100 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Holiday Fun

A Christmas scavenger hunt is a fun holiday activity where participants search for festive items or complete Christmas-themed tasks. This guide provides 100 ideas for creating engaging and memorable Christmas scavenger hunts for all ages.

Planning Your Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Choose a Theme

Selecting a theme for your Christmas scavenger hunt adds an extra layer of excitement and helps focus your hunt ideas. Some popular themes include:

1. Santa’s Workshop
2. Reindeer Games
3. Elf Adventures
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Nativity Scene
6. Christmas Movie Characters
7. Holiday Treats
8. Christmas Around the World

Set Up the Hunt

Once you’ve chosen a theme, follow these steps to set up your Christmas scavenger hunt:

1. Make a list of items or tasks related to your theme.
2. Write clues or riddles for each item or task.
3. Hide the clues in strategic locations.
4. Prepare prizes for the winners.
5. Set a time limit for the hunt.

Adapt for Different Age Groups

Tailor your Christmas scavenger hunt to suit the age and abilities of the participants:

• For young children: Use simple clues and easy-to-find items.
• For older kids: Include more challenging riddles and tasks.
• For adults: Create complex clues and incorporate holiday trivia.

100 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Indoor Hunt Ideas

1. Find a candy cane
2. Locate a Christmas ornament
3. Spot a nativity scene figurine
4. Find a Christmas stocking
5. Locate a holiday-scented candle
6. Spot a Christmas card
7. Find a piece of tinsel
8. Locate a Christmas cookie
9. Spot a gift tag
10. Find a Christmas movie DVD
11. Locate a holiday-themed mug
12. Spot a Christmas tree topper
13. Find a holiday throw pillow
14. Locate a Christmas picture book
15. Spot a holiday-themed blanket
16. Find a nutcracker figurine
17. Locate a piece of Christmas ribbon
18. Spot a holiday-scented soap
19. Find a Christmas music CD
20. Locate a holiday-themed picture frame

Outdoor Hunt Ideas

21. Find a house with Christmas lights
22. Locate a snowman decoration
23. Spot a wreath on a door
24. Find a inflatable Santa
25. Locate a mailbox decorated for Christmas
26. Spot a reindeer lawn ornament
27. Find a nativity scene display
28. Locate a Christmas tree through a window
29. Spot a candy cane pathway light
30. Find a house with icicle lights
31. Locate a sleigh decoration
32. Spot a star on top of a Christmas tree
33. Find a house with a light-up snowflake
34. Locate a decorated lamppost
35. Spot a house with a projected light display
36. Find a house with a Christmas countdown sign
37. Locate a house with multiple inflatables
38. Spot a house with synchronized music and lights
39. Find a house with a roof-mounted Santa sleigh
40. Locate a house with a light-up peace sign

Christmas Tree Hunt Ideas

41. Find a red ornament
42. Locate a star-shaped ornament
43. Spot a handmade ornament
44. Find a glass ornament
45. Locate a Christmas character ornament
46. Spot a silver tinsel strand
47. Find a pinecone ornament
48. Locate a bell-shaped ornament
49. Spot an angel ornament
50. Find a snowflake ornament
51. Locate a candy cane ornament
52. Spot a wooden ornament
53. Find a heart-shaped ornament
54. Locate a Christmas light bulb ornament
55. Spot a family photo ornament
56. Find a glittery ornament
57. Locate a Christmas ball ornament
58. Spot a ribbon on the tree
59. Find a Christmas tree light
60. Locate the tree topper

Christmas-Themed Task Ideas

61. Sing a Christmas carol
62. Draw a Christmas tree
63. Write a letter to Santa
64. Make a paper snowflake
65. Build a small snowman (or draw one)
66. Wrap a small gift
67. Decorate a Christmas cookie
68. Take a selfie with a Santa hat
69. Make a Christmas card
70. String popcorn for the tree
71. Create a reindeer out of pipe cleaners
72. Make a Christmas ornament
73. Do a Christmas dance
74. Read a page from a Christmas story
75. Act out a scene from a Christmas movie
76. Make hot chocolate
77. Create a Christmas-themed acrostic poem
78. Build a gingerbread house
79. Make a paper chain decoration
80. Create a Christmas-themed word search

Christmas Trivia Hunt Ideas

81. Name three of Santa’s reindeer
82. What color is the Grinch?
83. In which country did the Christmas tree tradition begin?
84. What is the name of Rudolph’s elf friend in the movie?
85. Who wrote “A Christmas Carol”?
86. What is the traditional Christmas flower?
87. In “Home Alone,” where are the McCallisters going on vacation?
88. What is the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?
89. How many ghosts visit Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”?
90. What is the last gift in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song?
91. What is the name of Frosty the Snowman’s wife?
92. In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born?
93. What is the name of the ballet often performed at Christmas?
94. Which company first used Santa Claus in advertising?
95. What is the name of the main character in “The Polar Express”?
96. Who played Buddy in the movie “Elf”?
97. What is the most popular Christmas tree topper?
98. In which decade was “White Christmas” released?
99. What is the name of John McClane’s wife in “Die Hard”?
100. Which country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?

Tips for a Successful Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Make It Inclusive

Ensure that all participants can join in the fun:

• Create teams with mixed ages and abilities.
• Offer alternatives for physical tasks.
• Provide clues in different formats (written, pictorial, audio).

Add a Competitive Edge

Introduce elements of competition to make the hunt more exciting:

• Set a time limit for completing the hunt.
• Award points for each item found or task completed.
• Offer prizes for the winning team or individual.

Incorporate Technology

Use technology to enhance the scavenger hunt experience:

• Create a digital version of the hunt using a scavenger hunt app.
• Ask participants to take photos of found items.
• Use QR codes to reveal clues.

Customize for Your Location

Adapt the hunt to your specific environment:

• For indoor hunts, use rooms and furniture as reference points.
• For outdoor hunts, incorporate local landmarks or decorations.
• For virtual hunts, use online resources and websites.

Variations on the Traditional Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Instead of collecting items, participants take photos of Christmas-themed objects or scenes:

1. A house with more than 1000 lights
2. Someone wearing an ugly Christmas sweater
3. A Christmas tree taller than 10 feet
4. A nativity scene with live animals
5. A holiday-themed license plate

Reverse Scavenger Hunt

Participants start with a bag of Christmas items and must find creative ways to get rid of them:

1. Give a candy cane to someone wearing red
2. Hide a small ornament on a Christmas tree in a store
3. Leave a Christmas card for a neighbor
4. Donate a small toy to a charity bin
5. Give a Christmas cookie to a store employee

Christmas Movie Scavenger Hunt

Watch a popular Christmas movie and look for specific items or scenes:

1. Count how many times “Buddy” says “Santa” in “Elf”
2. Spot all the different types of cookies in “The Santa Clause”
3. Find all the Christmas carols sung in “It’s a Wonderful Life”
4. Count the number of Christmas trees in “Home Alone”
5. Spot all the different Christmas sweaters in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

Adapting Your Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Different Settings

At Home

Create a cozy, family-friendly hunt:

1. Hide clues in stockings hung by the fireplace
2. Use Christmas ornaments as markers for hidden items
3. Incorporate family holiday traditions into the hunt

In the Classroom

Design an educational and fun hunt for students:

1. Include Christmas-themed math problems
2. Hide clues in books about Christmas traditions around the world
3. Create tasks that involve holiday-themed arts and crafts

In the Office

Organize a team-building Christmas scavenger hunt:

1. Hide clues in different departments
2. Include tasks that require cooperation between team members
3. Incorporate company holiday traditions into the hunt

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Adapt the hunt for remote participants:

1. Use online resources for clues and tasks
2. Ask participants to find items in their own homes
3. Incorporate video calls for group challenges

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a Christmas scavenger hunt last?

The duration of a Christmas scavenger hunt can vary depending on the age of participants and the complexity of the hunt. For young children, aim for 30 minutes to an hour. For older kids and adults, the hunt can last 1-2 hours.

What prizes can I give for a Christmas scavenger hunt?

Popular prize ideas include Christmas-themed treats, small holiday decorations, gift cards, or festive accessories like Santa hats or reindeer antlers.

Can I do a Christmas scavenger hunt outdoors?

Yes, outdoor Christmas scavenger hunts can be very fun. Just make sure to consider weather conditions and dress appropriately.

How can I make a Christmas scavenger hunt educational?

Incorporate Christmas trivia, math problems involving holiday items, or tasks that require learning about Christmas traditions from different cultures.

Is it possible to do a Christmas scavenger hunt virtually?

Absolutely! Virtual Christmas scavenger hunts can be done using video calls, online resources, and by asking participants to find items in their own homes.