"One of the cutest holiday decor traditions just has to be the advent calendar. Exciting for kids and parents alike, waking up nearly every morning of December to a surprise—whether it’s a tiny gift, a chocolate, or themed toy—brings a little extra joy to the holiday season. Say what you will about Elf on the Shelf, calendars and holiday countdowns will always be the original morning pick-me-up throughout the holiday season.
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There are tons of options out there, and sorting through them can be challenging. Is it better to get a personalized and reusable advent calendar that will last your family for years? Or go with a budget-friendly option that also acts as cute holiday decor? Or would you rather treat your littles to a special countdown with toys or treats featuring favorite characters like Barbie or Bluey?
We’ve done that work for you by providing all the best advent calendars and holiday countdowns in this list that has options for kids, adults, and even pets! We also included Hanukkah countdowns as well that can be used leading up to the first night of Hanukkah or to commemorate the eight days that make up the Festival of Lights. Check out the list below!
Christmas Advent Calendars
This bright and festive felt hanging advent calendar can be personalized for your family and used year after year.
A great first advent calendar for little kids, this set includes a magnetic wooden tree, 24 magnetic ornaments, a star for the top of the tree, and an attached wooden ornament box to store all the pieces as kids count down to Christmas.
This gingerbread advent calendar is architecturally stunning. Fill each illuminating door with holiday treats.
This advent calendar combines the tradition with a puzzle element featuring a movable star that can be shifted from notch to notch each day. Little hooks can hang envelopes of goodies or messages.
Love advent calendars but lacking wall space? This adorable wood house advent calendar features drawers to store daily treats or little gifts.
For a personalized advent calendar, look no further than this classic, quilted and embroidered version from Pottery Barn Kids. Each pocket features a different winter-themed illustration, with space for a family name or kid’s first name at the top.
This $15 fabric hanging advent calendar is a great budget-friendly option that also acts as whimsical holiday decor. Kids can move the attached Santa each day as they count down the days until December 25.
This intricate advent calendar is a truly beautiful piece of holiday decor. Emulate woodland themes in your decorations by putting out this internally-lit, easily-personalized advent calendar.
Your kids are sure to be delighted by this advent calendar featuring Santa and a snowman. Its wooden design features little doors that you can fill with candies or small toys.
Turn decorating into a true DIY affair with this wooden advent calendar. This 24-drawer calendar can be painted and decorated however you or your little ones like.
A great budget-friendly option from Anthropologie, this hanging countdown to Christmas calendar is a cute holiday house. Each day, little ones can open a window as we edge closer to 12/25.
Toy & Treat Advent Calendars
Do you have a Squishmallows aficionado in your house? If so, the viral Squishmallows advent calendar is here for 2024 and, if you manage can get your hands on it before it sells out, your little is sure to love it.
We know some of our moms have LEGO lovers in their families, and this LEGO calendar will give you all the brownie points you could hope for this year. Put together a LEGO city piece by piece with a new addition each day.
Another fun LEGO advent calendar option. This one is for all the Star Wars fans in your household.
Immerse yourselves in the wizarding world of Harry Potter with your favorite characters in this holiday advent calendar.
Take your kids through an enchanting Lego advent calendar filled with our favorite Disney princesses. Even Elsa won’t want you to ‘let it go’ this holiday season.
Combine an advent calendar countdown with Christmas crafting in this KiwiCo crate. Starting on December 1, kids will open a new envelope each day and make the project inside, ending in an adorable holiday display.
Does your little one love American Girl dolls? Bring their excitement into the holiday season with this advent calendar filled with goodies for their favorite dolls.
A fun twist to an advent calendar—activities instead of treats. This season will be full of fun holiday activities for your family.
If your family wasn’t safe from the Pokémon-Go craze a few years ago, why not spark the excitement again with this fun calendar?
All of my Christmas dreams would have come true if my mom had just gotten me this Barbie advent calendar.
The Bluey craze is real for kids all over, and personally, we couldn’t be more on board with it. What better way to get the kiddos excited for the holidays than with their favorite Blue Heelers?
Because you may love Harry Potter just as much (if not more) than your little ones, this calendar would be fun for the whole family.
Your toddler will love creating their own little Christmas village by adding a new member each day with this Fisher-Price calendar.
For the little ones who can’t get enough of their favorite Disney and Pixar characters, this calendar is a perfect purchase. We love that it includes 24 story books, providing a new book to read together each night leading up to the big day!
If Elf is a favorite family holiday movie, this calendar is a perfect way to spread Christmas cheer. Even better? It’s filled with treats inspired by the film, like maple syrup and candy corn.
Bake your way through the holiday with a cookie set from Williams Sonoma. The set includes spatulas, a sugar shaker, cookie cutters, biscuit cutters, stencils, and more.
Grow your hearts three sizes larger with a candy-filled advent calendar featuring the Grinch. Each door is filled with chewy caramels, fruit gummies, and milk chocolates.
Great for kids ages 4+, make your way through a magical Christmas market with cute animals, a pretty Christmas tree, and market treats. Santa even makes an appearance!
Open each door and reveal a little magic each day leading up to Christmas. You will find an angel, reindeer, forest animals, Santa, and more. Perfect for littles ages 1+.
Hanukkah Countdowns
Start your eight-day Hanukkah countdown with this set’s movable dreidel by Rifle Paper Co. Your little ones’ excitement can grow with each passing day!
Your little ones can celebrate Hanukkah with their very own menorah, adding a new candle into this hanging fabric piece of decor each night.
Countdown to Hanukkah in style with Olive & June’s limited-edition set. Enjoy samples of mini polishes in both the long lasting and quick dry formulations, press-ons, tools and care like cuticle serum and a mini remover pot, and more!
This handcrafted wooden countdown will allow the family to count down the days until the beginning of Hanukkah and can be used year after year.
Celebrate your furry family members with dog puzzles to count you down to Hanukkah. Each night can be a fun-filled family activity.
We love that this piece includes a dry erase countdown option so you can begin counting down to the beginning of Hanukkah whenever you’d like!
This hanging countdown is not only adorable, but will be a fun activity for your little ones each night of Hanukkah.
Your kids will appreciate being able to decorate your countdown with stickers. Plus, it comes with 17 surprise stickers!
What better way to celebrate the Festival of Lights than a new surprise each night? Your little one will love this fun and interactive calendar from Build-a-Bear.
Adult Holiday Countdowns
The beauty queen in your life will love trying out a new product each day with this calendar from Anthropologie.
Could this calendar be any more fun?! The Gilmore Girls theme song might just make it to my holiday playlist.
It’s a Taylor Christmas with 13 days of Tay-Mas gifts. From jewelry to lyric cards, don’t miss out on a Taylor-filled advent calendar.
Countdown to Christmas with a limited-edition nail polish set from Olive & June. This set includes long lasting and quick dry formulations, press-ons, tools and care like cuticle serum and a mini remover pot, and more. Your nails will be looking fresh all of December.
All of our tea drinkers will love sampling a new cup each night leading up to the holiday.
And, if you prefer something a little bit stronger than tea, this wine advent calendar is exactly what you need to make your *spirits* bright.
‘Spread’ holiday cheer with Bonne Maman’s holiday spreads. Each spread comes in a little jar. This pack comes with a variety of flavors like caramel with coffee and apricot with orange blossom.
Know someone who loves to channel their inner Beyonce and keep hot sauce in their bag at all times? Or someone who can never find something spicy enough for their palate? This Uncommon Goods calendar offers a fun little challenge.
For those of us whose love language is candles (myself included), this Voluspa calendar couldn’t be more perfect.
Whether you or someone you know is a long-time believer in the power of crystals, or just getting started learning about the practice, this countdown calendar is a fun and unique way to celebrate this year.
If, like me, few things make you want to jump for joy more than chocolate, this Godiva truffles calendar is probably calling your name.
This advent calendar is a must-have for the bibliophile in your life!
‘Tis the season for a mocktail advent calendar. It’s the perfect set if you’re looking to go alcohol-free this year.
Pet Advent Calendars
If your dog’s ears perk up at just the sound of the word “treats,” make their day every day of this holiday season with this advent calendar full of different types of treats!
If your four-legged best friend goes nuts for treats and toys, this advent calendar is full of goodies that will ensure you remain a beloved member of their pack.
Your cat can celebrate Hanukkah, too. Claw your way through eight days of Hanukkah-inspired cat toys.
When your cat finally decides to wake up from his 11th nap of the day, let him open up his calendar and find a new toy to play with before he tires out again.
Show your furry companion a little extra love this year with this calendar from Anthropologie. We love that all of the biscuits come in a beautifully-styled book box.
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The Everygirl Media Group has brought valuable content to our readers for 12+ years. In 2018, The Everymom set out to ensure that all moms know they’re not alone. If you find yourself seeking advice on how to style the latest fashion trend or searching for the best kid-friendly coffee table, we have the answers. And if you’re wondering what’s actually worth it from a sale or looking for a review of the hottest new kids’ product, we’ve got that covered too. From our annual Registry Awards and beloved holiday gift guides to the shopping round-ups you find on our site every day, The Everymom commerce team is well-versed in sifting through thousands of products to curate a digestible list for you. We combine our own experience with in-depth research to bring you a selection that meets our high standards for both fashion and function.
Emma Ginsberg, Editorial & Podcast Assistant
Emma is a writer, editor, and podcast producer who has been creating at The Everygirl since 2021. She writes for all sections on the site, assists with editing on narrative essay and opinion projects, and helps produce The Everygirl Podcast. You can listen to her with podcast host Josie Santi on the intros of The Everygirl Podcast and read her articles across the site.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.