20 Holiday Family Activities That Don’t Cost a Thing
The holiday season is about togetherness, joy, and creating memories—not maxing out your credit card. Some of the best family traditions don’t require spending any money. Just a little creativity and time together makes all the difference in the world and can bring a family closer. Here are some free and fun holiday activities that your whole family will enjoy.
20 Holiday Family Activities That Don’t Cost a Thing
1. Holiday Movie Marathon
Gather some cozy blankets, grab your favorite snacks, and have a family holiday movie night together. Whether it’s a classic like It’s a Wonderful Life or a favorite animated film, there’s something magical about watching holiday movies together. Bonus points if you let everyone vote on their pick! If you need some great holiday movie ideas, we have a list of 50 right HERE.
2. Go on a Holiday Lights Tour
Bundle up and walk or drive around your neighborhood to admire the holiday lights and decorations. In most areas, there are also various Holiday Light events at local parks, towns, and neighborhoods to enjoy! You could even make it into a scavenger hunt by looking for specific things like a snowman, reindeer, or twinkling stars.
3. Bake Cookies Together
Simple recipes like sugar cookies or snickerdoodles can become a fun family baking session even if you don’t have fancy ingredients. Let the kids help with rolling, cutting, or decorating the cookies—they’ll love being part of the process. Some families also have their favorite traditional baked goods recipes that you can make together instead!
4. Write Letters to Santa (or Each Other)
For younger tweens who still “believe,” writing letters to Santa is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Older kids and adults might consider writing letters of appreciation to each other- or going along with the fun and writing letters to Santa TOO! (You can also get some good gift ideas if needed!)
5. Create Handmade Decorations
Gather whatever craft supplies you already have and make your own holiday decorations. Ideas include:
- Paper snowflakes
- Popcorn garlands
- Painted pinecones
- Hand-drawn holiday cards
6. Have a Snow Day
If you live in an area with snow, make the most of it with snowball fights, building snowmen, or creating snow angels. You can have a “Snowman Competition” and see who can build the best, most unique, and creative snowman! Parents are the judges! If it’s safe, go sledding on a nearby hill. No snow? No problem—build an indoor “snow fort” with blankets and pillows!
7. Host a Family Talent Show
Everyone has something they can showcase! Let each family member perform a song, dance, comedy act, or any special skill they want to share. If siblings want to do something together, that makes it even more special! It’s silly, fun, and guaranteed to create some great memories.
8. Volunteer as a Family
Giving back is one of the most meaningful ways to spend the holiday season. Look for opportunities to volunteer locally, like helping at a food bank, writing holiday cards for nursing home residents, or donating gently used items to a shelter. There are countless opportunities to make a difference in meeting the needs of people in your town, city, or other countries. Have a family meeting to decide what the family wants to do this holiday season and get everyone actively involved on some level.
9. Go Caroling
Gather your family and spread holiday cheer in your neighborhood with a caroling session. You don’t have to be professional singers—your enthusiasm will be more than enough to bring smiles to your neighbors’ faces. Or you can drive to specific family and friends’ homes, knock on their doors, and sing your holiday songs with festive enthusiasm! What a fun surprise that would be for them!
10. Play Holiday Games
Create holiday-themed charades, Pictionary, or trivia to play as a family. You could also organize a holiday scavenger hunt, hiding small items like ornaments or candy canes around the house or in the yard for the kids to find. The older kids could hide the items for the younger kids to find.
11. Read Holiday Stories Together
Set aside a special time to read holiday classics like The Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Older kids can take turns reading aloud, or you can make it interactive by acting out parts of the story.
12. Have a Hot Chocolate Night
Turn an ordinary evening into a special event by making hot chocolate together. Use whatever ingredients you have at home and let everyone customize their mugs with marshmallows, cinnamon, or whipped cream (if available).
13. Plan a “Day of Gratitude”
Spend a day focused on what you’re thankful for as a family. Find a decorative jar or bowl and cut up paper for everyone to write different things they are grateful for about family members and the special reasons why they love them. Remind them to share as many notes of appreciation throughout the day as possible so the family can fill up that bowl or jar. In the evening, over a special family meal or gathering, people take turns reading each paper out loud.
14. Make a Time Capsule
Reflect on the past year by creating a holiday time capsule. Have everyone contribute a letter, drawing, or small item representing their favorite memories. Seal it up and plan to open it next holiday season.
15. Sing and Dance to Holiday Music
Turn up the holiday tunes and have a family dance party! It’s a great way to burn off energy, boost everyone’s mood, and create a joyful atmosphere at home.
16. Watch a Holiday Concert Online
Many orchestras, choirs, and local groups stream free holiday concerts online during this season. It’s a perfect way to enjoy some festive music without leaving home.
17. Create a Holiday Countdown Chain
Use paper and markers to create a chain-link countdown to the holidays. Tear off a link each day and write something fun to do together.
18. Tell Holiday Memories
Gather around and share your favorite holiday memories from the past years of celebrating Christmas. You could even videotape them or write them down to create a family keepsake for years to come.
19. Watch Old Family Videos
I’m betting your family has numerous fun videos of when the kids were younger that you can all watch together. This can be a special and often hilarious experience while watching and remembering all those childhood memories. Go back in time and rewind to the past when the kids were so little and cute, and everyone was so different than they are now- the nostalgia will warm your hearts and bring any family closer as the videos spark conversation about those early years.
20. Call Long-Distance Family Members With Everyone In The Family Present
While you’re all together for the holidays, nothing would mean more to long-distance grandparents, aunts and uncles, close family friends, or any older siblings your family couldn’t see in person over Christmas- than to receive a phone call from your entire family together. Put the phone on Speaker mode, and as soon as they answer, start singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” It would be a wonderful surprise and the best Christmas gift they could ever receive. It will also give you a chance to catch up, share how everyone is doing, and connect with each person in the family.
The beauty of the holiday season lies in connection and joy, not the cost of the activities. These simple, no-cost holiday family activities can bring your family closer together and create lasting memories everyone will treasure. If you need more holiday family activity ideas, we have another great list to check out HERE. You can also ask the kids what they might want to do as a family that doesn’t cost money- they might have the best ideas of all!
