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30 Fabulous (and Practically Free) Things to Do with Your Family This Holiday Season

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Hooray! It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Get your whole brood in the holiday spirit with these 30 festive (and pretty much free) family activities. 

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1.

Visit the local spot with the best lights 

Go for a stroll or a drive-by—it's delightful either way. 

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2.

Then string twinklies outside your own home 

Let the kids art direct. 

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3.

Bake sugar cookies

One adorable army of sugary snowmen, comin' right up. 

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4.

Visit a Christmas tree farm 

Or you know, an evergreen forest. 

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5.

Drink hot cocoa with marshmallows 

Preferably while wearing festive pajamas. 

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6.

Send holiday cards 

Bonus points for enclosing confetti in the envelopes. 

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7.

Attend a community play or concert 

Warm fuzzies, guaranteed. 

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8.

Go to a local tree-lighting ceremony 

Hot ciders in hand. 

 

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9.

Scrapbook your family recipes 

And let the kids pick one to make. 

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10.

Look at old holiday photos and family movies  

“See how little Nana was!”

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11.

Read favorite holiday books together 

Aka The Nutcracker and The Polar Express on repeat. 

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12.

Have a holiday karaoke night

Be prepared to have "Jingle Bells" stuck in your head until March. 

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13.

Make homemade eggnog 

Let the little ones take turns stirring. 

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14.

Decorate a winter wreath for the front door 

The more baubles, the merrier.

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15.

Have the kids collect clothing and toys to donate 

Teach them the meaning of giving. 

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16.

Make a gingerbread house

Totally OK to use a store-bought kit. 

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17.

Have a family movie marathon 

Nothing better than Home Alone on a crappy winter’s day. 

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18.

Go ice-skating 

Don’t forget the woolly mittens. 

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19.

Take out holiday books from the library 

And learn about how other cultures celebrate the season. 

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20.

Then make a recipe you learned about 

Latke party! 

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21.

DIY this year’s wrapping paper 

How special? 

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22.

Make ornaments together 

With backyard treasures like pinecones and acorns. 

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23.

 Go see your local 'Santa Claus'

And be sure to document the hilarity.  

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24.

Make a fire 

And have a cozy day of holiday tunes and hangin’. 

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25.

Play in the snow

If you’re lucky enough to have some. (Sledding! Snow angels! Snowmen!)

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26.

Help the kids write letters to Santa

And do your best to manage their expectations.  

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27.

Make outdoor decor for birds 

Popcorn cranberry garland time. 

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28.

Go caroling 

And be sure to visit your elderly neighbors. 

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29.

Pick out the tree 

Go ahead, buy the big guy. 

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30.

Then trim it. 

Downright magical—no matter your age. 


grace1

Home Editor

From 2014-2019 Grace Beuley Hunt held the role of Home Editor covering interior design, styling, trends and more.