15 Advent Calendars for People Who Take Their Hobbies Very Seriously
Daily surprises for crochet lovers, anglers, readers, movie buffs, and more.
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I'll never turn down a traditional advent calendar filled with chocolate or beauty goodies, but there's something even more fun about counting down to Christmas with a hobby you already love. From crocheting to coloring and more, I've rounded up 15 advent calendars that give you something fun to do every day of December.
Our top picks
- For artists and doodlers: A Brighter Year Mini Coloring Book Advent Calendar for Adults
- For outdoorsy types: Fishing Advent Calendar
- For bookworms: Mini Book Advent Calendar
- For the kid at heart: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
- For movie buffs: 25 Movie Nights Christmas Countdown
Most of these are geared toward adults, though plenty would work for teens, too. And because no hobby roundup would be complete without a little LEGO and Disney, we included a few picks for the kids at heart. Because a great hobby advent calendar doesn't just count down to Christmas—it makes time for a favorite pastime, too.
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Coloring can be an easy way to relax, but sometimes you don’t have time to sit down with a big, intricate page. This advent calendar gives you 24 holiday-themed pages that count down to the big day, and you can color them in just a few minutes. It comes with a set of colored pencils.
My father and grandfather both loved to fish. If I learned one thing about their hobby, it’s this: They could never have enough fishing lures. Give this advent calendar to the person who’s always planning their next fishing trip. And who knows? Maybe one of the 24 lures will finally land a whopper!
The sweetest thing about this advent calendar is that, every day, you get two gifts in one. Each book contains a select chapter to read, and it doubles as an ornament you can hang on the tree. When the holidays are over, it’s a unique display of literary classics.
For the kid at heart (or the collector, or the cinephile), LEGO advent calendars are a popular pick every year—and they often sell out. This Star Wars model gives you 24 figures to build (the Mandalorian in a Fair Isle sweater is a must-see) or if you’re a Marvel fan, this collection of superheroes will be popular this year. Ages 6+
Crochet lovers of all ages can work on four Woobles in December. Each Wooble character comes with a full kit with yarn, needles, and instructions. Other boxes in the advent calendar include accessories for your Woobles and a few festive keepsakes. Ages 12+
You’re probably going to be watching a few holiday movies in December anyway, and this advent calendar gives you two scratch-off cards a day, telling you what to watch. You can watch one or both, but either way you’ll also get a few facts about each film.
Attention all Murdlers! Someone is on the naughty list for kidnapping Santa, so it’s up to you to find jolly ol’ St. Nick and bring him back to the North Pole. Fortunately, you have 25 days’ worth of clues to help you.
You don’t necessarily have to be an artist to enjoy this advent calendar. It’s designed so that even beginners can jump right in. With watercolors, markers, craft templates, and more, you’ll be able to finish 24 small projects in the countdown to Christmas. The boxes themselves look like a cute gingerbread village that you can display all month long.
Not that bakers needed an excuse to whip up another masterpiece, but this fun advent calendar will get your creative juices flowing in the kitchen. For 24 days, you’ll get a different cookie cutter, piping tip, or decorating tool. Santa will be so impressed with the cookie plate this year.
Build each of the 12, 80-piece mini puzzles, and then connect them all on the last day to reveal a wintry holiday market scene. What a fun way to knock out a nearly 1,000-piece puzzle!
I love breaking out my origami swan skills every chance I get, so this advent calendar book caught my eye. It walks you through 24 holiday-themed mini projects, each with varying degrees of difficulty. Use any thin paper you have at home, or buy a few bright colors.
Whether you’re a Funko Pop collector or a Disney lover (or both!), check out this adorable advent calendar. It’s loaded with 24 mini Pocket Pops in all of your favorite Disney characters. Ages 3+
You probably have the holiday dinner sorted out, but for the rest of the month and into next year, this advent calendar can give you a few new flavors in the kitchen. On each of the 24 days a spice is revealed, and then you can go online and get full recipes. (Spoiler alert! Here’s the site.)
Campers, hikers, or any outdoorsy types will find a lot to love with this non-traditional advent calendar. Fire starters, fishing lures, paracord, a compass and multi-tool…these are all smart things to have in your backpack the next time you have a getaway in the wilderness.
Grab your favorite blanket, your TBR pile, this advent calendar, and spend the month in a bookworm’s paradise. The 25 reading gifts here include bookmarks, enamel pins, bag charms, and much more.
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