13 Cute Things To Do On Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve hums with a particular kind of electricity, the sort that crackles just beneath the surface (and keeps little ones wired all night long). The anticipation is peaking, the final details falling into place, the air bubbling with expectation…

Let’s lean in and stretch the magic just a little further before the big man in red tumbles down the chimney. From festive rituals to joyful distractions, these are the cute ways to make Christmas Eve feel every bit as special as Christmas Day itself.

Christmas Eve Activity Ideas

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

You’ll need gumdrops, chocolate buttons and a generous supply of icing sugar (both for sticking and snacking). Whether you’re a keen baker or not, Christmas Eve is prime time for gingerbread architecture. Many supermarkets sell pre-baked, ready-to-construct and decorate houses for minimal effort, or you can bake from scratch if you enjoy a challenge. For an extra frisson, turn it into a low-stakes competition. Judging criteria optional, gloating inevitable.

Try Jólabókaflóð

For something calmer and a bit more grown-up but still deeply festive, borrow Iceland’s beloved Jólabókaflóð tradition. Exchange a book, then spend the evening reading it bundled up in blankets by a crackling fire – ideally with a drink within reach. Get the kids involved with shorter stories and family reading sessions.

Read Holiday Stories

Speaking of… There’s a reason ’Twas the Night Before Christmas has endured. Gathering to read a festive story or poem taps straight into the collective memory of Christmas – and though it sounds twee, Christmas Eve is surely the night to lean in. Keep it classic, or make it personal by writing short stories or poems about one another.

Go On A Walk

Boxing Day doesn’t have a monopoly on winter walks. There’s nothing nicer than a crisp winter’s walk when the sky is bright and blue and the temperatures are bitingly cold – and Christmas Eve is a great time to tap in. In the city, head out at dusk as the Christmas lights flicker on and windows glow; in the countryside, go earlier and catch the last of the daylight. It’s a small reset before the festivities begin (and is sure to tire out excited youngsters).

Christmas at Kew (c) Jeff Eden

Visit Winter Light Show

Every winter, dark gardens and grand estates are transformed by light installations that fall somewhere between theatre and fairytale. Wandering through illuminated paths on Christmas Eve is an easy way to lean into spectacle without effort. Many stately homes and parks now host them, each offering its own take on seasonal drama. Here are our favourites.

Head To The Pub

If you’re heading out, the Christmas Eve pub visit is hard to beat. It’s sociable, occasionally chaotic and festive without the pressure. Settle in by the fire, order something mulled, and enjoy the collective feeling that everyone has, temporarily, clocked off.

Getty Images

Or Open A Bar At Home

Whether you save it for the big day or you start mixing some festive drinks on Christmas Eve, curating a special menu can be a fun way to formalise your at-home Christmas plans and make the occasion all the more special. A good negroni twist, a warming punch or a polished mocktail all count – especially if you go all out on the presentation. Here are a few of our favourite festive tipples. Or make it family friendly by setting up a hot chocolate bar with different toppings for everyone to choose from.

Build A Christmas Eve Box

Equal parts tradition and aesthetics, the Christmas Eve box has become a modern classic. Fill it with pyjamas, slippers, sweet treats, popcorn and hot chocolate, or whatever feels indulgent to you. Matching pyjamas are optional, but effective.

Bake Cookies For Santa

If there are children involved, this one is non-negotiable. Baking cookies for Santa is less about culinary excellence and more about keeping the narrative alive. Let them take the lead, accept the mess, and remember that imperfect biscuits are part of the charm.

Dress Your Pet Up In A Festive Costume

If you’re going to do it, Christmas Eve is the moment. A jumper, a hat, perhaps something mildly ridiculous. Photos will be taken. The pet will forgive you.

Home Alone (© Twentieth Century Fox)

Watch A Festive Film

It’s one of your last (socially acceptable) chances to press play on a festive film. Switch on the telly and tune in to a Christmas film: Netflix has plenty of fun to offer, or check out our Christmas TV guide for more exciting options. Choose something nostalgic or gloriously escapist, draw the curtains, fill the sofa with cushions, blankets and bowls of snacks and submit to the magic.

Christmas Eve Take Away

With Christmas dinner looming, this is not the night for ambitious cooking. A special takeaway feels indulgent and strategic in equal measure. Eat it on the sofa, preferably with a festive film, and enjoy the rare pleasure of doing very little (it’s the joy of Christmas, after all).

Play Board Games

From Monopoly to Scrabble, Charades to Articulate, Darts to Backgammon, board games are a reliable way to fill the evening while keeping the energy high. But choose wisely: Monopoly comes with consequences…