my favorites include:
- Home Alone
- Love Actually
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Just Friends
- Christmas with the Kranks
- Elf
- Bridget Jones’s Diary
- The Polar Express
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- The Santa Clause
- The Santa Clause II
- The Santa Clause III
- Die Hard
- The Holiday
- A Christmas Prince
- Disney’s A Christmas Carol
- Gremlins
- Jingle all the Way
- The Man Who Invented Christmas
Many of these movies and so many others are available free with your Prime Membership!
Actually… take your holiday movie-watching to the next level with this Ultimate Holiday Movie Bucket List.
Create a Holiday Playlist
Be sure to fill the air with happy, festive music this season! This is one of my favorite traditions. I personally use my Amazon Music account (which is amazing by the way) and fill my home with the best holiday music all month long!
Decorate Your Home for the Holidays
Don’t just stop with putting up a tree, be sure to fill each room with at least a few great holiday decorations. My favorites include: throw pillows, festive candles, twinkle lights, holiday village set, holiday signs, mini-holiday trees, mantle trees, holiday candies, holiday candy dish, holiday cookie jar, festive mugs, mistletoe, and garland.
Change Desktop and Phone Backgrounds for the Holidays
Another great way to remind yourself of the holiday season is to change up your desktop and phone backgrounds to more festive photos. I love using photos of my loved ones completing our holiday bucket list items!
Pin this post for later!
Volunteer Your Time to Those in Need
Spend a day donating your time to those in need by volunteering with a good cause.
Hang a Holiday Wreath
Fill an afternoon creating a handmade wreath to hang on your door! Or, if you prefer, you can purchase one instead. This one is utterly gorgeous! (and so it this one, and one too! I can’t choose my favorite…)
Go Ice Skating
You can find ice rinks in many cities during the holiday season. They often also host fun holiday events too!
Related: The Ultimate Winter Bucket List
Read a Holiday Book
Spend your evenings winding down with a good holiday book. Some of my favorites include:
- Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
- Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber
- A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
- One Day in December by Josie Silver
- Christmas in London by Anita Hughes
- Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
In need of more book ideas? Check out my latest book lists HERE.
Make an Advent Calendar
One of my favorite ways to celebrate the season is to create my own advent calendar to share with my family! We have a cute advent box (similar to this one!) and fill each day with little gifts and one bucket list item for each other (that we pull from this bucket list!). You can also purchase a cute, pre-made advent calendar. They have so many fun advent calendars, such as ones that are filled with: jams, hot sauce, LEGOs, chocolate, socks, and more!
Drink Mulled Wine with Friends
Fill your home with the smell of the holidays by simmering mulled wine and spending an evening enjoying it with friends!
Setup a Holiday Village Scene
Find a nice corner of your home to create a festive village scene. You can even run a train through it!
Listen to the Carolers
Enjoy the sound of peaceful carolers on a cool evening in the city with a nice cup of hot cocoa.
Make and Send Holiday Greeting Cards
Don’t forget to send out holiday greeting cards to your friends, family, and loved ones!
Go Holiday Shopping
Take advantage of all the great sales and go shopping for gifts. HERE are some amazing Amazon deals to get you started!
Related: Clever Holiday Money-Saving Tips to Save Buckets of Cash
Have a Relaxing, Screen-Detox Day
Turn off all of your electronics for an entire day and simply enjoy the time you have with loved ones.
Attend a Local Holiday Market
Many cities and towns will host fun local markets. They usually include fun vendors with handmade gifts, great food, and fun music!
Related: How to Create a Successful Budget for the Holidays
Wrap Gifts for Your Loved Ones
Set aside some time to enjoy wrapping gifts for your loved ones. Try to be creative! Such as wrapping small gifts in a set of nesting boxes, or adding bells to a box full of clothing.
Plan, Host, or Attend a Lovely Holiday Meal
Spend a full day cooking and serve up a great family meal. You can blast some fun holiday music and try to get everyone to help in some way.
Decorate a Fun Gingerbread House
Grab yourself an easy gingerbread house making set and make a masterpiece!
Read The Night Before Christmas
This classic book should be read at least once this holiday season! Even if it is simply to yourself.
Watch the Nutcracker Ballet
Dress up for an evening out on the town and attend the ballet with a great dinner before or after!
Watch a Holiday Parade
Be sure to get out to enjoy the holiday festivities this year your local community hosts such as local parades! You can also watch many of the larger parades on television or online too.
Related: 12 Days of Christmas – What to do Between Christmas and New Years
Send a Letter to Santa
No matter you age, pull out some paper and hand write a letter to Santa. If you have children, here are the instructions to send out letters to Santa from the USPS. This is seriously too cute; I had no idea about this!
Go on a Sleigh Ride
Bundle up and head outside of an afternoon in a sleigh ride!
Participate in a Fun Gift Exchange
Get together with friends, family, or coworkers for a fun gift exchange. These can be so much fun!
Related: 99 Unforgettable Gift Ideas Under $25
Create a Hand-Made Gift
Speaking of gifts, be sure to try to create one hand-made gift for someone you love this year. This could be something as simple as a nice, long hand written note, or as complex as a wooden bookshelf!
Drink Eggnog by the Fire
Be sure to grab some eggnog at your local market this year and drink some by the fire.
Eat Tangerine Oranges
December is a great season for oranges and tangerines. Be sure to enjoy them! You can also add the peels to the stovetop full of water and spices to fill your home with great smells!
Attend a Local Holiday Festival
Many communities will host fantastic holiday festivals. You can usually find them at your local gardens, downtown areas, or city parks.
Make a Festive Popcorn Recipe
Heat up some popcorn and add some tasty ingredients, such as melted chocolate, caramel, peppermint pieces, and candies.
Bake Holiday Cookies
This is another of my favorite traditions! Spend an evening cooking up a batch or two (or in my case, 12… because I always go overboard when it comes to baking) and share them with loved ones!
Go Sledding with Friends
Head to the mountains or hill slopes for a fun afternoon on a sled! We love using these snow tubes, they are perfect!
Pay it Forward
Find yourself in a line for a hot beverage? Add an extra $5 to your bill to cover the person behind you! I used to work at a coffee shop and once had two full days where the next person in line was paid for, it was so heartwarming!
Make Your House Smell Like the Holidays
If you don’t have a live tree in your home this year, don’t fret! You can still get creative and make your home smell like the holidays such as simmering spices and orange peels on the stove or burning amazing candles (like this one that smells like evergreen trees!).
Hang and Fill Stockings on Your Mantle
Be sure to hang some stockings on your mantle (like these cute and cozy ones!) and fill them with small gifts for your loved ones.
Related: 99 Unforgettable Gift Ideas Under $25
Create a New Holiday Ornament
Get crafty and create a new holiday ornament this year. Be sure to add the year on the bottom so you never forget when you made it! We add one ornament each year to our collection that is always in the theme of a major accomplishment or event that occurred that year.
Visit a Light Festival Event
Don’t forget to enjoy the lights this year. One easy way to do this is to attend a light festival! Ours is hosted by our local botanical gardens and local zoo. We also have a light festival parade that runs through the city. Each of these events are so much fun!
Wear Matching Pajamas with Your Loved Ones
Need a gift idea? Grab yourself and loved ones some matching holiday pajamas. Might be corny but still super cute! Also makes for great photos!
Take a Photo with Santa
Head to the mall, wait in line, and sit on Santa’s lap for a fun photo this year!
Kiss Under the Mistletoe
Track down some mistletoe (or sneakily hang some up in your home) and snag a kiss!
Watch a Holiday Play or Concert
Check out your local theater and watch a fun holiday play or concert this year!
Start a New Holiday Tradition
Finally, be sure to explore a new tradition this year and make an effort to truly spend time with the ones you love.
Related: 12 Days of Christmas Activity Ideas
Further Reading
This list was sure filled with some amazing and fun adventures for the holiday season! Want to check out some more related material? Here are some great posts you might also enjoy:
- 34 Magical Holiday Films to Watch this December
- 12 Days of Christmas: What to do Between Christmas and New Years
- The Ultimate Winter Bucket List
- The Ultimate Autumn Bucket List
- 99 Unforgettable Gift Ideas Under $25
- The Top Ten Holiday Activities in Denver, CO
- The Ultimate College Student Holiday Gift Guide
- A Complete List of Game-changing Holiday Money Saving Tips
That is a wrap (and tied with a bow! Ha, see what I did there?) Anyways… there you have it. My ultimate holiday bucket list! I hope you found some fun and exciting new holiday things to do. Have fun and happy adventuring!
Comments are closed.