Seasonal & Holidays
10 Fun Ways to Count Down to Christmas
Advent calendars are a classic way to get everyone in the Christmas spirit starting Dec. 1. Find one that suits your family's style.
From magnetic ornaments to teeny drawers, swinging sacks to chalkboard designs, there are more ways than ever to countdown to Christmas. Any one of these advent calendars is guaranteed to get every family member excited for Santa's arrival.
Find a style just right for your home, and get the fun started.
1. Easy-to-Add Magnetic Ornaments
Kiddos will love helping count down to Christmas with this wooden advent calendar by Melissa & Doug. The ornaments are magnetic, making it easy for kids to use, and on the back of the tree is a holiday poem to encourage family to start a festive "read-aloud" ritual.
This wooden box calendar comes complete with flippable blocks so you can change the date by finding the right number. Sit it right by the door so you never forget to flip the date.
The mini numbered drawers of this weathered wooden tree advent calendar are perfect for filling with small surprises; think candy, coins, or a teeny toy. Little treats will make opening a drawer every day even more exciting.
Much like a mobile, this rustic hanging advent calendar is inspired by traditional Scandinavian designs, and it's meant to be hung on a wall or suspended from a ceiling. Each sack gets a secret message from Santa to up the suspense before his big arrival.
This artsy advent calendar has the look of chalk but none of the mess. Each door is painted with a chalk drawing and opens up to reveal a small compartment perfect for storing a candy surprise.
This star-topped Christmas tree advent calendar is more than 4 feet tall and would be fun to hang on the porch or in the yard. The best part? The bigger the days-of-the-month pockets, the bigger the treats are that fit inside.
Who says elves are the only ones that can help out Santa? This rosy wooden reindeer has 24 perfectly placed drawers to open each day. Give him a name and tell the kids he's not only friends with the big guy, but it's Mr. Claus that adds treats to him each day.
After you decorate the big tree, decorate this little one. This hand-sewn advent calendar comes with a different pillow ornament in each pocket. Each one has a Velcro backing for hanging on the tree above when the day arrives.
If you've got a four-legged family member, this plush advent calendar for pets is the perfect pick. A red doggy bone travels from pocket to pocket as Dec. 25 nears.
These advent calendar banners pull double duty as fun Christmas decor. Each flag has a pocket marked with a date ready for stuffing with surprises, and the three strands are stylish enough to display by the tree.
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