25 Fun Advent Calendars to Enjoy This December

Turn the countdown to Christmas into a hands-on science Advent-ure! Each day reveals a new mini experiment that sparks curiosity, creativity, and holiday excitement for budding young scientists. As one happy parent put it, “Do not hesitate to buy this. I rarely review items but this one was great. Me and my 9 year old had a wonderful time doing this. I packaged it back up so we can do it again this year.”

Make every day of December feel like a spa day with this indulgent bath and body Advent calendar. Packed with 24 pampering surprises—from bath bombs to body butter—it’s the ultimate way to relax and unwind all season long. One reviewer gushed about the experience, saying, “I absolutely love this 2025 Limited Edition Advent Calendar! Each day felt like a mini spa surprise. The scents are festive but not overpowering—my favorites were the vanilla sugar scrub and peppermint lotion. The packaging is gorgeous and perfect for gifting or treating yourself. A fun and luxurious way to count down to Christmas!”

Stationery lovers, this one’s for you! This Papier x Anthropologie holiday calendar is packed with chic writing essentials like notebooks, pens, and pretty paper goods designed to spark creativity all season long. One delighted shopper raves about the presentation and shares a clever gifting idea: “Such cute items and gorgeously packaged. I’m going to split the set and use the items to plump up Christmas gifts.”

Bring a little Hogwarts magic to the holiday countdown with this Harry Potter holiday calendar. Each day reveals a new spellbinding surprise—from socks and stationery to charms and keychains—making it a perfect gift for little ones and teens who love all things Potterverse. One parent calls it a “great product” and shares, “My daughter is a new HP fan, and this box was an absolute hit for her! Lots of girlie things in it—hair bows, hair ties, pendants. Every day seemed like the ‘best day ever’ during the Advent season!”

Smiling will definitely be their favorite this season! Fans of Elf will love counting down to Christmas in true Buddy style with this playful Advent calendar inspired by the holiday classic. Each of the 24 windows reveals a tiny collectible figure or pop-up diorama piece from the movie, turning every day into a moment of pure Christmas cheer. One happy parent writes, “This Advent calendar was so well made and so creative. It included many adorable characters from the movie, and my kids and I loved each and every little box we opened.”

While this wooden Advent calendar is less about treats, it makes up for it in spades with its gorgeous design. It’s handcrafted and hand painted, and each day you can illuminate the next number on the adorable scene. Fans of this pick can’t get enough of how cute it is in their home, and one reviewer even claims, “My family argues about who gets to ‘light’ it each day.” We all know that’s a sign of a good purchase! 

For unique holiday calendars that the whole family can enjoy, try one of the many puzzle or game options that have become popular in recent years. This world tour-themed version works for one to six players and takes place over 24 “episodes.” One family made this clever countdown part of their nightly routine, sharing, “Our little family had the best time with this calendar. The puzzles were well-thought-out and the story was engaging. It was nice to have something to bring us all together at the end of a long day and give so much enjoyment.”

If you’re not big on giving the littles ones sweets every day, then this educational Advent calendar for kids may be right up your alley. Each window reveals a special rock, mineral, fossil or gemstone. Reviewers love it, mentioning that it’s fun for all ages and how special it is to learn together as a family. A thrilled grandparent says this was a total hit across generations, writing, “I bought this for my 4 year old granddaughter and she absolutely loved it. We talked every day and she showed me her new ‘jewel’ or rock. All of the adults were very impressed with this gift too. I worked at a Montessori School for 15 years and I am so thrilled with this item that I am gifting one to each of the 3 classrooms next year—and all her cousins!”

Got a puzzle lover in your house? These festive and fun Advent calendars are what they need this season. They come with 24 gorgeous mini puzzles that are basically works of art. They’ll certainly stay busy heading into the holidays!

This is the ultimate food holiday calendar! All the iconic Harry & David snacks are included: pears, popcorn, summer sausage, relish, mixed nuts… the list goes on! It’s a delicious and fun way to count down the December days. For one family, this gourmet countdown turned into a daily group chat highlight. “My parents loved every product each day,” they write. “It was fun being in a group message every day this month seeing what surprise they got. This was the first time using your product. This may be an annual tradition.”

This winter wonderland Advent calendar for kids is just adorable! Every day they’ll unwrap and build another component of this snowy scene, which includes cute cabins, ice rinks, a battery-powered sledding hill, and more. It’s also an excellent way to get them thinking, since they assemble everything. One happy parent says this set became a seasonal staple for their kids: “Ordered this for my 6 and 10 year old to enjoy this season and it was worth every penny. It was perfect for my two kids, with some days being very simple little projects that my 6 year old enjoyed and slightly more advanced ones that my 10 year old loved…I can’t wait to set it up again next year.”

Anyone with a sweet tooth will be thrilled with this delectable Advent calendar full of chocolate. It includes a pound of See’s Candies famous treats like mint krispies, dark marshmallow trees, scotchmallow bars, and more. Plus, the whole box is fashioned to look like the most charming home decorated for the holidays, so it will only enhance your festive decor.

This is the perfect gift for someone who spends all their free time in a cozy reading nook—especially if that someone is yourself. In addition to new reads, you can add on bookworm-inspired gifts like tea, candles, a canvas bag, bookmarks, and more. It’s also very customizable: Choose between six genres, including mystery, romance, young adult, and a mixed selection.

Advent calendars for adults who love to cook aren’t hard to come by, but this one stands out for its versatility. Behind each door is a 1.75-ounce hot sauce that ranges from sweet to savory and mild to hot. Just make sure to save some for Santa—we have a feeling he’ll appreciate spicing it up this year and taking a break from all those cookies. One happy customer calls it “a fun gift to give anyone who loves spicy” and shared an idea to take this gift to the next level: “Gifted this to my boyfriend for Christmas since he loves trying new hot sauces. We decided to have our own ‘Hot Ones’ challenge during New Year’s Eve and even made our own chicken wings.”

Need ideas for Advent calendars for teens that they won’t think are boring? Have a favorite coworker or family member you’d like to treat? The answer is almost always candy. It’s a safe bet and a fun surprise for whoever you might be shopping for this year. (Plus, it’s one of the four main food groups, as Buddy the Elf would say.) Sweet tooths agree this one’s a winner. As one happy shopper puts it, “This will not disappoint. It is more expensive than many Advent calendars, but it is worth it for the variety, freshness, flavor, and presentation.”

Let a furry friend in on the holiday calendar fun with this gift set that includes 24 all-natural treats in cheese, bacon, chicken, and peanut butter flavors. Pet parents say this countdown is just as fun for them as it is for their pups. One pup parent writes, “Both of our dogs loved every treat that came out of this Advent calendar. The Advent calendar also didn’t skimp on the amount of treats within it, which was very impressive.”

The best Advent calendars for kids are ones that you can secretly (or not-so secretly) enjoy, too. This countdown comes with 24 fidget toys that are great entertainment for all. “This Advent calendar is absolutely adorable,” says one happy customer. “It is a GREAT price for the quality and quantity of items you receive. I love to see my kiddos eyes light up when they pull a toy out!”

You can enter a winter wonderland every day with this cozy cabin holiday calendar. The doors, windows, and drawers all open to reveal a cute surprise that fits the woodland theme. Just note that the figurines are not removable—instead, this is a keepsake decoration meant to last many Christmases to come.

While there are a ton of beauty Advent calendars you can buy, not all are as universally appealing as these moisturizing Burt’s Bees lip balm. They come in festive flavors like Vanilla Maple, Cranberry Spritz, and Sugar Cookie. Made with responsibly sourced beeswax and formulated with all clean ingredients, this holiday gift set is perfect for that person in your life who seems to have everything. One happy customer shares, “This was bought as a Christmas gift and it truly is great value for money. Burt’s Bees is a great quality product and is super hydrating. All the flavours also smell amazing!”

Another cool Advent calendar idea? Gourmet treats, of course! Panna cotta truffle, fig and melon jam, thyme olive oil, and pistachio pesto—all made in France, Italy, Morocco, or Portugal—are just some of the delicious things included in this gift set. It’s the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.

For a more sustainable option, try a reusable fun Advent calendar like this one. It’s made from cotton and is available both blank and personalized. One benefit is that you can fill it with whatever goodies you want, like little toys, notes, candies, and more. The shop as over 2,000 rave reviews, too! Shoppers love the craftsmanship of this handmade piece. One buyer wrote, “Very happy with the quality of the materials and how well crafted the item is. The big pockets are perfect.”

When the weather outside is frightful, there is something so magical about snuggling under a blanket with a seasonal candle lit nearby. There are 25 that come in this set, which means it’ll last all of December (and then some). A few of the holiday fragrances included are Holly and Pine, Vanilla Brown Sugar, and Apple Strudel. One reviewer raves about how perfectly giftable this set is: “I gave this to a friend who likes candles, and she absolutely loves them! She said each one has a great Christmas fragrance, and they burn all day. What a clever idea!”

Several Amazon reviewers like this red-and-white reusable advent calendar because the drawers are slightly bigger than most. “I was able to fit entire mini Funko mystery boxes in the biggest drawers,” says one customer. “I had gotten enamel pins for the small drawers but ended up putting in multiple because there was so much room. We are keeping the box and Styrofoam so we can keep it safe for years to come. The kid is loving it so much.”

You’ll get 25 days of entertainment for the whole family with this DIY ornament calendar. Each day comes with a different craft, none of which require any sewing or glue. Even better? Bonus games, including a holiday word search, are included for even more family-friendly activities. One happy grandparent shared how much joy this advent calendar brought to their family, writing, “My granddaughter came home from school so excited every day last year to do the next ornament in the box. She loved it so much she asked me to buy it again this year. They’re well-crafted, easy to use, and the results look wonderful on the Christmas tree. She even gave some of her ornaments as gifts to our neighbors and her teacher.”

Give the coffee lover in your life a steady supply of java just in time for sweater weather. This set comes with 12 full-pot bags in seasonal flavors like Mistletoe Mocha, Cinnamon Hazelnut, and Jingle Bell Java. Our recommendation? Pair it with a mug warmer to show your loved one that they made The Nice List this year. One coffee lover couldn’t get enough of this festive pick, saying, “Excellent coffee! This is our favorite coffee company. This was fun to open and made an amazing gift for my wife. I should have bought another one because we went through it so fast!”