Printable Advent Calendar — Free Countdown, Activities & Numbers
A free printable advent calendar you can set up in an evening: a countdown tree to colour in one ornament at a time, 24 activity cards with something festive to do each day, and numbers 1–24 to turn bags, envelopes or boxes into a homemade advent calendar.
Everything prints on plain paper in US Letter or A4, and the activities need nothing more than what most homes already have.
Countdown tree
A Christmas tree with 24 numbered ornaments. Colour one in each morning from December 1st. Comes in colour and as a colour-in version.
24 activity cards
One family activity for every day — bake cookies, see the lights, write to Santa. Plus a page of blank cards for your own traditions.
Numbers 1–24
Round number labels in red, green and gold to stick on paper bags, envelopes, boxes or little socks for a DIY advent calendar.
Everything in one file
The countdown tree in both versions, all 24 activity cards, the blank cards and the numbers — six pages in one PDF.
The 24 advent activities
The cards run from putting up the tree on December 1st to leaving milk and cookies out on Christmas Eve. Swap any that don’t fit your week — the blank cards are there for that.
Three ways to use this advent calendar
- Countdown tree only. Stick the tree on the fridge. Each morning, find today’s number and colour that ornament. The numbers are mixed up, so finding them is part of the fun.
- Activity advent calendar. Cut out the activity cards, fold each one in half and drop it into an envelope, a paper bag or a small box. Stick a number from 1 to 24 on the front and open one a day.
- Fill-your-own calendar. Use the numbers on 24 little bags or socks and fill them with treats, small toys or the activity cards. Peg them along a string or a branch.
Questions
When does an advent calendar start?
Most advent calendars run from December 1st to December 24th, Christmas Eve, so there are 24 days, 24 ornaments and 24 cards here.
Do I have to do the activities in order?
No. The cards are numbered so they fit a 1–24 calendar, but shuffle them to suit your diary — save the baking for a weekend and the movie night for a busy school day.
What can I put the cards in?
Paper lunch bags, envelopes, matchboxes, toilet-roll tubes with folded ends, little socks or mittens on a string — anything with a pocket.
Is this good for a classroom?
Yes. Many of the activities work at school as well as at home, and the colour-in tree makes a simple class countdown on the board.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Use the colour-in tree, and the activity cards read fine in black and white.
More Christmas printables
- Christmas scavenger hunt — clue cards, kids and lights hunts.
- Letter to Santa templates — 12 designs to fill in.
- Christmas elf printables — notes, props and more.
- Christmas bingo — 30 picture cards plus junior cards.
- Printable Christmas tags — 24 watercolor gift tags.
